Linking the Provider Recommendation to Adolescent HPV Vaccine Uptake (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 008

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 008

The NIH grant opportunity "Linking the Provider Recommendation to Adolescent HPV Vaccine Uptake (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (PAR-18-008) supports research aimed at understanding why a healthcare provider's recommendation for the adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine sometimes succeeds in driving vaccination and sometimes does not. The central theme is that a provider recommendation is one of the strongest known predictors of HPV vaccination, yet real-world uptake remains uneven. This FOA focuses on how the healthcare delivery system itself can strengthen or weaken the impact of that recommendation, and it encourages studies that look beyond individual attitudes to the practical, organizational, and workflow factors that shape what happens in clinics and health systems.

A major emphasis is on the idea that vaccine uptake is influenced by multiple interacting layers: the provider (for example, communication style, confidence, biases, knowledge, time constraints, or prioritization of HPV vaccination compared with other adolescent vaccines), the parent and patient (including beliefs about cancer prevention, vaccine safety concerns, readiness to vaccinate, cultural factors, and prior experiences with the healthcare system), and the clinical setting (such as visit type, staffing models, reminder systems, electronic health record prompts, standing orders, performance feedback, vaccine availability, and the broader norms of the practice or health system). The FOA encourages research that clarifies how these characteristics affect two linked outcomes: whether clinicians deliver a recommendation at all, and whether that recommendation translates into actual initiation and completion of the HPV vaccine series.

Because the topic sits at the intersection of prevention science and healthcare operations, the announcement explicitly signals the need for multidisciplinary expertise. Competitive projects are expected to draw on areas such as cancer prevention and control (given HPV's role in multiple cancers), behavioral science spanning both adult decision-making and adolescent health behavior, immunization promotion strategies, and healthcare delivery and implementation research. The goal is to generate actionable evidence that health systems, clinics, and public health partners can use to improve HPV vaccination rates, reduce missed opportunities, and ultimately lower the burden of HPV-related cancers.

The mechanism is an R01 research project grant, and clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose either observational, intervention, or implementation-focused studies, including trials when appropriate. The funding activity category is listed under education and health, and the program is associated with CFDA numbers 93.393 and 93.395. While the notice does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided text, the R01 format generally supports substantial, multi-year projects that can rigorously test hypotheses, evaluate system-level strategies, and produce generalizable findings.

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and 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; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as 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, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it draws a firm boundary around foreign participation: non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by NIH policy are not allowed.

Key administrative details from the listing include the sponsoring agency, the National Institutes of Health, the opportunity category as discretionary, and the grant instrument type as a grant. The FOA record indicates a creation date of November 8, 2017, with an original closing date of July 5, 2019. Overall, the opportunity is designed for applicants who can study the real-world mechanics of how recommendations are delivered and acted upon, and who can identify and test delivery-system changes that make strong HPV vaccine recommendations more consistent, more persuasive, and more likely to lead to completed vaccination in adolescents.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Linking the Provider Recommendation to Adolescent HPV Vaccine Uptake (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.393, 93.395.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-07-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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.

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