NIDA Core "Center of Transformative Science" Grant Program

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) seeks to advance its mission by supporting Core Center of Transformative Science Grants. These Centers will bring together investigators currently funded by NIH or other Federal or non-Federal sources to enhance and extend existing research relevant to substance use, addiction, and HIV. Centers are expected to transform the scientific field of study by facilitating research, providing administrative support, and fostering a rigorous research environment that encourages innovative and creative directions. Incremental work should not be the focus of Center activities. Applications responding to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) are strongly encouraged to integrate and promote research across funded projects at the applicant institution that align with the Center’s theme, while also supporting interdisciplinary collaborations. Each application should propose a single Center. Centers may include a range of resources with distinct goals across the different scientific areas. They are intended to provide shared resources to a research community, such as imaging capabilities or small-molecule drug chemistry support. Centers must also prioritize providing research opportunities and experiences for new and early-career investigators, facilitating collaborations, and promoting the sharing of data, research findings, and resources to achieve the program goals. Grant authorities that allow NIDA to forecast this opportunity are as follows: 42 U.S.C 241 and 284

Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions).

The following considerations will be used in determining projects to be funded: (1) Scientific and technical merit; (2) the feasibility of the research; (3) potential contribution to the national drug abuse problem; and (4) relevance to NIDA priorities. The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications: (1) The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (3) the technological innovation of the proposed research; (4) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (5) the appropriateness of the budget requested; (6) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research environment; and (7) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or animal subjects and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment. Phase II grant applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the Phase I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; (2) the scientific and technical merit of the proposed approach for achieving the Phase II objectives; (3) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (4) the technology.