Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: July 13, 2025 (Letter of Intent/Earliest Submission) | August 13, 2025 (Application Due)
Funding Amounts: ~$2,000,000 total in FY 2026 for 3–4 awards; no budget cap, up to 5 years/project.
Summary: Supports research using ex vivo human iPSC-derived models to study neuroimmune and neuronal-glial mechanisms linking HIV-associated neurological disorders and addictive substance use.
Key Information: Clinical trials are not allowed; applications must use human cells/tissues and address addictive substances (not alcohol only).
Description
This opportunity, offered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at NIH, seeks to advance understanding of the neuroimmune and neuronal-glial mechanisms underlying the intersection of HIV-associated neurological disorders (HAND) and addictive substance use. The focus is on research using ex vivo culturing platforms derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), enabling mechanistic studies at the single-cell and neural circuit levels.
Projects should leverage state-of-the-art ex vivo technologies (e.g., tissue-chip, 3D microfluidic cultures, cerebral organoids, 3D tissue printing) to dissect how HIV and addictive substances (such as opioids, cannabinoids, methamphetamine, amphetamine, cocaine, and nicotine) interact to drive neurodegeneration, viral latency, and neuropathology. The program encourages unbiased, reproducible analysis of genetics, epigenetics, neuroglial interactions, and neuroimmune cell activities.
Applications must include at least one aim or sub-aim focused on exposure to addictive substances or relevant signaling pathways. Projects focused solely on alcohol, or that do not use human cells/tissues, are not responsive.
Due Dates
- Letter of Intent (optional): July 13, 2025
- Earliest Submission Date: July 13, 2025
- Application Due Date: August 13, 2025 (by 5:00 PM local time)
- Scientific Merit Review: November 2025
- Advisory Council Review: January 2026
- Earliest Start Date: April 2026
- Expiration Date: August 14, 2025
Funding Amount
- Total Funds Available: ~$2,000,000 in FY 2026
- Expected Number of Awards: 3–4
- Award Budget: No specific budget cap; budgets must reflect actual project needs
- Project Period: Up to 5 years
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
- Public and private higher education institutions
- Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments
- Tribal governments and organizations (federally recognized and other)
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Faith-based and community-based organizations
- Regional organizations
- U.S. territories and possessions
- Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign components
Note: Applicant organizations must complete all required registrations (SAM, eRA Commons, Grants.gov, etc.) before applying. Foreign organizations and components are eligible.
Application Process
- Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically via ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution.
- Letter of Intent: Not required, but recommended to help NIDA plan review.
- Application Instructions: Follow the NIH How to Apply – Application Guide and the specific instructions in the funding announcement.
- Required Plans: All applications must include a Data Management and Sharing Plan.
- Appendix: Only limited materials allowed (e.g., blank surveys/questionnaires).
Additional Information
- Non-Responsive Applications: Will be withdrawn if they do not use human cells/tissues, do not address addictive substances (as defined), or focus solely on alcohol.
- Clinical Trials: Not allowed under this opportunity.
- Special Considerations: NIDA-specific requirements and policies apply; see NIDA Special Considerations.
- Review Criteria: Emphasis on significance, innovation, rigor, feasibility, investigator expertise, and environment. See full review criteria for details.
External Links
- Full Funding Announcement (NIH)
- NIDA Special Considerations for Funding
- NIH How to Apply – Application Guide
- NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy
- NIH Grants Policy Statement
- Apply via Grants.gov
Contact Information
| Topic | Contact Name/Office | Email/Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific/Research | Dr. Da-Yu Wu, NIDA | wudy@nida.nih.gov | 301-435-4649 |
| Peer Review | NIDA Review | NIDAPeerReview@nih.gov |
| Grants Management | Chief Grants Management Officer, NIDA | nidagmbemail@nida.nih.gov |
| General Grants Info | NIH Grants Information | GrantsInfo@nih.gov | 301-480-7075 |
| Application Systems | eRA Service Desk | eRA Helpdesk | 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 |
| Grants.gov Support | Grants.gov Customer Support | support@grants.gov | 800-518-4726 |