Avenir Award Program for Genetics or Epigenetics of Substance Use Disorders (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 23 021

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 021

The Avenir Award Program for Genetics or Epigenetics of Substance Use Disorders (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional), funding opportunity number PAR 23-021, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant run through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). It is designed to invest in the "future" of the field by backing early stage investigators who are proposing bold, highly innovative research focused on the genetics or epigenetics of substance use disorders. The central idea is to give promising newer investigators room to pursue high-impact, potentially field-shaping projects even if they do not yet have the kind of extensive preliminary data that is often expected for an R01. The program is explicitly positioned as a way to identify and accelerate researchers who are likely to become tomorrow's leaders in addiction genetics and epigenetics.

Scientifically, the opportunity targets studies that use genetic and/or epigenetic approaches to better understand substance use disorders. While the notice highlights genetics and epigenetics rather than listing specific research topics, the intent is to encourage transformative work that can clarify biological mechanisms, risk and resilience factors, and pathways that contribute to addiction and related outcomes. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation indicates that applicants may propose a clinical trial if it fits the research aims, but a clinical trial is not required. This provides flexibility for applicants whose innovative ideas may be basic, translational, computational, population-based, or clinically oriented, as long as the proposed work fits within the genetics/epigenetics scope and is positioned to meaningfully move the field forward.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; 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; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as 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 (AANAPISI), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

There are important restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. However, "foreign components" are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. applicant may be able to include certain international elements in the project when permitted under NIH rules and when appropriately justified and documented.

Administrative details from the posting indicate this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the education and health activity category, associated with CFDA number 93.279. The opportunity was created on 2022-10-21 and lists an original closing date of 2025-09-25. The posted award ceiling is $300,000. The notice does not provide an expected number of awards in the provided excerpt, suggesting applicants should consult the full funding announcement for any updates on award numbers, project period expectations, budget structure specifics, and the review criteria that will be used to judge "highly innovative" and "high impact" proposals for early stage investigators.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Avenir Award Program for Genetics or Epigenetics of Substance Use Disorders (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2022-10-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-25. (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 $300,000.00 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 PAR 23 021

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