NIDA Research Education Program for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has reissued the NIDA Research Education Program for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-25-204. This initiative seeks to strengthen the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce to address the nation’s needs in substance use and substance use disorder (SUD) research. The program is designed to provide educational activities for clinicians, clinicians in training, and clinical researchers, with a focus on enhancing skills and providing direct research experiences related to substance use and SUDs. This opportunity does not support non-research-related clinical training, though it may complement ongoing clinical training by integrating relevant research experiences. The overarching goal of this R25 program is to ensure an adequate supply of well-trained clinical scientists who can address the evolving challenges of substance use and SUDs. This program requires both courses for skills development and research experiences, with emphasis on activities that enable participants to apply knowledge in laboratory, clinical, or community research settings. Research topics of interest include etiology, diagnostics, treatment, prevention, services research, clinical neuroscience, medical consequences of substance use, and the intersection of substance use with conditions such as HIV/AIDS. The program also supports interdisciplinary and translational research efforts and encourages partnerships between academic institutions and healthcare or service organizations. Applications may be submitted by a wide range of U.S.-based organizations, including higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, local, state, and tribal governments, public housing authorities, independent school districts, and faith- or community-based organizations. Non-domestic entities are not eligible to apply, though foreign components of U.S. organizations are allowed. Applicants must demonstrate institutional commitment through adequate staffing, facilities, and resources. Participants should primarily be U.S. citizens or permanent residents in clinically focused careers, such as medical or graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, residents, or independent scientists. Application budgets may request up to $350,000 in direct costs annually, with a project period not exceeding five years. Allowable expenses include personnel salaries (with limits), participant compensation, certain educational and travel expenses, consultant costs, equipment, and supplies. Indirect costs are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs. Participant support is subject to justification, and full-time NRSA-equivalent support is not allowed. The number of awards will depend on NIH appropriations and the merit of submissions. The application process follows NIH’s standard electronic submission procedures through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions. A letter of intent is requested 30 days before the application deadline. The next application due dates are March 11, 2025, August 12, 2025, and November 12, 2025, with subsequent cycles recurring through November 2027. Scientific merit reviews and advisory council reviews will follow each deadline, with earliest possible start dates approximately four to six months after submission. Applications will be evaluated based on significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, environment, and adherence to NIH’s Responsible Conduct of Research training requirements. Applicants are encouraged to contact NIDA scientific/research staff to align their proposals with current priorities. Key contacts include Dr. Keisher Highsmith (keisher.highsmith@nih.gov, 301-402-1984), Dr. Guifang Lao (guifang.lao@nih.gov, 301-443-6173), and Dr. Yu “Woody” Lin (ylin1@nida.nih.gov, 301-435-1318). Peer review and grants management contacts are also provided. This funding opportunity will expire on November 13, 2027.

Applicants are encouraged to contact NIDA scientific/research staff to discuss targeted priorities before preparing applications.