The National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers many different funding mechanisms to support substance use and addiction research and training opportunities. The information below is focused on NIH programs in which the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) participates. For information on all training programs at the NIH, please visit the NIH Research Training and Career Development Programs page. For information on understanding the NIH and finding the right fit for your research, please refer to the NIH’s Office of Extramural Research (OER) Grants Basics page.
Not all NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) participate in all programs, so we encourage you to read through the program descriptions and notice of funding opportunities (NOFOs) before contacting NIDA program staff.
- Undergraduate
Summer Internship Program at NIDA’s Intramural Research Campus in Baltimore, Maryland
This program is for college, graduate and professional students interested in exploring careers in research and healthcare. These are full-time research positions within one of the NIH Institutes and Centers (IC) in the NIH Intramural Research Program. Research groups are located on all NIH campuses, including the main campus in Bethesda, MD.
IRP Summer Internship Program Contact: Dr. Natasha Lugo-Escobar- Predoctoral
Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individuals MD/Ph.D. (F30)
Supports highly promising predoctoral students, who are matriculated in a combined MD/PhD or other dual-doctoral degree training program (e.g. DO/PhD, DDS/PhD, AuD/PhD, DVM/PhD), and who intend to pursue careers as physician-scientists or other clinician scientists. Provides support for a maximum of 6 years, annual stipend, funds for tuition/fees, research supplies, equipment, travel and related items.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govRuth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (NRSA) (F31)
The F31 award provides a mentored research training opportunity for up to 5 years of support toward a research doctoral degree (Ph.D., D.Sc.). The award provides an annual stipend, funds for tuition/fees, research supplies, equipment, travel and other related research items.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govDrug Abuse Dissertation Research: Epidemiology, Prevention, Treatment, Services and/or Women and Sex Differences (R36)
Provides up to 2 years support for drug abuse doctoral dissertation research.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.gov- Postdoctoral
Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
The F32 award may provide up to 3 years of support at the postdoctoral level including expenses for supplies, equipment, travel, tuition, and fees. The stipend is based on years of relevant postdoctoral experience.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govNIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)
The K99/R00 award 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.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govINVEST Drug Abuse Research Fellowship
The NIDA International Program, INVEST Drug Abuse Research Fellowship, combines postdoctoral research training in the United States with professional development activities and grant-writing guidance to form a unique program for drug abuse scientists. This 12-month fellowship provides opportunities for fellows and their U.S. mentors to be part of a network of international scientists who exchange information and collaborate on drug abuse research nationally, regionally, and globally.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govLoan Repayment Program
NIDA participates in the NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs). LRPs are a set of programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The escalating costs of advanced education and training in medicine and clinical specialties are forcing some scientists to abandon their research careers for higher-paying private industry or private practice careers. Learn more about how to apply and the application process on the NIDA LRP page.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govResearch Supplements to Promote Re-Entry and Re-integration into Health-Related Research Careers
The goal of this program is to provide support for a mentored research training experience for individuals with high potential to re-enter or re-integrate into an active research career, after an interruption for family responsibilities or other qualifying circumstances. This program encourages re-entry and re-integration administrative supplement applications to existing NIH research grants to support full or part-time mentored research experiences by these individuals. The supplement grants are intended to provide these scientists an opportunity to update or extend their research skills and knowledge and prepare them to re-establish their careers in basic biomedical, behavioral, clinical, translational or social science research. For more detailed information see the Notice of Special Interest.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.gov
Administrative Supplements to Promote Research Continuity and Retention
The goal of this program is to support the transition and retention of investigators from mentored career development to research independence and to minimize departures from biomedical workforce at this critical juncture. The supplement is designed to promote continuity of the career development during a period in which the PD/PI experiences critical life events which have the potential to impact research progress or productivity. Researchers with active selected K awards or R project grants are eligible. For the purposes of this program, childbirth, adoption, and primary caregiving responsibilities of an ailing spouse, child, partner, or a member of the immediate family during the project period are critical life events that would qualify for consideration. Administrative supplements must support work within the scope of the original project. Prospective applicants can apply under the general administrative supplement. For more detailed information see the Office of Research on Women's Health website.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.gov- Early and Mid-Career
Avenir Award Program for Research on Substance Use Disorders and HIV (DP2)
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.
NIDA Staff Contact: Vasundhara Varthakavi, DVM, Ph.D.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.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govMentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01)
The K01 award provides support and “protected time” (three to five years) for an intensive, supervised career development experience in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences leading to research independence.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govIndependent Research Scientist Development Award (K02)
The K02 award provides 3 to 5 years of salary support and “protected time” for newly independent scientists who can demonstrate the need for a period of intensive research focus as a means of enhancing their research careers.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govMentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08)
The K08 award provides salary and research support for a sustained period of “protected time” (3-5 years) to support didactic study and/or mentored research for individuals with clinical doctoral degrees (e.g., MD, DDS, DMD, DO, DC, OD, ND, DVM, PharmD, or PhD in clinical disciplines).
