The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) invites applications under its notice of funding opportunity, "Accelerating the Pace of Substance Use Research Using Existing Data." This program supports innovative analysis of existing data to advance understanding of substance use behaviors, related disorders, and HIV prevention and treatment. Funded research may explore etiology, trajectories, prevention strategies, and health service utilization using public use or administrative data. This opportunity does not allow for primary data collection.

Applications may utilize datasets like the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (ABCD), the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study (PATH), and the National Addiction and HIV Data Archive Program (NAHDAP). Research areas of interest include substance use epidemiology, health disparities, gender differences, service delivery, and the integration of behavioral, neuroimaging, and social data. Special focus is on leveraging computational and analytical innovations, such as big data analytics and machine learning, to predict behaviors and optimize interventions.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, non-profits, state and local governments, tribal organizations, small businesses, and international entities. Applications must be distinct from prior research using the same datasets and adhere to NIH data-sharing policies. Proposed projects must emphasize actionable findings for interventions, policy, or services and avoid duplicative analyses.

The program anticipates awarding $2 million for 2–4 general applications and an additional $2 million for HIV-focused projects, with individual awards reflecting the project’s scope and budget. Project periods may last up to five years, beginning as early as April 2026 for the first cycle. Letters of intent are encouraged but not required, and applications are due by July 17, 2025, for the first round.

Proposals will be reviewed based on their significance, innovation, rigor, feasibility, and the expertise of the investigators. Additional review considerations include the protection of human subjects, budget justification, and alignment with program goals. Applications must be submitted electronically through NIH’s ASSIST system or Grants.gov. Further guidance and technical assistance are available through NIH’s eRA Service Desk and program-specific contacts.