International Program

International Research Funding

Research Funding

NIDA supports research on the biomedical and behavioral causes, consequences, prevention, and treatment of drug use and addiction. Learn how research is supported by reading Introduction to Funding.

Although some international researchers receive NIDA support through a direct foreign grant, most international research is supported through a domestic grant with a foreign component, where a principal investigator from a U.S. institution works with a researcher from another country.

NOTE: All NIDA and NIH grant applications must be submitted electronically. The Submit Your Grant Application page provides more details on this process.

International Notice of Special Interest

NIDA has issued a Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) identifying research priorities and grant mechanisms to support international collaboration in all areas of NIDA-supported research addressing the causes, consequences, prevention, treatment, recovery, or policies related to drug use, misuse, and addiction.

Find a Research Partner

  • NIDA International Research Abstract Database
    A searchable database of research abstracts presented by international drug use and addiction researchers at NIDA International meetings. Abstracts included in the database were reviewed by NIH staff for inclusion at these meetings but are not peer-reviewed.
  • NIH RePORTER
    A searchable repository of NIH-funded research projects. RePORTER search results will include information such as investigator and institution details, project history, abstract, results, and linked publications. 
    • The Matchmaker feature of RePORTER utilizes abstract or scientific text to find details such as project history, NIH-funded researchers, and NIH program officials.
  • Fellows World Map
    NIDA International fellows are trained in U.S. research methods and prepared to collaborate with drug use and addiction scientists from around the world. Click on the pushpins within a country to find the names of individual fellows. Names link to the fellow’s journal articles indexed in PubMed.

Grant-Writing Tools

  • NIH Grants Process Overview
    The NIH Office of Extramural Research describes the steps researchers must take to plan, write, submit, revise, or resubmit a grant application. Resources for each step of the process provide guidance from NIH experts that can help maximize your understanding of the grants process and help you submit a successful grant application.
  • NIH Center for Scientific Review (CSR)
    Provides tips for grant applicants and reviewers, describing the role of CSR in the NIH funding process.
  • Grant Writing
    Provides guidance in developing a strong application that allows reviewers to better evaluate the science and merit of the application.

Funding Sources

Funding opportunities are available to conduct rigorous, collaborative research projects to address drug use and addiction, from basic science to clinical practice. Learn about sources geared specifically to the international research community, including specific eligibility and application requirements and deadlines.

Research Priorities

The NIDA International Program has identified several priority research topics, including basic research on the neuroscience and biology of drugs as well as epidemiology, intervention, and implementation research. Additional priorities include recovery research, policy research, and research into the linkages between HIV/AIDS and drug use.

In addition, the NIDA International program supports research into the use, consequences, and mechanisms of individual drugs or drug classes, including cannabis, new psychoactive substances (NPS), opioids, psychostimulants, inhalants, and tobacco and nicotine. Specific priorities in these areas include the following: 

  • Cannabis, including:
    • Commonly used forms of marijuana: flower, resin, extracts, purified cannabinoids, and cannabidiol
    • Routes of administration
    • Consequences
    • Impacts of changing laws and policies
    • Potential therapeutic benefits or harms
  • NPS, particularly:
    • Synthetic opioids including fentanyl and its analogues
    • Other NPS entering wide use
  • Opioids
    • Prescription opioids
    • Heroin
    • Injection and non-injection use
  • Psychostimulants
    • Cocaine
    • Methamphetamine
    • Other amphetamine-type stimulants
  • Inhalants
  • Tobacco and nicotine, including
    • E-cigarettes
    • Vaping