The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has released the Single Cell Opioid Responses in the Context of HIV (SCORCH) Program: Data Mining and Functional Validation (R01) funding opportunity to support research focused on the cellular-level effects of substance use disorders (SUDs) and HIV/antiretroviral therapy (ART). The primary aim of this funding opportunity is to encourage data mining of single-cell datasets, identifying key cell types, transcripts, enhancers, or transcriptional networks that play roles in SUD- and HIV-relevant molecular responses, as well as to promote functional validation of these findings. Functional validation could include advanced techniques such as epigenomic or transcriptomic manipulation to confirm the biological relevance of data-mined targets in HIV and SUD contexts.

This initiative is part of the larger SCORCH consortium, which has previously generated substantial single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing (snATAC-seq) data across four brain types: control, SUD-exposed, HIV+, and HIV+ with SUD. This data comes from various models, including human post-mortem brain, non-human primates, rodents, and human organoids. The SCORCH Data Center harmonizes and shares these datasets to ensure they are accessible for further study, thereby allowing researchers to discover mechanisms of HIV and SUD pathology and therapeutic targets.

The R01 mechanism supports projects that require preliminary data to demonstrate the feasibility of proposed analyses or techniques. Applicants must address at least one of the following research components: (1) data mining of SCORCH or related datasets to identify biological elements involved in HIV and SUD molecular responses, and (2) functional validation studies on identified elements. Additionally, studies must focus on opioids, cannabinoids, stimulants, or other addictive substances (excluding alcohol). Proposed research should ideally be conducted by interdisciplinary teams experienced in single-cell data analysis, CNS effects of HIV and addictive substances, and data integration across species and molecular levels.

Applications for this funding opportunity must include a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP) to promote inclusivity in the research team and approach. The PEDP will be evaluated as part of the scientific review process, and failure to include it will result in the application being withdrawn. Examples of effective PEDP strategies include partnerships with diverse institutions, frameworks that engage underrepresented populations, and collaborative arrangements with community organizations.

NIDA plans to allocate $3 million each in FY2026 and FY2027 to fund approximately six to seven projects across the R01 and companion R21 mechanisms. R01 application budgets are capped at $350,000 in direct costs per year for a maximum project period of five years. Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, non-profits, small businesses, for-profits, and foreign entities. Each application must be unique and scientifically distinct.

Applications are due by March 19, 2025, and March 19, 2026, with the first project start dates expected in December of the same year. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit letters of intent by February 19, 2025, which, though optional, will assist NIH staff in planning the review process.