Accelerating the Pace of Substance Use Research Using Existing Data (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Background
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), is issuing this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) to support innovative analyses of existing data related to substance use behaviors and disorders. The goal is to enhance understanding of the etiology and epidemiology of drug use, prevention strategies, and health service utilization. This initiative aims to leverage previously collected social science, behavioral, administrative, and neuroimaging data to inform research that can lead to effective interventions for substance use disorders and HIV.

Grant Details
The grant supports exploratory and developmental research that utilizes existing datasets to investigate various aspects of substance use and its consequences. Key tasks include:
1) Analyzing public use and community-based datasets to understand drug use trajectories and their health impacts;
2) Utilizing datasets like the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study for advanced computational analyses;
3) Employing innovative statistical methods or artificial intelligence techniques;
4) Focusing on underrepresented populations in substance use research;
5) Proposing distinct research that does not overlap with currently funded projects;
6) Ensuring findings are applicable to real-world interventions in prevention and treatment services.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, local governments, state governments, tribal governments, and foreign organizations. Special encouragement is given to institutions serving underrepresented populations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving Institutions. Individuals from diverse backgrounds are also encouraged to apply.

Period of Performance
The maximum period for the grant is two years.

Grant Value
NIDA intends to commit $2 million in FY 2026 for this funding opportunity, with an expected award budget not exceeding $275,000 in direct costs over the two-year project period. No more than $200,000 may be requested in any single year.