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

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Description

This opportunity, offered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at NIH, funds institutional K12 programs to provide intensive, mentored research training and career development for clinician scientists (Scholars) in substance use and substance use disorder (SUD) research. The program aims to prepare Scholars for research independence through a combination of didactic coursework, supervised research, and career development activities. Scholars may lead or participate in clinical trials, including minimal risk trials, as part of their training.

Programs must be designed to support a diverse pool of clinician scientists, including but not limited to physicians, clinical psychologists, social workers, and pharmacists. Each Scholar is expected to be supported for 3–4 years (12-month appointments), with a minimum commitment of 9 person-months (75% effort) per year to research and career development.

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Due Dates

• Upcoming Application Deadlines:
  • August 5, 2025
  • November 13, 2025
  • March 6, 2026
  • August 5, 2026
  • November 13, 2026
• AIDS-related applications: Same deadlines as above.
• All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
• Expiration Date: November 14, 2026

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Funding Amount

• Direct Costs: Up to $750,000 per year (exceptions require prior approval).
• Project Period: 4 to 5 years.
• Scholar Support:
  • Salary up to $100,000/year (plus fringe benefits) per Scholar.
  • Up to $50,000/year per Scholar for research-related costs (consultants, supplies, equipment, technical personnel, travel, statistical services).
• Other Expenses:
  • Advisory Committee member travel up to $1,200/year.
  • Indirect costs reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs.

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Eligibility

• Eligible Organizations:

  • Public and private institutions of higher education (including medical schools)
  • Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
  • State, county, city, township, and special district governments
  • Native American tribal governments and organizations
  • Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
  • For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
  • Small businesses
  • Faith-based and community-based organizations
  • U.S. territories and possessions
  • Eligible federal agencies

• Ineligible:

  • Non-U.S. (foreign) organizations and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations.

• Scholar Requirements:

  • Must hold a doctoral degree (e.g., MD, PhD, PharmD, PsyD, etc.).
  • Must be a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national, or permanent resident at the time of appointment.
  • Must commit at least 75% full-time professional effort to research and career development.
  • Cannot have had a previous mentored career development award (with some exceptions).
  • Must not be current/former PD/PI on NIH research project grants or equivalent non-PHS peer-reviewed grants >$100,000/year direct costs.

• Institutional Requirements:

  • Must have a strong research program in substance use/SUD.
  • Must provide adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources.

• Limited Submission:

  • Only one application per institution per cycle.

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Application Process

• Application Submission:

  • Use NIH ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions.
  • Follow the NIH Training (T) Application Guide.
  • Substitute “scholars” for “trainees” and “career development” for “training” in forms.

• Required Components:

  • SF424 (R&R) forms
  • PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan (with required data tables)
  • Research & Related (R&R) Budget (include all personnel and scholar costs)
  • Letters of support (including institutional commitment)
  • Plan for instruction in the responsible conduct of research
  • Plan for instruction in methods for enhancing reproducibility
  • (Optional but recommended) Advisory Committee plan

• Clinical Trials:

  • Clinical trial participation is optional. Scholars may lead, participate in, or gain experience in clinical trials.

• Review Criteria:

  • Scientific merit of the program
  • Quality of the career development plan
  • Institutional environment and commitment
  • Qualifications of PD/PI and mentors
  • Recruitment and selection strategies for Scholars
  • Evaluation plan

• Submission Tips:

  • Register early in all required systems (SAM, eRA Commons, Grants.gov).
  • Applications not conforming to requirements may be delayed or not reviewed.

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Additional Information

• Program Structure:

  • Programs should include both didactic and supervised research components.
  • Individual Development Plans (IDPs) for Scholars are strongly encouraged.
  • Programs should foster a supportive, inclusive environment and may use consortia or rotations to broaden impact.

• Special Considerations:

  • HIV/AIDS counseling and testing policy applies to NIDA-funded research.
  • Data science, bioinformatics, and research ethics training are encouraged.

• Reporting:

  • Annual Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPRs) required.
  • Use of IDPs must be reported.
  • Final reports required at project closeout.

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External Links

• Full Funding Opportunity Announcement (PAR-24-089)
• NIH Training (T) Application Guide
• NIDA Strategic Plan
• NIH Clinical Trial Requirements
• NIH Grants Policy Statement
• NIH eRA Commons
• Grants.gov Opportunity Listing

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Contact Information

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