Developmentally Tailored HIV Prevention and Care Research for Adolescents and Young Adults (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 653

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 653

The Developmentally Tailored HIV Prevention and Care Research for Adolescents and Young Adults funding opportunity (PA 18-653) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program that supports research aimed at improving HIV prevention and treatment outcomes specifically for adolescents and emerging adults. The central idea is that youth are not a single, uniform group, and HIV-related risks, treatment engagement, adherence, and care outcomes can look very different depending on developmental stage, social context, and transitions common in adolescence and young adulthood. Projects are expected to draw on up-to-date developmental science to design and test approaches that fit the realities of this age range, rather than simply adapting adult-focused HIV interventions without considering how youth development shapes behavior, decision-making, relationships, and healthcare engagement.

The announcement emphasizes “developmentally tailored” research, meaning studies should explicitly incorporate what is known about adolescent and young adult development (for example, changes in autonomy, identity formation, neurocognitive development, peer and partner influence, family dynamics, school and employment transitions, and shifting healthcare responsibility). The goal is to optimize HIV prevention and care research for a heterogeneous population that may include youth at different ages and circumstances, such as those newly navigating sexual relationships, those experiencing housing instability, those involved with juvenile or criminal legal systems, and youth in communities that face structural barriers to prevention and treatment. While the notice is broad, it is clearly oriented toward research that can explain or reduce gaps along the prevention and care continuum, such as HIV testing and diagnosis, linkage to care, retention in care, viral suppression, uptake and adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and use of prevention tools such as PrEP when appropriate.

This specific listing is for the R34 mechanism with clinical trial optional, which typically fits projects that need a structured planning and early-stage testing period, especially for developing and pilot-testing interventions. In practical terms, an R34 is commonly used to refine an intervention, establish feasibility and acceptability, finalize protocols and implementation plans, and collect pilot data that can support a later, larger-scale efficacy or effectiveness trial. The broader program description also clarifies how related mechanisms align with project maturity: R21 is positioned for high-risk/high-reward work that may not yet have preliminary data or may rely on existing datasets, while R01 is better suited for more mature projects with preliminary evidence and/or longitudinal analytic plans. Applicants choosing the R34 route are essentially signaling that they want to build or tailor an intervention for adolescents and young adults and then pilot it in a way that de-risks a future larger study.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as a grant in the health activity area, with CFDA number 93.242. The award ceiling shown is $225,000 (as provided in the source data). The agency is NIH, and the original closing date listed is January 7, 2021, which suggests this particular posting reflects a time-limited cycle or an archived notice; anyone considering applying would need to confirm whether the announcement is still active, has been reissued, or has been replaced by a newer FOA.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and several tribal entities, including federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also highlights additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations. This wide eligibility reflects an understanding that youth-focused HIV prevention and care work often depends on strong community partnerships, culturally grounded approaches, and delivery settings beyond traditional academic medical centers.

Overall, this funding opportunity is designed for teams proposing research that takes youth development seriously as a driver of HIV risk and health behavior, and that uses that developmental lens to build better prevention and care strategies for adolescents and emerging adults. It supports projects ranging from exploratory, higher-risk questions (via related mechanisms) to intervention development and pilot testing (via R34), with an emphasis on generating evidence that can realistically improve engagement, adherence, and outcomes for young people across diverse communities and life circumstances.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Developmentally Tailored HIV Prevention and Care Research for Adolescents and Young Adults (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-02-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-01-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PA 18 653

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: