151st Meeting Minutes

Minutes – September 9, 2025

The National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse convened its 151st meeting at 10:30 a.m. on September 9, 2025. This was a hybrid meeting. The closed portion of the meeting held on September 9th was for reviewing applications for Federal grant assistance and was open only to Council members and Federal employees. The open portion of the meeting began at 1:00 p.m. The Council adjourned on September 9, 2025, at 4:30 p.m.

Council Members Present
Arpana Agrawal, Ph.D.
Kate Beebe DeVarney, Ph.D.
Deborah Chassler, MSW
Cristiane Duarte, Ph.D.
Helena Hansen, M.D., Ph.D.
Regina LaBelle, J.D.
Angela Laird, Ph.D.
Mark VonZastrow, M.D., Ph.D.

Council Chair
Nora Volkow, M.D.

Executive Secretary
Susan Weiss, Ph.D.

Closed Portion of the Meeting - September 9, 2025

1. Call to Order     
   This portion of the meeting was closed to the public in accordance with the determination that it was concerned with matters exempt from mandatory disclosure under sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C., and section 1009(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. §§ 1001-1014).
   
   Dr. Nora Volkow, Director, NIDA, called the meeting to order and welcomed the Council and staff. She reminded those present that the Federal Advisory Committee Act applies to Council meetings and that this portion of the meeting was closed to the public.
   
   Dr. Susan Weiss, Executive Secretary, summarized relevant NIH policies, provided detailed instructions on Council review procedures, and reminded those present about NIH confidentiality and conflict of interest policies.

2. Application Reviews     
   Drs. Elena Koustova, Iván Montoya, Tristan McClure-Begley, Carlos Blanco, and Wilson Compton, Directors of NIDA’s Office of Translational Initiatives and Program Innovations, Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences, Division of Neuroscience and Behavior (acting), Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research, and Office of Research Training and Career Development presented their Division’s assigned and peer-reviewed applications for consideration by the Council. For each application, Council provided unanimous en bloc concurrence with the initial scientific review. One administrative supplement, one foreign application, and three Special Council Review Applications were presented to Council; Council concurred with program assessments. The initial review of all Trans- NIH Initiatives, including NIH Common Fund, Blueprint, and BRAIN applications, as well as foreign applications and applications with a secondary assignment to NIDA, also received Council concurrence. In total, Council concurred with the initial review of 1,489 applications requesting $723 million in first-year direct costs.

   Council and staff were recused from the Council meeting during the discussion of, and voting on, individual applications from their own institutions or other applications for which there was a conflict of interest, real or apparent. Conflicts of interest statements were signed by each member of the Council. Members were not required to leave the room if an application in conflict with that member was acted upon en bloc.

Open Portion of the Meeting - September 9, 2025

1. Call to Order     
   Dr. Nora Volkow, Director, NIDA, called the open portion of the meeting to order and welcomed all attendees. She reminded all in attendance that the meeting was open to the public in compliance with the Government in the Sunshine Act, was available and recorded via videocast, and indicated that any public comments submitted via email within 10 days of the meeting would be included in the minutes.
2. Announce Future Council Dates
   February 3, 2026
   May 5th & 6th, 2026
3. NIDA Director’s Report (NIH Videocast) – Nora Volkow, M.D., Director, NIDA
   Dr. Volkow first updated Council on the newly released Tenets of Gold Standard Science at NIH and detailed changes to NIH funding opportunities including a reduction in the number of funding opportunities and the introduction of Highlighted Topics. She then reviewed the current NIDA budget and changes to leadership. Next, Dr. Volkow presented data on initiation of substance use and overall substance use, including data on substance use disorders and treatment. She then provided updates on the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study and HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study (HBCD) and the newly launched NBDC Data Hub for data sharing. Next, she presented trends in drug overdose deaths by substance and specifically discussed overdose deaths involving stimulants and opioids. She then briefly discussed the HEAL Initiative strategic plan and highlighted successful SBIR and STTR products, including a stochastic vibro-tactile stimulation for newborns at risk of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome. Dr. Volkow concluded by reminding Council of the upcoming Frontiers in Addiction Research mini-convention at the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting.
   
   Council thanked Dr. Volkow for her presentation and a discussion followed (NIH Videocast @ 51:35).
4. The NIH HEAL Initiative: Progress and Promise (NIH Videocast @ 1:29:00) – Michele Rankin, Ph.D. Director, HEAL Initiative
   Dr. Rankin provided updates on the HEAL Initiative Research Program including the budget and recent accomplishments in advancing therapeutics, optimizing patient care though existing treatments, addressing the needs of high-risk populations, and scientific discovery fueled by shared data. She discussed the impact of the research as seen through patents, clinical trials, clinical guidance and health policy. Dr. Rankin then provided an overview of the NIDA HEAL Strategic Plan and the objectives to advance research on the prevention and treatment of 1) Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and other Substance Use Disorders (SUD) that contribute to overdoses, and on overdose treatments and 2) the prevention and treatment of OUD and overdoses in the context of chronic pain and other mental health disorders.
   
   Following the presentation, a discussion with Council occurred (NIH Videocast @ 1:47:55).
5. ABCD: Continuing the Arc of Development (NIH Videocast @ 1:57:12) – Gaya Dowling, Ph.D. Director, ABCD Study
   Dr. Dowling provided an overview of the most recent ABCD: Continuing the Arc of Development Expert Panel Meeting that took place July 21-22, 2025. The meeting focused on key domains of interest in the next phase of the study including social health and environment, substance use and mental health, physical health, neurocognition and imaging, and study design. They discussed research objectives and how each domain can be studied. The meeting included insights from young adult participants from ABCD and other studies.
   
   Following the presentation, a discussion with Council occurred (NIH Videocast @ 2:33:28).
6. Concept Clearances  (NIH Videocast @ 2:37:25)
   
   Division of Extramural Research (DER) & Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research (DESPR)
   – NBCD and PATH Studies Biospecimens Access – Kim Leblanc, Ph.D. and Heather Kimmel, Ph.D.
   
   Office of Translational Initiatives and Program Innovations (OTIPI)
   – Growing Great Ideas: Research Education Course in Product Development and Entrepreneurship for Life Science Researchers – Jess Lukacs, M.D., M.B.A.
   
   Division of Neuroscience and Behavior (DNB)
   – Science Track Award for Research Transition (START) Program – Hoang Le, Ph.D.
7. Public Comments (NIH Videocast @ 2:44:20)    
   No public comments were submitted.
8. Adjourn (NIH Videocast @ 2:46:00)       
   The 151st meeting of the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse was adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

Certification

I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are accurate and complete.

• Nora D. Volkow, M.D.
  Director, NIDA
  Chair, National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse
• Susan Weiss, Ph.D.
  Executive Secretary, National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse

Council Roster

Note: Informational materials provided to the public at the open session of the meeting may be obtained from the Executive Secretary.