NIDA Research Center of Excellence Grant Program (P50 Clinical Trial Optional)

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Description

This opportunity supports the creation and operation of research Centers of Excellence focused on drug abuse and addiction, under the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The program funds multidisciplinary, thematically integrated, and synergistic centers that conduct transformative research, foster innovation, and serve as national resources for the scientific community, educators, the public, and policymakers. Centers are expected to:

• Advance knowledge in substance use and addiction, including intersections with HIV.
• Integrate multiple scientific perspectives (biological, biomedical, behavioral, clinical, dissemination sciences, etc.).
• Provide educational and outreach activities to research communities and the public.
• Foster the career development and mentoring of new and early-career investigators.
• Share data, findings, and resources to further the field.

Incremental or routine work is not the focus; centers must pursue new, creative, and high-impact directions.

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Due Dates

• Letter of Intent (LOI):
  • August 26, 2025 (30 days prior to September 25, 2025 application due date)
  • October 19, 2025 (30 days prior to November 18, 2025 AIDS application due date)
• Application Deadlines:
  • September 25, 2025 (New, Renewal, Resubmission, Revision)
  • November 18, 2025 (AIDS applications)
• Expiration: November 19, 2025

All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.

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Funding Amount

• Maximum Direct Costs: $10,000,000 total for the 5-year project period.
• Project Period: Up to 5 years.
• Number of Awards: Contingent on NIH appropriations and the number of meritorious applications.
• Budget: Should reflect actual needs; pilot project core direct costs are capped at 25% of total direct costs or $200,000/year, whichever is less.

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Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

• Public and private institutions of higher education (both public/state-controlled and private)
• Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), excluding institutions of higher education
• For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
• State, county, city, township, and special district governments
• Independent school districts
• Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
• Federally recognized and other Native American tribal governments and organizations
• Faith-based and community-based organizations
• Regional organizations
• U.S. territories and possessions
• Eligible agencies of the federal government

Not eligible: Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations.
Foreign components (as defined by NIH) are allowed within U.S. organizations.

Note: Applicant organizations must complete all required registrations (SAM, eRA Commons, Grants.gov, etc.) before applying.

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Application Process

• Application Mechanism: P50 Specialized Center (Clinical Trial Optional)

• Submission: Use NIH ASSIST, institutional system-to-system, or Grants.gov Workspace.

• Required Components:

  • Overall (required)
  • Administrative Core (required)
  • Research Core(s) (optional)
  • Pilot Project Core (optional; pilot projects do not count toward the minimum of 3 required research projects)
  • At least 3 Research Projects (required)

• Page Limits:

  • Overall: 12 pages
  • Administrative Core: 6 pages
  • Research Core: 12 pages each
  • Pilot Project Core: 12 pages each
  • Research Projects: 12 pages each

• Data Management and Sharing Plan: Required for all applications generating scientific data.

• Human Subjects/Clinical Trials: Applications may include or exclude clinical trials; follow NIH policy for required documentation.

• Letters of Support: Demonstrate institutional commitment and, if applicable, external advisory structure.

• Review Criteria: Significance, innovation, approach, investigator(s), environment, and integration/synergy among components.

See the NIH Multi-Project Application Guide (Forms-H) for detailed instructions.

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Additional Information

• Updated FOA: As of March 31, 2025, the FOA has been updated to align with new agency priorities. Applicants should review the full announcement for changes and ensure compliance with the latest requirements.
• Data Sharing: All centers are expected to share data, resources, and findings as appropriate.
• Career Development: Centers must provide meaningful roles and mentoring for new and early-career investigators.
• National Resource Role: Centers are expected to serve as hubs for education, outreach, and collaboration in the substance use/addiction research community.

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External Links

• NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (PAR-23-076)
• Grants.gov Opportunity Listing
• NIH Multi-Project Application Guide (Forms-H)
• NIDA Funding Special Considerations

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Contact Information

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