The Substance Use/Substance Use Disorder Dissertation Research Award (R36) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is designed to support doctoral candidates pursuing dissertation research aligned with NIDA's strategic priorities. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), under announcement number PAR-25-347, funds up to two years of research on substance use or substance use disorders, explicitly excluding independent clinical trials. Instead, applicants may participate in trials led by mentors. The intent is to facilitate the transition of emerging scholars into careers dedicated to understanding and addressing substance use, misuse, and addiction.

The purpose of this award is to develop foundational knowledge in prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes related to substance use and its consequences, including those linked to HIV/AIDS. This initiative supports a wide range of research domains: from basic neuroscience and pharmacology to prevention, treatment, services research, and implementation science. Emphasis is placed on addressing health disparities, enhancing service delivery models, improving outcomes for minority and underserved populations, and conducting studies that evaluate sex and gender differences in substance use.

Eligible projects may include analyses of existing data, pilot studies, or research aligned with ongoing studies. Topics encouraged include mechanisms of addiction, interventions to prevent or treat substance misuse, service delivery systems, and health economics related to substance use. This funding opportunity prioritizes research that incorporates innovative methods, translational applications, and cross-disciplinary approaches. While foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, foreign components as defined by NIH may be part of the research.

Applicants must be enrolled doctoral candidates who have completed all institutional requirements for dissertation stage work and be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The application process does not allow for independent clinical trials, and applicants with current or prior NIH F31 support are ineligible. Applicants are also expected to include detailed mentoring and scientific support plans, a responsible conduct of research plan, and letters from faculty advisors supporting the applicant’s progress and potential.

Applications may be submitted three times per year, with standard NIH due dates of February 16, June 16, and October 16. The earliest start dates range from December of the same year to April or July of the following year, depending on the application cycle. Applications are submitted through NIH’s ASSIST system or Grants.gov, and must comply with all NIH formatting and submission standards.

Applications will be reviewed for significance, innovation, scientific rigor, feasibility, investigator capability, and institutional resources. Emphasis will be placed on the proposed project’s relevance to NIDA’s strategic goals, especially for underserved or priority populations. Funding decisions will be based on peer review, programmatic relevance, and available funds. The maximum funding is $50,000 in direct costs per year for up to two years, with a cap on indirect costs of 8 percent.