The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has announced the NIDA Research Center of Excellence Grant Program (P50 Clinical Trial Optional) under the funding opportunity announcement number PAR-23-076. This initiative aims to support research centers conducting innovative and multidisciplinary studies in substance use and addiction, including the intersection of substance use disorders (SUDs) and HIV. The program seeks to establish Centers of Excellence that will act as national research resources, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and outreach efforts to scientific communities, educational organizations, the public, and policymakers. These centers should drive transformative research rather than incremental advancements, integrating multiple scientific disciplines such as biological, biomedical, social, behavioral, and clinical sciences.

The grant provides funding through the P50 Specialized Center activity code, supporting projects that enhance the field of substance use research by enabling collaborations, shared resources, and groundbreaking discoveries. The centers are expected to mentor early-career investigators and provide training and dissemination of findings. The program encourages centers to address fundamental scientific questions and serve as national hubs for addiction research, ensuring synergy among projects and core research components to maximize innovation and impact.

The application process follows NIH’s standard procedures, requiring applicants to adhere to guidelines outlined in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. The earliest submission date for applications was August 25, 2023, with subsequent annual deadlines on September 25, 2024, and September 25, 2025. Letters of Intent should be submitted 30 days before the application deadline. Reviews are conducted in multiple stages, with scientific merit evaluations in March, advisory council reviews in May, and awards expected by July of each funding cycle. The program is set to expire on November 19, 2025.

Eligible applicants include public/state-controlled and private higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), local and state governments, tribal entities, school districts, public housing authorities, faith-based organizations, and regional organizations. While foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, U.S. organizations may include foreign components in their proposals. All applicant organizations must complete System for Award Management (SAM) registration and eRA Commons registration before submitting applications.

The maximum award budget is $10 million in direct costs for the entire five-year project period, and awards depend on NIH appropriations and the number of meritorious applications received. The program does not require cost-sharing from applicants. Applications must include an overall component, an administrative core, at least three research projects, and may include additional research cores or pilot project cores. Centers must demonstrate their ability to integrate research themes, foster collaboration, and contribute significantly to the addiction research landscape.

Review criteria emphasize significance, investigator expertise, innovation, approach, and environment, evaluating how well a proposed center aligns with the program’s mission. Applications undergo a peer review process, with final funding decisions based on scientific merit, availability of funds, and relevance to NIDA’s priorities. Interested applicants can seek guidance from NIDA’s program contacts, including Tamara Haegerich, Ph.D. (tamara.haegerich@nih.gov) and Evan S. Herrmann, Ph.D. (evan.herrmann@nih.gov).