Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 24 007
The Avenir Award Program for Chemistry and Pharmacology of Substance Use Disorders (DP1 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity designed to pull exceptional early-stage investigators into the substance use disorders (SUD) research space, specifically on the chemistry, pharmacology, and drug discovery side. The intent is to back bold, high-impact ideas from researchers who are still early in their independent careers and may not yet have the kind of extensive preliminary data typically expected for an R01. In other words, the program is meant to be a launchpad for talented scientists with strong potential to become future leaders, giving them room to pursue ambitious, potentially transformative research directions that could reshape how the field approaches SUD therapeutics.
The scientific focus is on innovative and forward-looking work that advances the chemical and pharmacological understanding of substance use disorders and accelerates the discovery or optimization of therapeutic strategies. The announcement highlights how the field has recently gained powerful new methods and technologies for identifying novel biological targets, mechanisms, and pathways relevant to addiction and related disorders. It also points to progress in developing chemical probes and optimized compounds that can serve as starting points for new medications. This grant is positioned to help investigators who already have expertise in emerging chemical biology, pharmacology, and drug discovery technologies apply those tools creatively to SUD problems, such as discovering new targets, clarifying mechanisms of drug action or addiction biology, creating or refining compounds, and developing advanced probes that open up new therapeutic possibilities.
As indicated by the designation "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," this opportunity is not intended to support clinical trials. The supported work should stay on the preclinical and mechanistic side of the spectrum, emphasizing chemistry and pharmacology approaches rather than human intervention studies. Applicants should align proposed aims to this boundary, focusing on foundational discoveries, tool and compound development, target validation, mechanistic pharmacology, and other non-clinical research that can eventually inform therapeutic development.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity under NIH. The funding opportunity number is RFA-DA-24-007, and it falls under the Education and Health activity category, CFDA number 93.279. The original closing date listed is 2025-08-07. The award ceiling shown is 300,000 (as provided in the source information). The listing also notes "ExpectedAwards:" but does not provide a number in the supplied text.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common U.S. applicant organization types, such as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city or township, special district governments), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. It also includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments). In addition, the opportunity explicitly calls out a range of other eligible applicants, including 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), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility language signals an emphasis on attracting top talent from many institutional settings, including institutions serving populations historically underrepresented in biomedical research.
Overall, the program is best understood as a high-potential, early-career catalyst for researchers bringing cutting-edge chemistry and pharmacology approaches to substance use disorders. It prioritizes creativity, innovation, and the likelihood of major impact over a long track record of preliminary results, with the larger goal of speeding new mechanistic insights and therapeutic leads that could eventually improve prevention and treatment options for SUD.Apply for RFA DA 24 007
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Avenir Award Program for Chemistry and Pharmacology of Substance Use Disorders (DP1- Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2022-10-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-08-07. (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.
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FAQs: Avenir Award Program for Chemistry and Pharmacology of Substance Use Disorders (DP1 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is an NIH grant opportunity called the Avenir Award Program for Chemistry and Pharmacology of Substance Use Disorders (DP1 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed). It is designed to bring exceptional early-stage investigators into substance use disorders (SUD) research, with an emphasis on chemistry, pharmacology, and drug discovery approaches.
What is the main goal of the Avenir Award Program?
The program aims to serve as a launchpad for talented early-career scientists with strong potential to become leaders in the field. It supports bold, high-impact ideas that could reshape how SUD therapeutics are approached, and it is positioned to allow ambitious projects that may not yet have extensive preliminary data of the kind often expected for an R01.
What scientific areas does the program focus on?
The focus is on innovative work that advances the chemical and pharmacological understanding of substance use disorders and accelerates discovery or optimization of therapeutic strategies. This includes leveraging new methods and technologies to identify novel biological targets, mechanisms, and pathways relevant to addiction and related disorders, as well as developing chemical probes and optimized compounds that can serve as starting points for new medications.
What kinds of research activities are encouraged?
The opportunity encourages creative use of emerging chemical biology, pharmacology, and drug discovery technologies to address SUD-related questions. Examples described in the opportunity include discovering new targets, clarifying mechanisms of drug action or addiction biology, creating or refining compounds, developing advanced probes, and other work that opens up new therapeutic possibilities.
Does this opportunity support clinical trials?
No. The funding opportunity is designated "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning it is not intended to support clinical trials. Proposed work should remain non-clinical and avoid human intervention studies.
