NIDA Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder Research (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 746

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 746

The NIDA Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder Research (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity designed to help institutions build structured, mentored career development programs for clinician scientists who are working toward research independence in substance use and substance use disorder (SUD) research. The core purpose is to create a rigorous, supervised training environment where selected clinician-scientist trainees (referred to as Scholars) receive intensive research experiences alongside tailored career development activities, with the long-term goal of preparing them to become independent investigators who can lead impactful SUD-focused research programs.

A key feature of this K12 program is its flexibility around clinical trials. The FOA explicitly allows Scholars to be appointed under several clinical trial involvement scenarios: a Scholar may serve as the lead investigator of an independent clinical trial, conduct an ancillary study tied to an existing clinical trial, or gain hands-on research experience by participating in a clinical trial led by another investigator. In practical terms, this means the program can support Scholars across a spectrum of clinical research engagement, from learning within an established trial infrastructure to taking on leadership responsibility for a trial component, depending on their experience level, mentorship plan, and the program structure developed by the applicant institution.

The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant with an activity focus spanning education and health, and it is associated with CFDA number 93.279. The funding opportunity number is PAR-18-746, and the program was created on April 6, 2018. The listed original closing date was August 28, 2020. The announcement includes an award ceiling of $500,000, indicating the maximum allowable award amount under the program as presented in the source information (with actual awards typically dependent on NIH decisions, budgets, and program design).

Eligibility is broad for U.S.-based entities and includes many types of governmental, academic, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; certain tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments, as listed); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other eligible organizations. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than federally recognized), and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the announcement places clear limits on foreign participation at the applicant level. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) and non-domestic (non-U.S.) foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. In other words, the applicant organization and the supported institutional program must be based in the United States and cannot rely on non-U.S. organizational components as the applicant structure under this FOA.

Overall, this FOA is aimed at strengthening the clinician-scientist workforce in substance use and SUD research by funding institutional K12 programs that provide mentored research training, career development support, and appropriate opportunities for clinical trial experience. The emphasis is on building a pathway from mentored training to independence, while allowing Scholars to engage in clinical trials in ways that match their career stage and research trajectory.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDA Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder Research (K12 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-04-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-08-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 18 746

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