Late-Stage Implementation Research Addressing Hypertension in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Scaling Up Proven-Effective Interventions (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) seeks grant applications to optimally and sustainably address late-stage implementation research questions to address scaling up evidence-based interventions at the population level for prevention and management of hypertension in low- and middle-income countries and small island developing states. For the purposes of this FOA, late-stage implementation research is defined as research to identify strategies to achieve sustainable uptake of proven-effective interventions in routine clinical and public health and community-based settings and maximize the positive impact on population health. Each awarded project is to conduct late-stage implementation research in one of six geographical regions (e.g., East Asia and the Pacific; Europe and Central Asia; Latin America and the Caribbean; Middle East and North Africa; South Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa). As a group, awardees will constitute a research alliance for hypertension implementation science research in low-resource settings with capabilities for addressing scale-up of evidence-based interventions at the population level for the prevention and management of hypertension. This program is not intended to support research that can be conducted primarily in and/or by the United States or other high-income institutions that do not meet eligibility criteria. This FOA uses the bi-phasic, milestone driven UG3/UH3 cooperative agreement mechanism. Awards made under this FOA will initially support a two-year milestone-driven needs assessment and planning, with possible transition to an implementation (UH3) phase of up to 4 additional years. Only UG3 projects that meet the scientific milestones and award requirements of the UG3 phase may transition to the UH3 phase. Applications submitted in response to this FOA must address both the UG3 and UH3 phases and are expected to include plans for project management and performance milestones for each phase.