Key Dates

Related Announcements

PA-20-185: NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-183: NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required)

PA-20-184: Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

PA-20-200: NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-196: NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

PA-20-195: NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-194: NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)

PA-18-775: Pilot and Feasibility Studies in Preparation for Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Trials (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) or any re-issuances

Issued by

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to encourage the submission of research project grant applications that address co-morbid substance use and/or substance use disorders, and other psychiatric disorders. Research in response to this NOSI may include etiologic investigations to inform prevention intervention, intervention development and testing, and research to address service delivery strategies to address co-morbid conditions. The intent is to encourage a broad portfolio of research, that enhances understanding of risk, etiology, prevention, treatment and service delivery related to co-occurring conditions.

Background:

The association between substance use, substance use disorders, and psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD and other externalizing disorders, has been well established through population based epidemiologic surveys. Numerous developmentally focused theory-based approaches have been proposed, including shared underlying vulnerabilities or risk factors. From a disorder perspective, prevalence can be expressed as either the prevalence of other psychiatric disorders among substance using populations or the prevalence of substance use among individuals with other psychiatric disorders, leading to variability in rates. Mental illness is often characterized as a risk factor for substance use initiation and for transition from use to misuse and disorder, though the exact sequence and relationship between substance use, substance use disorders and psychiatric co-morbidity is unclear and may vary by disorder. For some substances and disorders, it may be the substance use that precedes the onset of other psychiatric symptoms. Additional research is needed to determine the various trajectories of substance use and psychiatric symptoms, as well as strategies for intervention to change trajectories.

Research Objectives:

NIDA is interested in research project grant applications that would further our understanding of co-morbidity through studies that test etiological theories and interventions (treatment and prevention), across the lifespan.

NIDA interest includes, but is not limited to, applications in the following areas:

• Epidemiologic studies of the etiology of co-morbidity that directly lead to the development of targeted preventive intervention research projects; of priority are studies that include prevention scientists as part of the research team, to facilitate the application of findings into next phase prevention intervention development. These can include primary data collection or secondary data analyses.
• Studies of the trajectories of the development of co-morbid substance use, substance use disorders and psychiatric disorders and the ways in which their interactions influence the onset, course and recovery of both; of interest are studies which additionally identify potentially effective points and models of intervention.
• Intervention research to directly address common mechanisms/dimensions that may underlie both substance use disorders and other psychiatric disorders. Among treatment seeking populations, studies to determine whether or how the receipt of evidence-based treatments for psychiatric disorders impact substance use initiation/and or progression to misuse and disorder.
• Strategies for augmenting psychiatric care to prevent substance use initiation and/or progression from use to misuse or disorder. This could include research to test whether and how models of care delivery for mental illness (e.g., the collaborative care model, coordinated specialty care for first episode psychosis) could be leveraged for substance use prevention among at-risk individuals.
• Studies to further understand and prevent suicide and other adverse outcomes (morbidity and mortality) among individuals using illicit substances.
• Research that uses clinically validated digital therapeutics, including mobile applications and other platforms, virtual reality, wireless monitoring and biofeedback, imaging tools for biofeedback to develop, improve and systematically measure behavioral interventions for substance use and psychiatric conditions. Additionally, neuromodulation devices to augment behavior therapies.
• Studies to evaluate the use of medications to improve the efficacy of behavioral interventions for co-morbidities.
• Research to promote adherence to pharmacotherapies, such as buprenorphine, methadone, depot naltrexone, Lofexidine, naloxone, or HAART, in substance abuse treatment populations with comorbidities.
• Studies that develop safe and effective psychosocial interventions to improve the outcomes of pharmacotherapies for substance use disorders including opioid use disorder, overdose reversal, and preventive efforts for psychiatric and suicide risk.
• Research on tobacco harm reduction strategies such as switching from combustibles to e-cigarettes with special attention to individuals with severe mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar depression).
• Services research to develop and test strategies to improve system- or provider- capacity for treating and managing co-occurring conditions.

Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to due dates on or after October 05, 2020 and subsequent receipt dates through May 8, 2023

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) or any reissues of these announcement through the expiration date of this notice.

• PA-20-185: NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PA-20-183: NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required)
• PA-20-184: Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required)
• PA-20-200: NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PA-20-196: NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
• PA-20-195: NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PA-20-194: NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)
• PA-18-775: Pilot and Feasibility Studies in Preparation for Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Trials (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) or any re-issuances

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the funding opportunity announcement used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-DA-20-004" (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.

Inquiries

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Amy B. Goldstein, PhD

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: 301-827-4124
Email: amy.goldstein@nih.gov