The National Institutes of Health (NIH) invites collaborative, multidisciplinary research project applications through its NIDA Program Project Grant (P01) to advance scientific understanding and solutions in areas related to substance use, misuse, and addiction. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) seeks proposals addressing various aspects of neuroscience, genetics, epidemiology, behavior, treatment, prevention, health services, medications development, and co-occurring conditions such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C among individuals with substance use disorders. This funding initiative is open to new, renewal, and revised project proposals, including optional clinical trials. A project period of up to five years is allowed, with budgets that must reflect the actual needs of each project but are not otherwise limited.

Research program proposals must include at least three interrelated projects and an administrative core to coordinate efforts. Each project should focus on independent, scientifically relevant topics but also complement the broader program’s unified theme. If a core facility or shared resource is included, it should support a minimum of two contributing projects to enhance productivity and research synergy. This structure aims to foster collaborative efforts within multidisciplinary teams, providing a cohesive research environment that promotes high-quality data collection, analysis, and reporting across interconnected projects. Programs are expected to include a highly qualified project director or principal investigator (PD/PI) responsible for scientific and administrative oversight, with the option to designate multiple PDs/PIs if justified by project complexity and goals.

Eligibility for the P01 grant is broad, encompassing higher education institutions, nonprofits, local governments, and for-profit organizations, including small businesses. Applicant institutions must ensure completion of all relevant registrations with NIH's electronic systems, including the System for Award Management (SAM), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov. Projects involving a significant budget of $500,000 or more in direct costs for any single year require pre-submission contact with NIDA research staff. The PD/PI and key personnel must demonstrate expertise and leadership in relevant fields and an ability to support and guide a diverse research team.

Application requirements include following the SF424 (R&R) Multi-Project Application Guide, adhering strictly to instructions within both the guide and this FOA, and incorporating a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP). This PEDP must outline strategies for inclusivity, such as involving investigators from underrepresented groups and a broad range of career stages, ensuring diversity within study populations, and collaborating with various institutional types. Applications lacking a PEDP will be considered incomplete. Additionally, NIDA emphasizes the importance of data management, sharing plans, and, for human subjects research, harmonizing data collection methods using the PhenX Toolkit where applicable.

Applications are due on the NIH standard submission dates, with initial deadlines in January, May, and September annually until January 2026. Early submission is encouraged to allow for error correction before the due date. Post-submission, applications will be reviewed by the NIH Center for Scientific Review and evaluated by NIDA for responsiveness and scientific merit. Successful applicants will receive support in compliance with NIH policies, subject to funding availability and project merit.

For complete guidance, applicants should review relevant notices in the NIH Guide, including updates on NIH forms, data management, and clinical trials.