Neural Ensembles & Used Substances (NExUS) Collaboratory: Building a Multimodal Inventory of Cell Ensembles Encoding the Effects of Addictive Substances

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the primary federal agency supporting scientific research on drug use and its consequences. It plays a vital role in advancing knowledge to improve prevention, treatment, and recovery support services. In pursuit of this mission, NIDA is forecasting the launch of the "Neural Ensembles & Used Substances (NExUS) Collaboratory" under opportunity number RFA-DA-27-010. This initiative seeks to expand the current knowledgebase concerning how addictive substances affect specific neural cell populations and related computations in the brain. The purpose of the NExUS Collaboratory is to support multidisciplinary research that builds a multimodal inventory of neural ensembles impacted by substance use. Applicants will be expected to collect and disseminate high-resolution datasets that characterize neural cell populations responsive to elements of substance-associated experiences. Additionally, projects must integrate various data modalities—such as molecular identity, epigenetic state, morphology, spatial location, and connectivity—with cellular activity data to create comprehensive profiles of ensemble behavior in addiction contexts. Projects under this opportunity are also expected to develop scalable tools for analyzing and visualizing the composition and structure of neural ensembles. These tools should inform and test theories related to how neural motifs are recruited into ensembles and how these groups encode substance-related experiences. Synergy among funded projects is a core requirement, and applicants should demonstrate coordination in terms of outreach, data standards, analytics frameworks, and shared reference taxonomies. Alignment with broader cell atlasing initiatives will also be critical to maximize collaborative impact. The funding mechanism for this opportunity is a Cooperative Agreement, which implies substantial involvement from NIDA staff during the execution of the project. The expected number of awards is four, with an award ceiling of $700,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The estimated application due date is October 7, 2026, with an anticipated project start date of July 1, 2027. The total program funding and minimum award amount were not specified in the forecast. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive, encompassing public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, federally recognized and non-federally recognized tribal governments, for-profit entities (including small businesses), independent school districts, public housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (with and without IRS 501(c)(3) status), and faith-based or community-based organizations. Non-U.S. entities and eligible federal agencies may also apply. Prospective applicants should plan to align their proposals with the goals listed in the forecast. While no specific pre-application materials are required, the final application should be submitted through Grants.gov by the due date. All questions and communication should be directed to the Integrative Neuroscience Branch Program Staff at [email protected]. The estimated post date is July 1, 2026, providing time for applicants to prepare and refine their submissions ahead of the October deadline.