On October 23rd, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a Request for Applications (RFA) for research projects to promote the use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Proposed projects should:
- Implement published, evidence-based tools to support providers in assessing patients for PrEP indications in clinical settings, with the goal of increasing the frequency of screening for HIV PrEP indications, counseling, initation, and adherence among men who have sex with men (MSM); and
- Train providers regarding available PrEP options, reasons for selection of a PrEP formulation, and switching patterns associated with the use of daily, 2-1-1, and injectable PrEP.
The provider education component of this study should implement a scalable training module about available PrEP options using the most current CDC recommendations. The PrEP tool component of this study should implement tools in multiple clinical settings to support providers to assess patients for PrEP indications; counsel them about PrEP choices; guide their selection of a PrEP regimen; and support their adherence to and persistence with PrEP.
CDC will grant $31.2 million in total funding to up to six organizations. Individual awards will range from $520,000 to $1,040,000 for the first year. Projects will last for five years starting on September 1, 2021. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit and for-profit organizations.
The full RFA can be found here. The optional Letter of Intent is due on November 30th and applications are due on January 5, 2021.