The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued a forecasted notice of intent to reissue a funding opportunity related to the Racial Equity Visionary Award Program. This program is designed to support innovative research projects that address substance use and racial equity. The anticipated notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) will be a reissue of RFA-DA-23-026 and will use the DP1 activity code, allowing for clinical trials to be optional. The funding opportunity seeks to encourage bold and impactful research that can significantly advance understanding and address disparities in substance use and related outcomes among racially and ethnically minoritized populations.

The primary objective of this opportunity is to fund visionary projects that tackle persistent inequities in the realm of substance use research. Applicants are expected to propose novel approaches and collaborations that center racial equity in both research design and outcomes. This notice is intended to give researchers ample lead time to develop meaningful, collaborative applications that are responsive to the aims of the NOFO once released.

Funding under this program is anticipated to be substantial, with a projected total program budget of $3.5 million. Individual awards are expected to be up to $700,000. While specific uses of funds are not yet detailed, the focus on racial equity and substance use research implies support for diverse methodologies, team science approaches, and possibly community-engaged research practices.

Eligible applicants for the forecasted opportunity include a wide array of organizations such as state and local governments, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, institutions of higher education, small businesses, and both federally and non-federally recognized tribal entities. For-profit organizations and public housing authorities are also among the eligible applicant groups. No matching or cost-sharing requirements are noted at this stage.

The estimated release date for the official NOFO is March 1, 2025, with an application due date set for October 14, 2025. The earliest anticipated start date for funded projects is July 1, 2026. Potential applicants are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov and the NIH website for the official release and further application instructions.

While specific application questions and evaluation criteria have not yet been published, applicants should prepare for a highly competitive and vision-driven review process given the DP1 funding mechanism’s emphasis on innovation and impact. Interested parties can direct questions to the NIH OPERA DGSI Systems Policy Branch at operasystemspolicy@nih.gov.