Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 18 020
The grant opportunity titled "Interaction of HIV and Neurodevelopment of Children in Resource-Limited Settings: Improving Assessments (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA HD 18 020) is a discretionary National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant designed to support early-stage, exploratory work under the R21 mechanism. Its central goal is to stimulate research that creates, adapts, improves, and validates tools or materials used to evaluate neurodevelopment and cognitive functioning in children, specifically in resource-limited settings where HIV rates are high. The emphasis is not simply on studying outcomes, but on strengthening the measurement side of the field, meaning better assessments that are practical, accurate, culturally appropriate, and implementable in real-world environments that may have limited clinical infrastructure, fewer specialists, and constraints such as time, cost, training, and access to standardized testing materials.
The opportunity focuses on the intersection of pediatric HIV and child neurodevelopment, recognizing that children in high-HIV-burden settings may experience a range of neurodevelopmental risks that are difficult to quantify with tools developed for different languages, cultures, educational backgrounds, or health systems. Applications are expected to concentrate on the development and/or improvement of neurodevelopmental assessment approaches, including the supporting materials needed to use those approaches in the field. This can include work to adapt existing cognitive or developmental tests for new contexts, develop new screening or assessment instruments, improve scoring methods or normative references, strengthen training protocols for assessors, or enhance feasibility for use in settings with limited specialized personnel. A key requirement embedded in the description is implementation in resource-limited settings, so proposals should be geared toward tools and procedures that can actually be deployed and sustained where they are most needed.
Administratively, this is a grant funding instrument in the Health, Income Security and Social Services category, associated with CFDA number 93.865. The award ceiling is listed as 200000, indicating the maximum budget amount expected per award under this announcement. The original closing date was 2017-06-29, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of 2017-02-21. While the dataset excerpt does not specify the number of expected awards, the mechanism and ceiling suggest smaller-scale, targeted projects typical of R21 announcements, often used to generate preliminary data, pilot an approach, or demonstrate proof of concept for assessment tools that may later be scaled or tested in larger studies.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicants, reflecting NIH's interest in drawing expertise from academic, governmental, nonprofit, private, and community settings. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; 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; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible agencies of the federal government; U.S. territories or possessions; regional organizations; Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations can apply. This explicit inclusion of foreign organizations and community-based entities is especially relevant given the setting focus, since many of the highest HIV-burden, resource-limited contexts are outside the continental U.S., and local partners are often essential for culturally valid assessment development and on-the-ground implementation.
In practical terms, a strong application under this opportunity would usually be expected to show a clear plan for producing an assessment tool or improving an existing one, demonstrate why current tools are insufficient in the target setting, and explain how the proposed approach will be feasible and reliable given local constraints. It would also typically address how the assessment will account for language, culture, educational exposure, and other factors that can distort cognitive testing results if not handled carefully. Because the focus is on assessment development and implementation, proposals that include thoughtful strategies for training, quality control, standardization, and usability in clinics, schools, or community settings are aligned with the intent of the announcement.Apply for RFA HD 18 020
- The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Interaction of HIV and Neurodevelopment of Children in Resource-Limited Settings: Improving Assessments (R21)" 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 2017-02-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-06-29. (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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: Interaction of HIV and Neurodevelopment of Children in Resource-Limited Settings: Improving Assessments (R21)
What is this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is an NIH discretionary research grant titled "Interaction of HIV and Neurodevelopment of Children in Resource-Limited Settings: Improving Assessments (R21)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA HD 18 020). It uses the R21 mechanism, which is typically intended for early-stage, exploratory, or proof-of-concept research.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The central purpose is to stimulate research that creates, adapts, improves, and validates tools (and supporting materials) used to assess neurodevelopment and cognitive functioning in children in resource-limited settings with high HIV burden. The emphasis is on improving measurement and assessment, not simply describing outcomes.
What topic area does the opportunity focus on?
It focuses on the intersection of pediatric HIV and child neurodevelopment, particularly in settings where HIV is common and where local constraints can make standard neurodevelopmental testing difficult to implement or interpret.
Is the focus on studying neurodevelopmental outcomes, or on assessment tools?
The emphasis is on strengthening the measurement side of the field: better, more practical, accurate, culturally appropriate, and implementable assessments that can work in real-world resource-limited environments.
What kinds of projects are encouraged?
Projects are expected to center on developing and/or improving neurodevelopmental assessment approaches and the materials needed to use them in the field. Examples mentioned include adapting existing tests for new contexts, developing new screening or assessment instruments, improving scoring methods or normative references, strengthening assessor training protocols, and improving feasibility in settings with limited specialized personnel.
What does "resource-limited settings" mean in the context of this grant?
In this announcement, resource-limited settings are described as environments that may have limited clinical infrastructure, fewer specialists, and constraints related to time, cost, training, and access to standardized testing materials. Proposed tools and procedures should be designed to be deployable and sustainable under these conditions.
Why does the opportunity emphasize cultural and language adaptation?