What types of studies fit the "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" boundary?
The supported work should stay on the preclinical and mechanistic side of the research spectrum. The opportunity highlights non-clinical research such as foundational discoveries, tool and compound development, target validation, and mechanistic pharmacology, with the idea that these advances can eventually inform therapeutic development.
Who is this program trying to attract?
The program is specifically designed to pull exceptional early-stage investigators into the SUD research space, particularly researchers who can bring cutting-edge chemistry, pharmacology, and drug discovery capabilities to addiction-related problems.
How does this program differ from a typical R01-style expectation?
The program emphasizes creativity, innovation, and the likelihood of major impact over having an extensive track record of preliminary results. It is intended to give early-stage investigators room to pursue ambitious and potentially transformative ideas that may not fit the standard expectation of large amounts of prior data.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-DA-24-007.
Which agency is offering this program?
The program is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is 2025-08-07.
What is the award ceiling listed in the provided information?
The award ceiling shown in the provided information is 300,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The listing notes "ExpectedAwards:" but does not provide a number in the provided information.
What is the activity category and CFDA number?
The activity category is Education and Health, and the CFDA number provided is 93.279.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The provided information lists eligible applicants including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city or township, and special district governments), as well as independent school districts and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
Are tribal entities eligible?
Yes. The opportunity includes Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).
Are institutions that serve historically underrepresented populations eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly calls out 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), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are listed among eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included in the listed eligible applicant types.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility language includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).
What is the broader rationale behind this program?
The opportunity highlights recent advances in methods and technologies that can reveal new addiction-relevant targets and mechanisms, and the progress in developing chemical probes and optimized compounds that can seed medication development. The program is intended to speed mechanistic insights and therapeutic leads that could eventually improve prevention and treatment options for SUD.
What should applicants keep in mind when shaping their aims?
Proposed aims should align with the program's chemistry and pharmacology emphasis and remain within non-clinical scope, since clinical trials are not allowed. The opportunity description points toward mechanistic, target-focused, and compound/probe-centered work that can inform downstream therapeutic development.
Is this opportunity described as discretionary?
Yes. The provided information describes it as a discretionary grant opportunity under NIH.
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| Functional Validation and/or Characterization of Genes or Variants Implicated in Substance Use Disorders (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 041 Funding Number: PAR 23 041 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| Precompetitive Collaboration on Liquid Biopsy for Early Cancer Assessment: Data Management and Coordinating Unit (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 23 019 Funding Number: RFA CA 23 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Targeting Inflammasomes in Substance Abuse and HIV (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 24 003 Funding Number: RFA DA 24 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Targeting Inflammasomes in Substance Abuse and HIV (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 24 004 Funding Number: RFA DA 24 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Investigating the Effects of Addictive Substances on Brain Developmental Trajectories Using Innovative Scalable Methods for Quantification of Cell Identity, Lineage and Connectivity (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 23 036 Funding Number: RFA DA 23 036 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Transformative Educational Advancement and Mentoring Network (TEAM) (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 23 013 Funding Number: RFA CA 23 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Sleep Predictors of Opioid-Use Disorder Treatment Outcomes Program (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 23 059 Funding Number: RFA DA 23 059 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| HEAL Initiative - Sleep Predictors of Opioid-Use Disorder Treatment Outcomes Program: Leadership and Data Co-ordinating Center (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 23 060 Funding Number: RFA DA 23 060 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Exploratory studies to investigate mechanisms of HIV infection, replication, latency, and/or pathogenesis in the context of substance use disorders (R61/R33 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 24 002 Funding Number: RFA DA 24 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| NCI Cancer Screening Research Network: ACCrual, Enrollment, and Screening Sites (ACCESS) Hub (UG1 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 23 020 Funding Number: RFA CA 23 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| NCI Cancer Screening Research Network: Statistics and Data Management Center (UG1 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 23 021 Funding Number: RFA CA 23 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Cancer Screening Research Network: Coordinating and Communication Center (UG1 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 23 022 Funding Number: RFA CA 23 022 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mechanistic links between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth and progression (UH2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 052 Funding Number: PAR 23 052 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| Mechanistic links between diet, lipid metabolism, and tumor growth and progression (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 051 Funding Number: PAR 23 051 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Innovative Biospecimen Science Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 23 004 Funding Number: RFA CA 23 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Molecular and Cellular Analysis Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 23 003 Funding Number: RFA CA 23 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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