Target Assessment, Engagement and Data Replicability to Improve Substance Use Disorders Treatment Outcomes (R21/R33) | PAR 16 353

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 16 353

Target Assessment, Engagement and Data Replicability to Improve Substance Use Disorders Treatment Outcomes (R21/R33) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity released under the Collaborative Research on Addiction at NIH (CRAN) initiative. The central focus is on advancing addiction treatment research in a way that is more targeted, more engaging for patients, and more reproducible across settings. In practical terms, the program is looking for projects that can generate new treatment approaches or refine existing ones and then run early-stage testing to see whether those approaches show promise for improving substance use disorder outcomes.

A defining feature of the scientific scope is its emphasis on treatments that address multiple substances rather than treating alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs in isolation. The FOA explicitly allows work spanning alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use (often grouped as ATOD). This reflects the reality that many patients present with polysubstance use and overlapping risk factors, and it encourages interventions that can be tailored to those complex, real-world patterns. The announcement also signals interest in strong methods around assessment and engagement, meaning it is not only about what the treatment is, but also about how patients are identified, recruited, retained, and supported through the care process, and how well the resulting data and findings can be reproduced or replicated.

The funding mechanism is the NIH R21/R33 phased innovation structure. The R21 phase generally supports early, exploratory work such as development, refinement, and initial feasibility or pilot testing. If predefined milestones are met, the project can transition into the R33 phase, which typically supports a more rigorous expansion of the preliminary work. In other words, the structure is meant to help investigators move from promising early concepts to a stronger, more testable package of evidence without requiring a full-scale trial right at the start. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant, with an award ceiling listed at $200,000.

Eligibility is broad, spanning public sector, academic, nonprofit, and commercial organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other categories. The FOA also highlights a wide range of additional eligible applicant types, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than federally recognized); eligible federal agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). Taken together, this indicates NIH is open to a variety of research-capable organizations, including those closely connected to communities disproportionately affected by addiction.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity number is PAR-16-353, and it is associated with CFDA numbers 93.273, 93.279, and 93.399, which correspond to NIH program areas that commonly support drug abuse, mental health, and related health research. The record lists an original closing date of 2018-01-24 and a creation date of 2016-07-01, indicating the time window when this specific posting was active.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Target Assessment, Engagement and Data Replicability to Improve Substance Use Disorders Treatment Outcomes (R21/R33)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273, 93.279, 93.399.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-07-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-24. (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 $200,000.00 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 16 353

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