Prevention and Treatment through a Comprehensive Care Continuum for HIV-affected Adolescents in Resource Constrained Settings (PATC3H) (UG3/UH3) | RFA HD 18 032

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the PATC3H (UG3/UH3) funding opportunity?

PATC3H stands for "Prevention and Treatment through a Comprehensive Care Continuum for HIV-affected Adolescents in Resource Constrained Settings." It is an NIH cooperative agreement funding opportunity (RFA-HD-18-032) intended to advance research that improves HIV prevention and HIV care outcomes for adolescents and youth in low-to-middle income countries.

What are the main public health goals of this opportunity?

The opportunity has two central goals: (1) reduce new HIV infections among adolescents who are at risk, and (2) strengthen the full continuum of HIV services for adolescents and youth who are already living with HIV, including identifying undiagnosed infections, linking youth to care, keeping them engaged in care, and achieving and sustaining long-term viral suppression.

What does "comprehensive care continuum" mean in this context?

In this opportunity, the HIV care continuum for adolescents and youth includes: finding undiagnosed HIV infections, linking young people to clinical care, supporting ongoing engagement/retention in care over time, and achieving and sustaining long-term viral suppression.

Where must the research be conducted?

The research must be conducted in resource-constrained settings with substantial HIV burden, as defined using UNAIDS epidemic density criteria. This requirement focuses projects on places where the HIV epidemic remains large or persistent and where adolescent-focused prevention and treatment strategies could have major population-level impact.

How is "substantial HIV burden" defined for eligible settings?

Eligible settings include countries that meet either of the following UNAIDS epidemic density criteria: (1) at least 200,000 people living with HIV and that number has not decreased by more than 5% over the last two consecutive years of available data, or (2) an HIV prevalence of 3% or higher.

What is the award mechanism for PATC3H?

PATC3H uses a phased innovation cooperative agreement mechanism (UG3/UH3). Applicants are expected to plan for two connected stages of work and provide clear objectives for both phases.

What happens in the UG3 phase?

The UG3 phase supports early project activities that demonstrate readiness to carry out the larger study. UG3 funds are intended to show that the project has the preparation, feasibility, infrastructure, and operational capacity to meet foundational milestones tied to the proposed research.

What kinds of milestones might be included in the UG3 phase?

Examples of UG3 milestones mentioned include establishing partnerships with clinics and community organizations, finalizing protocols, demonstrating recruitment or retention capacity, setting up data systems, and completing other start-up tasks that show the study can be implemented as intended.

What happens in the UH3 phase?

The UH3 phase supports full implementation of the research plan. Projects that successfully meet their UG3 milestones can be administratively considered for transition to UH3, and NICHD prioritizes transition for projects that demonstrate strong performance and readiness during UG3.

Is transition from UG3 to UH3 automatic?

No. Transition is milestone-driven. Projects that successfully meet their UG3 milestones can be administratively considered for transition to the UH3 phase, with NICHD prioritizing transition for projects that show readiness and strong performance during UG3.

What does it mean that this is a "cooperative agreement"?

Because PATC3H is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, NIH involvement is described as more hands-on, often including substantial programmatic input and milestone-based oversight.

Which organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types: state, county, city/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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.

Are minority-serving institutions specifically included as eligible applicants?

Yes. The opportunity highlights additional eligible categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are explicitly included as eligible applicants.

Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?

Yes. Non-U.S. (foreign) entities are listed as eligible, consistent with the international focus on low-to-middle income settings.

Are U.S. territories or regional organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility information includes U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations.

Which NIH institute is connected to the transition decision between phases?

NICHD is specifically mentioned as prioritizing transition to UH3 for projects that demonstrate strong performance and readiness during the UG3 phase.

What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.273, 93.307, and 93.865.

What is the broad activity area for this opportunity?

The listing places the opportunity under the broad activity area of Health, Income Security and Social Services.

When was this opportunity created and what was the original closing date?

The listing indicates it was created on October 18, 2017, with an original closing date of December 22, 2017.

Does the provided information include the award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. The provided source details do not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards. The description notes that applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text or NIH postings for budget limits, project periods, and anticipated funding levels.

What is the overall purpose of using a phased UG3/UH3 structure?

The phased structure is described as a way to reduce implementation risk by requiring teams to prove feasibility and readiness during UG3 before moving into full-scale study activities during UH3.

What types of outcomes is PATC3H trying to improve for adolescents and youth?

The opportunity aims to improve real-world prevention and care delivery outcomes for adolescents affected by HIV, including reducing new infections, improving identification of undiagnosed HIV, strengthening linkage to care, supporting retention in care, and achieving and sustaining viral suppression.