NIDA Core "Center of Excellence" Grant Program (P30 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 23 049

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 049

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is offering the NIDA Core "Center of Excellence" Grant Program using the P30 mechanism (PAR-23-049). This opportunity supports the creation or strengthening of a coordinated research center that unites investigators who already hold NIH or other federally or non-federally funded awards. The core idea is to make existing research efforts more effective and collaborative while deliberately extending and sharpening their relevance to drug abuse and addiction. Rather than funding isolated new projects, the program emphasizes shared infrastructure and coordination that helps multiple funded projects work together under a unifying theme, producing outcomes that are bigger than what each project could generate on its own.

A major expectation of this program is that the Center will push the field in meaningful, forward-leaning ways. NIDA signals clearly that incremental or routine extensions of current work should not be the main purpose of a P30 Center. Instead, applications are expected to propose new and creative directions made possible by integration across existing studies, disciplines, methods, and teams. In practice, that means the Center should be designed to "transform knowledge" in the scientific area it targets, for example by enabling cross-cutting approaches, shared data resources, harmonized measures, new analytic platforms, community or clinical linkages, or other core services that unlock novel science focused on addiction and related outcomes.

The structure of the application is expected to revolve around core activities that directly support and connect the participating investigators and their already-funded projects. Each core should clearly tie back to the Center's integrating theme, showing how it will accelerate discovery, improve rigor and efficiency, and create new opportunities that individual grants could not easily accomplish alone. Beyond supporting established investigators, the program places importance on developing the next generation of scientists: Centers are expected to provide research opportunities and experiences for new investigators. The program also stresses responsible sharing of findings, data, and resources, consistent with NIH expectations and with the overall goal of advancing addiction science through broader access to tools and knowledge generated by the Center.

The opportunity is listed as "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning the Center can include clinical trial-related activities if appropriate, but clinical trials are not required. The activity category is Education and Health, and the associated CFDA number is 93.279. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant. While the listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided excerpt, the closing date shown is 2025-11-17, and the notice was created on 2022-12-28.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; 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; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign eligibility is limited in a way that is typical for many NIH opportunities. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the primary applicant organization. However, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations may participate, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, which means international collaboration can be part of the work when justified and structured under an eligible U.S. applicant.

Overall, this P30 program is aimed at building a cohesive "Center of Excellence" that acts as a multiplier for ongoing funded research, using shared cores, common strategy, and coordinated expertise to generate innovative, field-shaping advances in drug abuse and addiction science, while also supporting new investigators and promoting meaningful data and resource sharing.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDA Core "Center of Excellence" Grant Program (P30 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 2022-12-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-11-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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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