US Children with Perinatal HIV who were Born Internationally (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA HD 20 006

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 20 006

The grant opportunity titled "US Children with Perinatal HIV who were Born Internationally (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-HD-20-006) is a discretionary NIH research grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. It uses the R01 mechanism, meaning it is intended to support a defined research project with clear aims, methods, and expected outcomes. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation signals that applicants may propose either non-trial research (such as observational, epidemiologic, or natural history studies) or a study that includes a clinical trial component, as long as it fits the scientific goals of the announcement and meets NIH requirements for human subjects protections and trial oversight if applicable.

The central purpose of the initiative is to spur research in an emerging public health area: children living in the United States who were born outside the US, acquired HIV perinatally (from their mothers), and later entered US care systems. The opportunity aims to improve understanding across several connected domains, including the natural history of HIV in this specific population, the epidemiology of how these cases present and are tracked in the US, and the practical realities of diagnosis and clinical management once these children are in US-based care. A major emphasis is also placed on HIV-related co-morbid conditions, reflecting the fact that perinatal HIV is often intertwined with additional health challenges that can affect growth, development, immune function, and overall long-term outcomes. In plain terms, the initiative is trying to close knowledge gaps about who these children are, how and when they are diagnosed, what medical and social complications they face, and what approaches to care work best given their unique histories and circumstances.

From an applicant and administrative standpoint, the program is broad in who can apply, which is typical for NIH research announcements designed to draw strong proposals from many sectors. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (excluding small businesses in one category, though small businesses are also explicitly eligible); and other entities as described in the full eligibility language. This wide eligibility suggests NIH was seeking contributions from academic medical centers, public health agencies, community-based organizations, and other research-capable entities that may have access to relevant patient populations, surveillance data, or clinical networks.

Financially, the announcement lists an award ceiling of $300,000 and anticipates making about three awards. That combination generally implies a targeted initiative intended to fund a small number of focused projects rather than a large program of many smaller awards. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 93.865, aligning it with NIH health research assistance programs. The original posting (creation) date was July 31, 2019, and the original closing date was November 14, 2019, which places it in the NIH fiscal cycle for that period and indicates it was a time-limited solicitation rather than an open-ended standing program.

In practical terms, a strong project under this announcement would likely concentrate on characterizing and improving outcomes for internationally born, perinatally infected children living in the US by addressing questions like how these children enter care, what barriers affect timely diagnosis and continuous treatment, how co-morbidities differ from US-born perinatally infected peers, and what clinical management strategies are most effective in real-world settings. Because the announcement explicitly calls out natural history, epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and co-morbidities, it supports work ranging from retrospective cohort studies and multi-site registry analyses to prospective observational studies, implementation-focused evaluations, and (if justified) clinical trial designs aimed at improving treatment or management approaches for this population. The broader public health goal is to generate evidence that can inform clinicians, health systems, and policy makers so that care for these children is better tailored, earlier, and more effective, especially given the additional complexities that can come with international birth, migration history, and variation in prior access to maternal and pediatric HIV services.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "US Children with Perinatal HIV who were Born Internationally (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 31, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 14, 2019. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for RFA HD 20 006

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