The National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (UG1 Clinical Trial Required) | RFA DA 25 027

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 25 027

The National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) funding opportunity (RFA-DA-25-027) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement that supports clinical investigators and partner organizations who will take part in NIDA's nationwide CTN. The overall purpose is to strengthen and expand the network's ability to develop, evaluate, and rapidly deploy evidence-based interventions for substance use problems, especially when urgent public health needs arise. Through this NOFO, NIDA is emphasizing collaborative, real-world clinical research that can be implemented in community and healthcare settings, rather than research that stays confined to academic environments.

This opportunity is structured as a UG1 cooperative agreement, which generally signals a substantial level of scientific and programmatic involvement from NIH staff compared to a standard research project grant. In practical terms, awardees are expected to function as active network partners, working closely with NIDA and other CTN participants. The CTN model is built on partnerships among NIDA, clinical research investigators, community representatives, healthcare providers, and healthcare institutions, with the goal of ensuring that the interventions being tested are relevant, feasible, and scalable in routine care. The "Clinical Trial Required" designation also makes clear that funded activities must include clinical trials as part of the proposed work, aligning with CTN's mission of testing interventions in clinical and community treatment contexts.

The scientific focus spans a wide spectrum of substance use problems and related health needs. While the NOFO summary does not list specific intervention types, the CTN historically supports studies that can include medications, behavioral therapies, service delivery approaches, and implementation strategies that improve access, engagement, retention, and outcomes across prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction settings. A key theme is responsiveness: the network is intended to be able to pivot and address emerging or escalating public health concerns, which can include changes in drug use patterns, overdose trends, co-occurring conditions, or gaps in service delivery.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, reflecting the network's emphasis on community-based and healthcare-embedded research. Eligible applicant organizations include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The NOFO also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and a variety of mission-driven higher education institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). U.S. territories or possessions are also listed among eligible applicants.

At the same time, the announcement is explicit about restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. These restrictions indicate that the supported infrastructure and clinical trial activities must be conducted within eligible U.S.-based organizational structures and settings.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity in the Education and Health activity category under CFDA 93.279, administered by NIH (through NIDA). The original closing date listed is March 13, 2024, and the posted award ceiling is $500,000. The opportunity was created on November 8, 2023. The NOFO does not specify the expected number of awards in the provided text, suggesting applicants would need to consult the full announcement for details on scale, duration, and network expectations. Overall, the opportunity is geared toward teams that can run high-quality, practice-relevant clinical trials, collaborate across institutions and community partners, and contribute to a coordinated national research infrastructure focused on substance use and related urgent public health priorities.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (UG1 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-13. (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 DA 25 027

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