NIDA Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder Research (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has reissued its Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder Research (K12) to support the career development of clinician scientists engaged in substance use disorder (SUD) research. This program is aimed at institutions and is intended to build research capacity by funding the appointment and career development of Scholars—qualified clinician scientists who will undergo intensive, mentored research training. The initiative is central to NIH’s broader aim of maintaining a highly trained workforce in biomedical and clinical research, especially in fields critical to public health like substance use and addiction. This funding opportunity allows institutions to propose structured research and career development programs that last between four to five years. Scholars are selected for three to four years of support in consecutive 12-month appointments and must dedicate a minimum of 75% of their full-time effort to the program. The training must include both didactic and hands-on research elements tailored to the Scholar's stage of career development. Programs must clearly articulate how they will prepare Scholars for independent research careers, including plans for research productivity, publication, and competitive applications for independent funding (e.g., NIH R01 grants). Applicants may propose Scholar-led clinical trials, ancillary trials, or mentored experiences within trials. Proposals must reflect NIH definitions and standards for clinical trials and follow relevant policies. Institutions are encouraged to include training in data science, ethical research practices, and reproducibility. Programs may adopt Individual Development Plans (IDPs) to guide Scholar progress and must foster inclusive, supportive research environments. Institutions with consortia or that offer short-term rotations are especially encouraged to apply. The program provides up to $750,000 in direct costs per year and supports individual Scholar salaries (up to $100,000 annually) along with $50,000 per Scholar for research-related costs. Travel support is allowed for Advisory Committee members. Indirect costs are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs. Programs must have appropriate faculty, resources, and administrative support. Advisory Committees, though not mandatory, are strongly recommended to assist with recruitment, evaluation, and program guidance. Eligible applicant organizations include higher education institutions (both public and private), nonprofits, tribal governments, and other public agencies. Scholars must hold a clinical or related doctoral degree and be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. Institutions must register with SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov prior to application submission. Applications must be submitted electronically via NIH ASSIST, institutional S2S systems, or Grants.gov Workspace. The funding opportunity is active through November 14, 2026, with multiple due dates annually: March 6, August 5, and November 13. Reviews follow NIH’s peer-review process, and earliest award start dates occur approximately nine months post-submission. This program is recurring annually and applicants are encouraged to monitor deadlines and adjust proposals according to evolving NIH priorities and policies. For scientific inquiries, contact Dr. Lindsey Friend at NIDA_Training@nida.nih.gov.

Ensure structured mentorship plans and clearly defined scholar progression timelines; demonstrate strong institutional commitment and capacity for clinical trials; include training in data science and reproducibility.