NIH Funding Opportunities Open to International Researchers

Several funding opportunities from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) may be of interest to international drug use and addiction researchers.

  • NIDA Research Education Program for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians: NIDA is offering funding within the NIH Research Education Program (R25) to support research education activities that enhance knowledge of substance use and substance use disorders among clinical researchers and clinicians. Such educational activities may include courses for skills development (e.g., in specific disciplines, research areas, procedures, or techniques) as well as research experiences for graduate students, medical and other health professions students, postgraduates, medical residents, and faculty members. New applications as well as renewals and resubmissions are allowed. The budget for the proposed research education program is limited to $350,000 in direct costs annually, and the total project period may not exceed 5 years. Note that applications from foreign institutions are not allowed; however, foreign components are permitted.
  • Infrastructure Development Training Programs for Critical HIV Research at Low- and Middle-Income Country Institutions: NIDA is participating in a funding opportunity to increase the scientific capacity of institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) for conducting HIV research. The goal is to fill gaps in research infrastructure functions (e.g., grant administration and management skills, other administrative processes, technical expertise) that will support the institution’s research activities. Applications may be submitted by foreign institutions in an LMIC or by U.S. institutions having active HIV research collaborations with the LMIC institution named in the application. Proposed programs can support a combination of short-, medium-, and long-term training programs, with a focus on programs that allow individuals and institutions to sustain the increased capacity beyond the 3-year program period. The budget for the proposed projects is limited to $94,000 in direct costs annually, and the maximum project period is 3 years.
  • Chronic, Noncommunicable Diseases and Disorders Across the Life Span: Fogarty International Research Training Award (NCD-LIFESPAN): The Fogarty International Center—together with other NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices, is offering funding for collaborative research training programs in low- and middle-income countries that aim to sustainably strengthen the capacity of the LMIC institutions to conduct research on noncommunicable diseases. The training programs may be implemented in collaboration with either a U.S. institution or with another institution in an LMIC. Multidisciplinary training programs are encouraged, as are programs that are relevant across noncommunicable diseases. The training program is expected to sustainably strengthen the research capacity of the LMIC institution for noncommunicable diseases and to train in-country experts who can develop and conduct research on noncommunicable disease across the life span and, ultimately, develop and implement evidence-based interventions. The budget for new awards is limited to $230,000 in direct costs annually, and the maximum project period is 5 years. Note that, although NIDA is not directly participating in this program, it is still of interest to drug use and addiction researchers because the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) are involved and offering relevant opportunities.