Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 073

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 073

The Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R34 Clinical Trial Optional), Funding Opportunity Number PA-18-073, is a National Institutes of Health discretionary grant program designed to support early-stage, tightly scoped treatment-development research that can be finished within a three-year project period. The central aim is to move promising behavioral and integrative interventions forward through well-defined Stage I work, including the creation, refinement, and preliminary testing of interventions that address substance use and closely related public health needs. The announcement also makes clear that a clinical trial may be included, but it is not required, which gives applicants flexibility to propose either non-trial developmental research or small early clinical studies when appropriate.

The program prioritizes research on behavioral interventions and integrated approaches that combine behavioral components with other modalities such as pharmacological treatment. The target problem areas include (a) substance abuse, (b) prevention of acquiring or transmitting HIV among people receiving substance abuse treatment, (c) improving adherence to substance abuse treatment as well as HIV and addiction medications, and (d) chronic pain. In practice, this means proposals can focus on developing or improving interventions that reduce substance use, reduce HIV risk behaviors in treatment populations, help patients take medications correctly and stay engaged in care, or address chronic pain in ways that are relevant to addiction risk and treatment outcomes.

A major emphasis is on Stage I intervention development activities. The FOA highlights several example project types: first, Stage I intervention generation, where the goal is to create a new intervention or substantially rework an existing one using theory, empirical findings, and stakeholder input. Second, Stage I pilot or feasibility studies, which are smaller, early tests intended to show that the intervention can be delivered as designed, is acceptable to the target population, and produces signals that justify later, larger-stage efficacy or effectiveness trials. Importantly, these Stage I efforts are expected to go beyond simple feasibility and incorporate the development and measurement of putative targets and change processes. That includes specifying and evaluating moderators (for whom or under what conditions the intervention works), mediators (how the intervention produces change), and mechanisms of change (the underlying processes the intervention is designed to affect). This expectation pushes applicants to build a clear conceptual model and a measurement plan that can inform optimization and later-stage testing.

The FOA also calls out Stage I studies that generate or refine substance abuse treatment or adherence interventions for primary care settings, reflecting an interest in making interventions workable in real-world, front-line healthcare environments. In addition, it encourages Stage I research aimed at boosting intervention effects and improving implementability, including creative use of technology or other strategies. That can include digital tools, telehealth formats, mobile support, automated adherence supports, or workflow-friendly designs that reduce burden for clinics and patients while preserving or strengthening outcomes.

From an eligibility standpoint, the opportunity is broad and open to many organization types, including state, county, city, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other entities. The FOA explicitly notes additional eligible applicant categories 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). The listing signals an intent to support diverse institutional applicants and encourage participation from community-based, tribal, minority-serving, and international organizations where relevant to the research.

In terms of award parameters included in the provided source data, the opportunity is administered by NIH and associated with CFDA numbers 93.273 and 93.279. The award ceiling is listed as $225,000. The original closing date shown is 2019-01-07, and the opportunity record creation date is 2017-11-02. Overall, this FOA is best understood as a time-limited, development-focused grant mechanism for teams who can propose a clearly bounded set of aims that produce a more mature intervention package, stronger evidence of feasibility and promise, and a clearer understanding of targets and mechanisms that can support subsequent larger clinical research or implementation-oriented studies.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273, 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-07. (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 $225,000.00 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.

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