The Data Science Track Award for Research Transition (D-START) is a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) issued by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This funding opportunity is designed to support investigators applying advanced data science techniques to research questions related to substance use and substance use disorder (SUD). D-START focuses on small-scale research projects that can be completed within a short period of time and with limited resources. The program aims to foster new knowledge and approaches in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of substance use and addiction, including related health outcomes such as HIV/AIDS.

The program will fund projects that utilize cutting-edge data science methods, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, computational modeling, and big data analytics. Applicants may propose secondary analyses of existing datasets, pilot studies, or feasibility projects. Research topics include predictive modeling of SUD risk and trajectories, enhancing prevention and treatment intervention efficiency, identifying subtypes of SUD, exploring neurobiological mechanisms, and developing computational tools for complex data. Examples of data sources include the National Addiction & HIV Data Archive Program, NIDA Center for Genetic Studies, Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, and other public NIH-funded repositories.

This funding opportunity is open to public, private, and nonprofit institutions, including higher education institutions, small businesses, and foreign organizations. Eligible individuals must have the skills, knowledge, and resources to carry out the proposed research. Applications that focus solely on alcohol-related outcomes or lack advanced data science methodologies will be deemed nonresponsive. Collaborative and cross-disciplinary projects are encouraged, and individuals from underrepresented groups in STEM are especially encouraged to apply.

The program will support direct costs of up to one hundred thousand dollars per year for a maximum of two years. The total budget for the program is approximately one million dollars annually for fiscal years 2025, 2026, and 2027, with six to seven awards anticipated each year. The project period cannot exceed two years. Applications can propose clinical trials but are not required to do so.

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov or the NIH ASSIST system and adhere to the instructions in the NIH Application Guide. Key application due dates follow the NIH standard submission cycles, with deadlines on February 16, June 16, and October 16 annually through 2027. Submitted applications will undergo peer review based on factors such as scientific significance, innovation, feasibility, and the rigor of the research approach. Additional review criteria include protection of human subjects, biohazards, and adequacy of budget and resources.

Successful applicants will receive a Notice of Award and must comply with NIH reporting requirements, including annual Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) and final project reports. Awardees are expected to use their findings as the foundation for larger-scale research applications, such as R01 grants. The D-START program represents an effort to expand the application of data science in substance use research and to grow a multidisciplinary workforce capable of addressing challenges related to addiction and related health outcomes.