Individual Awards
Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Use Disorders and HIV (DP2)
NIDA has supported highly innovative researchers proposing potentially transformative research. The Avenir Award for HIV/AIDS Research is designed to complement the Avant-Garde award by focusing on early stage investigators. Avenir applicants may propose research in any area of high priority HIV/AIDS research that has the potential to open new areas of HIV/AIDS research and/or lead to new avenues for treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS among substance users. Funding Announcement
NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)
Provides up to 5 years of support consisting of two phases: 1-2 years of mentored support for highly promising, postdoctoral research scientists, followed by up to 3 years of independent support contingent on securing an independent research position. K99/R00 applicants must have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research experience at the time of initial application or resubmission. Funding Announcement.
BRAIN K99/R00 – Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity
Provides up to 5 years of support consisting of two phases: 1-2 years of mentored support for highly promising, postdoctoral research scientists, followed by up to 3 years of independent support contingent on securing an independent research position. This program is designed to enhance workforce diversity and foster a strong cohort of new, highly skilled and well trained, NIH-supported, independent investigators from diverse backgrounds (including nationally underrepresented groups) working in research areas supported by the BRAIN Initiative. BRAIN Program Funding Announcements.
MOSAIC K99/R00 – Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers
The MOSAIC K99/R00 program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of promising postdoctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds from their mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions at research-intensive institutions. Similar to other K99/R00 mechanisms, the MOSAIC K99/R00 award provides support during a postdoctoral and independent phase. MOSAIC K99/R00 scholars will be part of organized scientific cohorts to participate in mentoring, networking, and professional development activities. MOSAIC Program Funding Announcements.
Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01)
Provides support for 3 to 5 years of intensive, supervised career development in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences leading to research independence. Funding Announcement.
Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08)
Provides 3 to 5 years of supervised specialized study for outstanding clinical research scientists with health professional doctoral degrees, who have the potential to develop into independent investigators and who are committed to a career in laboratory- or field-based research. Funding Announcement.
Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award (K23)
Provides support for 3 to 5 years of supervised study and research for the career development of investigators with a clinical doctoral degree, or its equivalent, who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on patient-oriented research. Funding Announcement.
Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25)
Provides support for 3 to 5 years of career development in clinical biomedicine, bioengineering, bioimaging, or behavioral medicine for investigators in quantitative science and engineering research who had not previously focused primarily on questions of health and disease. Funding Announcement.
Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant
The Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant supports an innovative project that represents a change in research direction for an early stage investigator (ESI) and for which no preliminary data exist. These are R01 Grants for Early Stage Investigators. Funding Announcement and Funding Announcement (Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
NIDA Small Grants Program (R03)
Intended for newer, less experienced investigators; investigators at institutions without well-developed research traditions and resources; and more experienced investigators conducting exploratory studies that either represent a significant change in research direction or test new methods or techniques. Provides research support up to a maximum of $50,000 per year in direct costs for up to 2 years. Funding Announcement.
I/START—Imaging-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03)
Facilitates the entry of new investigators to the area of brain imaging/clinical neurobiology research, allowing for the design and collection of “proof of concept” brain imaging data for use in transitioning to more extensive research proposals. This mechanism has a 1-year maximum of $150,000 in direct costs. Funding Announcement.
A/START—AIDS-Science Track Award for Research Transition (R03)
Facilitates the entry of newly independent and early career investigators to the area of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS research. Provides support for two years, with a maximum of $100,000 per year in direct costs. Investigators funded under this mechanism are expected to use their data to develop R01 grant applications on the intersection of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. Funding Announcement.
Exploratory/Developmental Grant Applications (R21)
Designed to test innovative or conceptually creative, scientifically sound ideas and to enable exploration of the feasibility of the research question or approach. Data demonstrating feasibility are desirable. Novel and creative approaches are essential. Provides up to 2 years of funding and a maximum of $275,000 in direct costs (both years combined). Funding Announcement.
Regular Research Grant (R01)
An independent grant mechanism used for many of the research grant opportunities available at NIDA. Grantees can support mentored research training opportunities on their R01 grants. Funding Announcement.
NIDA ESI MERIT Award (R37)
Provides up to 7 years of support in two segments with the first being an initial 4-5 year award and second an extension of up to two additional years. The MERIT award provides longer term grant support to Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) to give them flexibility and opportunity for creativity and innovation, and additional time to successfully launch their careers before having to submit renewal applications. Investigators may not apply for an ESI MERIT award; NIDA program staff will nominate eligible investigators for consideration by the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse. Funding Announcement.