Science Track Award for Research Transition (START) Program

The National Institutes of Health, through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), has forecasted the Science Track Award for Research Transition (START) Program under funding opportunity number PAS-26-035. NIDA is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is dedicated to advancing research on substance use, drug dependence, and associated conditions such as HIV/AIDS. The START Program is part of NIDA’s ongoing mission to promote innovation in drug use and addiction research by supporting investigators who are building their expertise and seeking to transition into new lines of scientific inquiry. The purpose of the START Program is to provide seed funding that enables the development of preliminary findings in high-priority areas related to substance use research. Projects supported under this program are expected to yield early results that may serve as the foundation for more comprehensive studies and eventually inform larger-scale R-series or equivalent grant applications. The funding is designed to promote exploratory research that can bridge the gap between early scientific ideas and more established programs of research, thereby facilitating the advancement of innovative concepts into actionable scientific knowledge. Eligible research areas include the discovery and development of new chemical entities or biologics to support therapeutic interventions for substance use disorders and drug dependence. Additional areas of focus include the development and application of advanced brain imaging tools or methods, the application of innovative neurocognitive and behavioral science approaches, and the use of advanced data science and computational techniques, including artificial intelligence. The program also supports research designed to advance basic, clinical, translational, epidemiological, or intervention science related to substance use and HIV/AIDS. Applicants are encouraged to pursue projects that address gaps in knowledge and produce preliminary data that will strengthen subsequent, larger grant applications. The START Program particularly encourages applications from early stage and new investigators, as well as those who are new to substance use or HIV/AIDS research. This emphasis on fostering the next generation of researchers reflects NIDA’s goal of expanding the field and encouraging diverse perspectives. By supporting investigators at pivotal transition points in their careers, the program seeks to stimulate innovation and cultivate long-term contributions to addiction science and related areas. According to the forecast, the estimated application due date is February 16, 2026, with an expected award date of December 1, 2026. The estimated project start date is also December 1, 2026, aligning the award and initiation of research activities. The estimated post date for the official notice is December 15, 2025, marking the point when full application materials are expected to be made available. The award ceiling is $100,000, although specific award floors and total program funding amounts have not been provided in the forecast. The number of awards to be issued has not been specified. Eligibility for the program is broad. Applicants may include city or township governments, county governments, state governments, independent school districts, special district governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without IRS 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations including small businesses, Native American tribal governments and organizations, and public housing authorities. Additional eligible applicants include faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories, federal agencies, and foreign institutions. This wide scope demonstrates NIH’s commitment to inclusive participation and international collaboration in advancing addiction research. The designated contact for the program is Hoang Le, Ph.D., who can be reached at 301-451-8849 or via email at hoang.le@nih.gov. Interested applicants should monitor Grants.gov for the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), expected in December 2025, to obtain final instructions, eligibility clarifications, and submission requirements. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov, adhering to NIH’s standard submission policies and federal grant regulations. As a forecasted opportunity, specific details regarding evaluation criteria and documentation requirements are not yet available and will be finalized upon official posting.