The objective of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to solicit applications proposing research that is grounded in implementation science and can address the goals of the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative. The overall objective of EHE is to address the ongoing public health crisis with goals of first reducing the number of incident infections in the U.S. by 75% by 2025, and at least 90% by 2030, compared to the baseline infection rate in 2017. Projects will leverage research-community collaborations and scientific advances in HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and outbreak response to advance the EHE goals, using innovations to tailor strategies for the multi-level barriers and strengths in communities disproportionately impacted by HIV.
This NOSI invites research applications to advance the goals of EHE through the conduct of implementation research in communities disproportionately impacted by HIV in the EHE geographic priority areas. Studies of implementation strategies should build knowledge both on the overall effectiveness of the implementation strategies (implementation outcomes), as well as "how and why" they work (implementation mechanisms). Data on mechanisms of action, moderators and mediators, sustainability, and costs of implementation strategies will greatly aid decision-making on which strategies work for which interventions, in which settings, and for what populations.
Applications should include innovative approaches and study designs to enhance engagement efforts across diverse community settings interacting with people at risk for or living with HIV, including public health agencies, healthcare organizations, health departments, behavioral health settings providing mental health and treatment for substance use disorders, the justice system, faith-based communities, social service agencies, and implementing partners. It is expected that community-based and outreach approaches will be incorporated to remove or alleviate barriers to conventional prevention and treatment access. Communities and/or people with lived experience must be meaningfully engaged through shared partnership. Partnerships with community members depend on trust, shared values, goals, equitable decision-making, and a diversity of perspectives, knowledge, and lived experiences.
Applications led by or with investigator collaborations from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) are encouraged in planning projects and in the formation of future implementation science partnerships in communities served by HBCUs and MSIs.
This notice applies to due dates on or after January 7, 2024, and subsequent receipt dates through January 9, 2024.
NOT-AI-23-070