Neural Ensembles & Used Substances (NExUS) Collaboratory: Building a Multimodal Inventory of Cell Ensembles Encoding the Effects of Addictive Substances

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) seeks to advance its mission by supporting the expansion of the Collaboratory on Neural Ensembles & Used Substances (NExUS), an effort to build a knowledgebase of the neural cell populations and computations altered by substance-associated experiences, and underlying neurobehavioral states characteristic of addiction, or protective against it. This notice is provided to allow prospective applicants to develop applications that achieve the following goals: 1) Collect and share granular datasets descriptive of neural cell populations tuned to tractable features of substance-related experiences 2) Integrate cell-resolved readouts of ensemble activity with other granular data modalities (e.g., molecular cell identity, epigenetic state, morphology, spatial localization or connectivity) 3) Develop tools for analysis and visualization of ensemble composition and geometry, and document their scalability 4) Inform and test models for the mechanisms whereby cells or motifs are recruited into coding ensembles 5) Enable synergies among NExUS-funded projects and with other cell atlasing efforts through coordination of outreach, data standards, analytics, common spatial frameworks, and reference taxonomies Grant Authorities that allow NIDA to forecast this opportunity are as follows: Section 301 (42 U.S.C. § 241) and Section 405 (42 U.S.C. § 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.