Accelerating the Pace of Drug Abuse Research Using Existing Data (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DA 22 038

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 22 038

The grant opportunity titled "Accelerating the Pace of Drug Abuse Research Using Existing Data (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-22-038) is a discretionary NIH grant designed to speed up progress in drug abuse research by encouraging researchers to make innovative, high-impact use of data that already exist. Instead of requiring new data collection, the focus is on extracting new insights from social science, behavioral, administrative, and neuroimaging datasets that are already available through public-use sources or other extant community-based and clinical data resources. The overall aim is to use these datasets more fully and creatively to answer important questions that can move the field forward more quickly and efficiently.

The scientific scope centers on understanding both the etiology (origins and causes) and epidemiology (patterns, distribution, and determinants) of drug-using behaviors and related disorders. In this FOA, "drug use" is defined broadly to include alcohol, tobacco, prescription drugs, and other substances. Applications are expected to use existing data to clarify how substance use starts, how it changes over time, and what factors influence progression, escalation, remission, relapse, and long-term outcomes. Strong interest is placed on studying trajectories of drug use behaviors and the real-world consequences tied to those trajectories, including morbidity and mortality. Another major emphasis is identifying risk and resilience factors, particularly those related to the development of psychopathology, which can include mental health conditions that co-occur with or are influenced by substance use.

In addition to substance use itself, the FOA highlights prevention of drug use and HIV, recognizing the overlapping public health challenges and shared risk pathways. Projects may examine how substance use and HIV risk intersect, what protective factors reduce risk, and which prevention approaches appear most effective across different populations and settings. A related priority is health service utilization, meaning research that looks at how people access and use prevention, treatment, and recovery services, what barriers exist, and what system-level factors shape service delivery and outcomes. The FOA is also interested in generating evidence that can guide strategies for developing, testing, implementing, and delivering services that are high quality, effective, and efficient, particularly for prevention and treatment of drug abuse and HIV. In practice, this could include analyses that evaluate real-world service models, compare outcomes across programs or systems, or identify gaps where services are not reaching those in need.

Because this is an R21 mechanism, the intent is generally to support exploratory and developmental work that can yield valuable findings relatively quickly, often by applying novel analytic techniques, combining or harmonizing existing datasets, or asking new questions of established data sources. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation indicates that applicants have flexibility: they may propose work that does not involve a clinical trial, and if their project does meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial, it may be allowable under this FOA. The central theme remains the innovative analysis of existing data rather than launching new, large-scale prospective studies.

Eligibility is broad and spans many organization types, reflecting NIH's interest in drawing talent and ideas from across sectors. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. Eligibility also includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and a wide range of other entities. The FOA explicitly calls out additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, eligible federal agencies, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This inclusive list signals a strong interest in diverse applicants and varied research contexts, including community-based and international perspectives where relevant.

Administratively, the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the program is associated with CFDA numbers 93.273 and 93.279. The original closing date listed for this opportunity was January 13, 2023, and the FOA was created on January 10, 2022. While the source text does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the core message is clear: NIH is seeking innovative, analytically strong proposals that use existing datasets to generate new knowledge about substance use behaviors, related disorders, HIV prevention links, and the way prevention and treatment services are utilized and can be improved.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Accelerating the Pace of Drug Abuse Research Using Existing Data (R21 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 2022-01-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-01-13. (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.

Apply for RFA DA 22 038

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