NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health, has issued a forecast notice of intent to publish a funding opportunity titled NIDA REI: Racial Equity Visionary Award Program for Research on Substance Use and Racial Equity (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional). This program builds on prior efforts under RFA-DA-23-026 and is intended to support research projects that address the intersection of substance use and racial equity. The notice was last updated on April 2, 2025, with an estimated posting date of March 1, 2025. This early forecast is provided to allow interested applicants sufficient time to establish collaborations and prepare responsive proposals. The objective of this award program is to support bold, innovative, and visionary approaches to understanding and addressing disparities related to substance use and racial equity. The award mechanism, identified under the DP1 activity code, is designed to provide investigators with the flexibility to pursue innovative directions without the traditional structure of multiple smaller grants. Research funded through this opportunity is expected to contribute to new knowledge that may reduce inequities in health outcomes and improve scientific understanding of substance use disorders within the context of race and equity. The funding activity falls under the health category and is supported by the Assistance Listing 93.279, Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs. The estimated total program funding is $3,500,000, with an award ceiling of $700,000 for individual projects. The award floor is not specified. The estimated award and project start date is July 1, 2026. The opportunity is discretionary in nature, meaning that applicants are not guaranteed funding and proposals will be subject to competitive review. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is broad and includes a range of applicant types. Eligible entities include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, state governments, county governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities, small businesses, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. This wide eligibility reflects the program’s intent to attract diverse perspectives and expertise to address the pressing issues of racial equity in substance use research. Applications are not yet being accepted, as the notice currently serves as a forecast. The estimated application due date is October 14, 2025. At present, no pre-application steps such as letters of intent or concept papers have been identified in the notice. Applications will close on that date, and awards will be announced by July 1, 2026. The program is recurring, with indications that it will be reissued in future cycles, though exact details for subsequent years are not provided in this notice. Applicants with questions or seeking additional guidance are encouraged to contact the NIH OPERA DGSI Systems Policy Branch. The listed contact email is operasystemspolicy@nih.gov. No phone number or individual grant officer name has been provided at this stage. Further details, including application submission requirements and evaluation criteria, will be included in the full notice of funding opportunity expected to be published in spring 2025. Interested applicants are advised to monitor the official NIH and Grants.gov portals for updates.