Mood Disorders in People Living with HIV: Mechanisms and Pathways (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA MH 21 117

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 21 117

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity "Mood Disorders in People Living with HIV: Mechanisms and Pathways (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-MH-21-117; CFDA 93.242) supports exploratory research aimed at clarifying why mood disorders occur and persist among people living with HIV, and how multiple influences combine to shape risk and outcomes. The central goal is to advance understanding of the mechanisms and pathways involved, with a particular focus on the interplay among biological factors (such as neurobiological or immunological processes), psychosocial factors (like stress, trauma exposure, social support, or stigma), and structural factors (including housing instability, access to care, discrimination, poverty, and other systemic barriers). The announcement emphasizes mechanistic insight rather than only documenting prevalence or correlations, encouraging projects that can move the field toward clearer causal or process-oriented explanations.

This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is designed for early-stage, exploratory, and potentially high-risk/high-reward studies. In practice, that means applicants can propose innovative ideas, novel measures, new models, pilot datasets, or emerging conceptual frameworks that may not yet have extensive preliminary data, as long as the work is well-reasoned and positioned to generate informative results. At the same time, the notice draws a clear line between exploratory work and more mature programs of research: projects that are already fully developed, strongly hypothesis-driven, and supported by adequate preliminary evidence are directed to consider the companion R01 announcement (RFA-MH-21-116) instead. In other words, RFA-MH-21-117 is meant to help investigators test new directions, refine mechanistic models, and produce the kind of foundational evidence that could later justify larger, more definitive studies.

The scope includes basic and preclinical research, and it allows studies in both domestic (U.S.) and international settings. The "Clinical Trial Optional" label means applicants may propose clinical trials if appropriate, but they are not required to do so; non-trial mechanistic and preclinical work is also responsive. The announcement also signals that multidisciplinary approaches are valued, since understanding mood disorders in the context of HIV often requires integrating perspectives from neuroscience, immunology, psychiatry/psychology, epidemiology, social science, implementation science, and structural or policy research. Collaborative alliances and team science are encouraged, though not mandatory.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types such as state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; special district governments; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other eligible entities. The opportunity explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants and settings, including 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) organizations, as well as Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized. This wide eligibility reflects an intent to support research that can be grounded in diverse communities and varied research infrastructures, including organizations closely connected to affected populations.

From an administrative standpoint, it is a discretionary grant program under NIH. The listed award ceiling is $200,000, and the original closing date shown is March 10, 2021 (with a creation date of December 9, 2020). Overall, the announcement is best understood as a targeted call for creative, mechanism-focused studies that can explain how HIV-related biological processes and real-world psychosocial and structural pressures interact to contribute to mood disorders, generating actionable knowledge and setting the stage for larger future research efforts.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mood Disorders in People Living with HIV: Mechanisms and Pathways (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.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-12-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-03-10. (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 $200,000.00 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 21 117

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