The description recognizes that tools developed for different languages, cultures, educational backgrounds, or health systems may not perform well in high-HIV-burden settings. Applications are expected to address factors like language, culture, and educational exposure that can distort cognitive testing results if not handled carefully.
What does it mean to "validate" an assessment tool under this opportunity?
Based on the opportunity description, validation refers to research that demonstrates the tool is practical, accurate, culturally appropriate, and feasible for real-world implementation in the target resource-limited setting. The announcement emphasizes reliability and usability in the field.
Are supporting materials and training approaches within scope?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes improving the supporting materials needed to use assessment approaches in the field, including strengthening training protocols for assessors and strategies for quality control, standardization, and usability in clinics, schools, or community settings.
Does the grant require work to be implemented in resource-limited settings?
Yes. A key requirement embedded in the description is implementation in resource-limited settings. Proposals should be geared toward tools and procedures that can actually be deployed and sustained where they are most needed.
What is the funding mechanism?
The opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, described as supporting early-stage, exploratory work. It is commonly used for pilot studies, preliminary data generation, or proof-of-concept efforts that could later be scaled or tested in larger studies.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is listed as 200000, indicating the maximum budget amount expected per award under this announcement.
Which broad category and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under the Health, Income Security and Social Services category and is associated with CFDA number 93.865.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The record shows a creation date of 2017-02-21 and an original closing date of 2017-06-29.
How many awards will be made?
The provided information does not specify the number of expected awards.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; 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; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are community-based and faith-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly highlights faith-based or community-based organizations among additional eligible groups.
Are minority-serving institutions and tribal colleges eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly highlights Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations can apply. This is particularly relevant because many high HIV-burden, resource-limited settings are outside the continental U.S.
Are U.S. territories or regional organizations included in eligibility?
Yes. The additional eligible groups include U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations.
What would a strong application generally be expected to include?
Based on the description, a strong application would typically present a clear plan to produce or improve an assessment tool, explain why existing tools are insufficient in the target setting, and demonstrate feasibility and reliability given local constraints. It would also address language, culture, and educational exposure, and include practical plans for training, quality control, standardization, and usability in real-world settings such as clinics, schools, or community programs.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Health, Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: Office of Innovation and Improvement (OII): Assistance for Arts Education Programs: Professional Development for Arts Educators Grants CFDA Number84.351C
Previous opportunity: Ukraine: USG Exchange Alumni Small Grants
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA HD 18 020
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA HD 18 020) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Biomarkers: Bridging Pediatric and Adult Therapeutics (R21) Apply for PAR 17 169 Funding Number: PAR 17 169 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NICHD Research Education Programs (R25) Apply for PAR 17 183 Funding Number: PAR 17 183 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Translational Research in Pediatric and Obstetric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R21) Apply for PAR 17 187 Funding Number: PAR 17 187 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Translational Research in Pediatric and Obstetric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R01) Apply for PAR 17 189 Funding Number: PAR 17 189 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Translational Research in Pediatric and Obstetric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R03) Apply for PAR 17 188 Funding Number: PAR 17 188 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R21) Apply for PAR 17 229 Funding Number: PAR 17 229 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Resource-Related Research Projects in the Epidemiology and Prevention of Pediatric Injury (R24) Apply for PAR 17 228 Funding Number: PAR 17 228 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $375,000 |
| Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R03) Apply for PAR 17 230 Funding Number: PAR 17 230 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Research (R01) Apply for PAR 17 231 Funding Number: PAR 17 231 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Pediatric Drug Delivery Systems (R03) Apply for PAR 17 191 Funding Number: PAR 17 191 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Pediatric Drug Delivery Systems (R21) Apply for PAR 17 192 Funding Number: PAR 17 192 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Pediatric Drug Delivery Systems (R01) Apply for PAR 17 193 Funding Number: PAR 17 193 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Pediatric Drug Delivery Systems (R43) Apply for PAR 17 199 Funding Number: PAR 17 199 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Development of Appropriate Pediatric Formulations and Pediatric Drug Delivery Systems (R41) Apply for PAR 17 200 Funding Number: PAR 17 200 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Identification of Reproductive-Tract Specific Proteins/Transcripts for the Development of Male and Female Non-Hormonal Contraceptives (R01) Apply for RFA HD 18 002 Funding Number: RFA HD 18 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Point of Care Technologies for the Evaluation and Management of Obstetrics, Neonatal, and Pediatric Critical Care Patients, and for Patients with Disorders of Reproductive Tract and Infertility (R43) Apply for RFA HD 18 028 Funding Number: RFA HD 18 028 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NICHD Exploratory-Developmental Research Grant (R21) Apply for PA 17 259 Funding Number: PA 17 259 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Promoting NICHD Areas of Research for HIV/AIDS in Maternal and Child Health (R01) Apply for PA 17 262 Funding Number: PA 17 262 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Data Coordinating Center for the NICHD Neonatal Research Network (U24) Apply for RFA HD 18 010 Funding Number: RFA HD 18 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Grants for Secondary Analyses of Existing Data Sets and Stored Biospecimens (R03) Apply for PA 17 299 Funding Number: PA 17 299 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA HD 18 020", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.