Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy (R01) | RFA HD 18 036

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA HD 18 036

The Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy (R01) funding opportunity (RFA-HD-18-036) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant announcement aimed at improving how opioid use disorder (OUD) is treated during pregnancy. The core focus is on supporting rigorous research that can strengthen clinical care for pregnant people with OUD, with particular emphasis on evaluating treatment approaches and generating clearer evidence about how medications used for OUD behave in the body during pregnancy. Because pregnancy can substantially change drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination, the announcement specifically encourages pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of medications used for maternal treatment, so clinicians can make better-informed decisions about dosing, effectiveness, and safety for both the mother and the developing fetus.

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which typically supports substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects. The FOA sits within the broader public health goal of reducing harms associated with opioid exposure in pregnancy, improving maternal outcomes, and addressing neonatal impacts linked to maternal opioid use, while recognizing that evidence gaps remain around optimal treatment strategies and medication management in real-world settings. The funding announcement is categorized as discretionary and tied to health and social services-related federal assistance (CFDA numbers 93.279 and 93.865), reflecting NIH involvement and the health research orientation of the program.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other organizations that meet NIH requirements. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. In practice, this wide eligibility is meant to encourage participation from a range of research and service settings, including academic medical centers, community-based treatment programs, tribal entities, and other organizations positioned to study or deliver care to pregnant patients with OUD.

At the same time, the FOA places clear restrictions on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed. These restrictions indicate that NIH intended this specific initiative to be carried out entirely within eligible U.S. organizational structures and locations, likely to keep the research closely aligned with U.S. clinical practices, regulatory context, and population needs.

Key administrative details include an original closing date of December 13, 2017, and an award ceiling listed at $500,000. The FOA record shows a creation date of September 25, 2017. The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided source data, which often means awards depend on the volume and quality of applications received, available appropriations, and program priorities at the time of review. Overall, the opportunity is designed to generate actionable evidence on treating opioid use disorder in pregnancy, especially evidence that clarifies how maternal treatment medications work during pregnancy and how best to use them to improve outcomes.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Opioid Use Disorder in Pregnancy (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279, 93.865.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-09-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-12-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA HD 18 036

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: