Ibogaine Clinical Research

The Arizona Biomedical Research Centre (ABRC), a division of the Arizona Department of Health Services, has released a funding opportunity to support certified clinical research studies on the use of ibogaine for the treatment of neurological diseases. This program is designed to accelerate promising research that may improve the health and wellness of Arizona residents. The initiative reflects ABRC’s long-standing commitment to basic and translational research while encouraging innovative projects that leverage state resources and strengthen collaborations among academic, nonprofit, and private institutions. The grant program seeks proposals that are multidisciplinary in scope and prioritize collaboration. Eligible projects must originate from a lead institution based in Arizona, with a demonstrated history of neurological research and treatment. The lead institution must also operate a neurosurgery program equipped with both clinical and research facilities and staffed by professionals capable of addressing highly complex neurological and neurosurgical conditions. Projects are expected to provide publishable findings in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to pioneering advancements in diagnosis and treatment. Applicants must meet strict eligibility requirements, including holding an independent research position equivalent to National Institutes of Health R01 eligibility, residing in Arizona, and conducting the study through an Arizona-based lead institution. Current ABRC grantees are permitted to apply, provided that all eligibility conditions are met. Specific regulatory requirements apply, including compliance with Investigational New Drug (IND) authorizations, Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) licensing for Schedule I controlled substances. Research plans must account for FDA draft and finalized guidance regarding psychedelic drug clinical investigations, including extended monitoring of study participants. The funding scope includes both safety and efficacy assessments of ibogaine in humans, with particular attention to randomized controlled clinical trials. Eligible project costs include those directly related to project implementation, with indirect costs capped at 10 percent of total direct costs per year. Manuscript preparation fees are allowable but limited to $9,000, and tuition remission for research assistants is also permitted. All costs must be itemized in the required budget documents. Up to $5 million in total funding is available for this program, with the intent to support a single large-scale project lasting up to five years. While the maximum award is capped at $5 million, specific award ceilings and numbers of awards are not defined beyond this framework. Funding availability is contingent on appropriations, and ABRC reserves the right to make no awards. The program does not require matching funds. The application period opens on October 3, 2025, and closes on November 19, 2025. A pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for October 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. local Arizona time via Google Meet. Applications must be submitted through the designated channels, with full compliance to submission instructions outlined in the official documents. The primary contact for the solicitation is Brittany Manuel, Senior Procurement Specialist, Arizona Department of Health Services, reachable at brittany.manuel@azdhs.gov or 480-521-2703. Award decisions are expected following review of submitted proposals, with selected projects commencing upon execution of grant agreements.

Ensure indirect costs under 10 percent; demonstrate capacity for neurological clinical trials; follow FDA psychedelic drug guidance