Stimulants and HIV: Addressing Contemporary and Recurring Epidemics (R61/R33 - Clinical Trial Required)

This grant opportunity supports research to improve HIV prevention and care outcomes among people who use stimulants, with a focus on those who use them in conjunction with opioids or other substances. The initiative encourages the implementation of evidence-based approaches or the development of new interventions aimed at reducing stimulant use and HIV risk, particularly among episodic users. Applicants should tailor their approaches to meet the needs of specific populations, considering factors such as stimulant use patterns, age, race/ethnicity, gender identity, and co-occurring conditions. In addition to these core objectives, the NIH emphasizes the importance of diversity within research teams and expects applicants to engage a broad range of stakeholders, including patients, providers, and community organizations, to ensure interventions are applicable and sustainable. NIH also strongly encourages the harmonization of data collection across studies to enhance the comparability of research outcomes, particularly in alignment with the NIH HEAL Initiative. These updates are critical to designing projects that not only address public health challenges but also contribute to systemic improvements in research practices.