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govMentored Patient-Oriented Career Development Award (K23)
The K23 award 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.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govMentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25)
The K25 award provides 3 to 5 years of "protected time" for a period of supervised study and research for productive professionals with quantitative (e.g., mathematics, statistics, economics, computer science, imaging science, informatics, physics, chemistry) and engineering backgrounds to integrate their expertise with NIH-relevant research.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govLoan Repayment Program
NIDA participates in the NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs). LRPs are a set of programs established by Congress and designed to recruit and retain highly qualified health professionals into biomedical or biobehavioral research careers. The escalating costs of advanced education and training in medicine and clinical specialties are forcing some scientists to abandon their research careers for higher-paying private industry or private practice careers. Learn more about how to apply and the application process on the NIH LRP website.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govResearch Supplements to Promote Re-Entry and Re-integration into Health-Related Research Careers
The goal of this program is to provide support for a mentored research training experience for individuals with high potential to re-enter or re-integrate into an active research career, after an interruption for family responsibilities or other qualifying circumstances. This program encourages re-entry and re-integration administrative supplement applications to existing NIH research grants to support full or part-time mentored research experiences by these individuals. The supplement grants are intended to provide these scientists an opportunity to update or extend their research skills and knowledge and prepare them to re-establish their careers in basic biomedical, behavioral, clinical, translational or social science research. For more detailed information see the Notice of Special Interest.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.gov
Administrative Supplements to Promote Research Continuity and Retention
The goal of this program is to support the transition and retention of investigators from mentored career development to research independence and to minimize departures from biomedical workforce at this critical juncture. The supplement is designed to promote continuity of the career development during a period in which the PD/PI experiences critical life events which have the potential to impact research progress or productivity. Researchers with active selected K awards or R project grants are eligible. For the purposes of this program, childbirth, adoption, and primary caregiving responsibilities of an ailing spouse, child, partner, or a member of the immediate family during the project period are critical life events that would qualify for consideration. Administrative supplements must support work within the scope of the original project. Prospective applicants can apply under the general administrative supplement. For more detailed information see the Office of Research on Women's Health website.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govI/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. Learn more about R03 Programs. See Active R03 Notices of Funding Opportunity
NIDA Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research (DESPR) Staff Contact: Janet Kuramoto-Crawford, Ph.D.
NIDA Division of Neuroscience and Behavior (DNB) Staff Contact: Diek Wheeler, Ph.D.D/START - Data Science Track Award for Research Transition (D/START) (R03)
This program supports investigators applying advanced data science techniques to address timely and challenging research questions related to substance use and substance use disorders (SUD). As defined by NIH, data science encompasses the development and use of quantitative and analytical methods to extract knowledge from large and complex data sets. Expanding expertise in data science, particularly in big data analytics and computational science, is crucial for advancing SUD research. The goal is to generate data-driven insights to inform the development and implementation of interventions for prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. Learn more about R03 Programs.
NIDA Division of Epidemiology, Services and Prevention Research (DESPR) Staff Contact: Janet Kuramoto-Crawford, Ph.D.
NIDA Division of Neuroscience and Behavior (DNB) Staff Contact: Diek Wheeler, Ph.D.Exploratory/Developmental Grant Applications (R21)
This program is intended to encourage new exploratory and developmental research projects. Data demonstrating feasibility is desirable. Novel and creative approaches are essential. This R21 award provides up to 2 years of funding and a maximum of $275,000 in direct costs (both years combined). Learn more about the R21 program.
NIDA Staff Program Contact: Yuki Lama, Ph.D., NIDAreferral@mail.nih.gov.NIH Research Project Grant (R01)
The R01 award is 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. Learn more about NIH Research Project Grants.
Learn more about NIH Research Project Grants.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. See Notice NOT-DA-24-017.- Established Investigators
Midcareer Investigator Awards in Patient-Oriented Research (K24)
The purpose of the NIH Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) is to provide support to mid-career health-professional doctorates for protected time to devote to patient-oriented research (POR) and to act as research mentors for junior clinical investigators pursuing POR research, such as clinical residents and/or junior clinical faculty.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.gov- Institutional Grants and Other Training Programs
NIH Summer Research Education Experience (R25)
The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nation’s biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs. This NOFO will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on high school students, undergraduate students, and/or high school science teachers during the summer academic break.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govResearch Education Program for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians (R25)
NIDA supports the research education of medical/graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, medical residents, and/or independent scientists through institutional research education grants. These grants provide institutional support for clinically focused, transdisciplinary training programs in substance use/abuse/addiction research. Eligible participants should be training for careers as clinical researchers, clinicians/service providers, or (optimally) a combination of the two. Participants are selected and appointed to the program by the grantee institution.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govAlcohol and Other Substance Use Research Education Programs for Health Professionals (R25)
This NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports educational activities with a primary focus on outreach. This FOA provides support for educational programs designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of a wide array of health professional participants, both individuals currently practicing their professions and those in training for health professions. This program will support projects designed to engage practicing health care professionals in education about current and emerging knowledge derived from scientific research on the neurobiology, epidemiology, prevention, and/or treatment of alcohol and other substance use disorders and related health conditions.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govRuth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards for Institutional Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Traineeships (T32)
NIDA supports predoctoral and postdoctoral students through institutional training sites across the country. The overall goal of the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) program is to help ensure that a diverse pool of highly trained scientists is available in appropriate scientific disciplines to address the Nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. In order to accomplish this goal, NRSA training programs are designed to train individuals to conduct research and to prepare for research careers. More information about NRSA programs may be found on the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) website. Applications for these positions need to go directly to the training sites’ program directors.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govMentored Clinical Scientists Development Program Award (K12)
The K12 award provides support to an educational institution or professional organization to support career development experiences for clinicians, leading to research independence. Newly trained clinicians are selected and appointed to the program by the grantee institution. Clinical research includes patient-oriented research, behavioral research, epidemiologic research, outcomes/health services research, and research with human tissues and specimens where an investigator directly interacts with human subjects in an outpatient or inpatient setting.
NIDA Staff Contact: Lindsey Friend, Ph.D., NIDA_Training@nida.nih.govAcademic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15)
The purpose of this Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions is to support small scale research grants at institutions that do not receive substantial funding from the NIH, with an emphasis on providing biomedical research experiences primarily for undergraduate students, and enhancing the research environment at applicant institutions.
Program Contact: Yuki Lama, Ph.D., NIDAreferral@mail.nih.gov