Neuroscience Research on Drug Abuse (R01) | PA 17 111

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 111

The Neuroscience Research on Drug Abuse (R01) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 17 111) is a discretionary National Institutes of Health grant designed to support research that explains how abused drugs change the brain over time and how those changes drive substance use disorders. The program is grounded in the idea that repeated drug exposure can reshape brain structure and function in lasting ways, and that despite major scientific advances, there are still key gaps in understanding exactly which neurobiological alterations occur, when they emerge, and how they contribute to dependence, withdrawal, and relapse. Projects proposed under this announcement are expected to focus on the neurobiological mechanisms that underlie substance use disorders, with a particular emphasis on the neuroadaptations linked to chronic use and the transitions between drug taking, abstinence, and renewed use.

A central aim of the FOA is to generate mechanistic knowledge that can eventually translate into better prevention and treatment strategies. In practical terms, the research supported here is meant to identify actionable targets, such as neural circuits, cellular processes, molecular pathways, or biomarkers that help explain vulnerability, progression, and persistence of addiction. The scientific scope is broad: the announcement explicitly welcomes basic research that clarifies fundamental brain mechanisms, translational research that bridges laboratory findings toward human relevance, and clinical research that investigates these processes directly in people. This wide methodological allowance means applicants can propose work ranging from cellular and systems neuroscience to neuroimaging, human laboratory studies, or clinically anchored investigations, as long as the core objective is to understand drug-related neurobiological change and its role in substance use disorders.

The award mechanism is the NIH R01 research project grant, which is commonly used to support substantial, hypothesis-driven projects that can be pursued over multiple years with a defined set of aims. The funding activity category listed is Education and Health, and the CFDA number associated with the program is 93.279. While the source text does not specify an award ceiling or the number of expected awards, the R01 format generally indicates support for well-developed projects with rigorous design, strong feasibility, and clear significance to the mission area.

Eligibility is intentionally expansive and includes many types of organizations that conduct biomedical and behavioral research. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or 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; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and eligible federal agencies. Importantly, foreign participation is permitted: non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) may apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components as defined by NIH policy are allowed, which opens the door to international expertise and study populations when scientifically justified.

Key administrative details provided in the source include an original closing date of 2018-01-24 and a creation date of 2017-01-09. Overall, this FOA is geared toward advancing the neuroscience of addiction by funding rigorous studies that clarify how chronic drug exposure alters the brain and how those alterations influence the cycles of dependence, withdrawal, and relapse, ultimately supporting the long-term goal of improving intervention and treatment options through a stronger mechanistic foundation.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Neuroscience Research on Drug Abuse (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-01-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-24. (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.

Apply for PA 17 111

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