Advancing communication strategies to support future HIV vaccine use (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA MH 22 171

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 22 171

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Advancing communication strategies to support future HIV vaccine use (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (RFA-MH-22-171) supports early-stage, exploratory research focused on how to communicate effectively about future HIV vaccines. The core idea is that scientific progress on an HIV vaccine will not, by itself, end the epidemic unless people understand the vaccine, trust the institutions behind it, and are willing to accept and use it. In the current environment, vaccine discussions are often polarized, and the COVID-19 era intensified public debate, distrust, and the spread of misinformation. This grant is meant to build evidence on communication factors and strategies that can improve public understanding, acceptance, and eventual uptake of an HIV vaccine once one becomes available.

The opportunity emphasizes the real-world communication challenges surrounding vaccines, including the fact that people are exposed to competing narratives from many sources. Some messages promote vaccination while others discourage it, and a growing portion of the public may base decisions on inaccurate or misleading information. Projects under this initiative would typically examine how people interpret vaccine information, what drives confidence or skepticism, which messengers and channels are trusted, and how to design communication approaches that are resilient to misinformation. While the notice does not list specific research questions in the excerpt provided, the scope clearly points toward studying communication strategies, message framing, community engagement, and related behavioral or social drivers that will matter for successful HIV vaccine rollout in the future.

Mechanistically, this is an R21 grant, which usually supports developmental or high-impact exploratory studies rather than large, definitive trials. The announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that do or do not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial, depending on the research design. The activity categories are Education and Health, and the opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.242 and 93.279. The award ceiling listed is $275,000, and the original closing date for the competition shown in the source text was 2022-05-10.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that might contribute to communication and implementation-relevant research. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible entities 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, regional organizations, and non-U.S. (foreign) entities.

Overall, this funding opportunity is aimed at preparing for the communication realities that will shape the success or failure of a future HIV vaccine. By supporting research now on misinformation dynamics, trust, persuasive and culturally responsive messaging, and the communication environments people actually live in, NIH is trying to ensure that when an HIV vaccine is ready, public understanding and acceptance are not left as an afterthought but are supported by solid evidence and practical strategies.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing communication strategies to support future HIV vaccine use (R21 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, 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-01-03.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-05-10. (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 $275,000.00 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 RFA MH 22 171

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