SUPPLEMENTS FOR DEVELOPING NEW ANIMAL MODELS OF ADDICTION

Release Date:  February 4, 1999

P.T. 

National Institute on Drug Abuse

PURPOSE

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) announces the availability of funds
to supplement existing NIH-supported research projects to develop new animal
models of drug addiction.  Funding will be available through administrative
supplements.  Existing grants eligible for supplemental support under this notice
include research projects with at least one year of support remaining funded by
any NIH Institute or Center.  These should be projects that are currently
developing or using animal models as part of the specific aims of the research
project or that could provide the opportunity for the development of such models.

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

Background

NIDA supports more than $600 million in drug abuse research annually and serves
as the foundation of the Nation's investment in understanding the causes,
consequences, and treatment of drug addiction.  As part of this research
endeavor, NIDA has supported research in animal models of addiction that uses
behavioral, neurobiological, pharmacological, and genetic approaches.  In an
effort to expand our understanding of drug addiction, NIDA is initiating this
grant supplement program in order to develop innovative animal studies that
better model clinical features of drug addiction.  NIDA, therefore, seeks to
supplement grants from NIH-wide sources.  Supplements may be awarded for work
that is within the original scope of the project that will add value consistent
with its originally approved objectives to develop new animal models that could
fundamentally advance our approaches to understanding, treating, and preventing
drug abuse and addiction.

Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disease that has many characteristics,
including a persistent desire or compulsion to use a drug, loss of control of
drug intake, reduction in other important activities because of drug use,
continued use despite knowledge of harm, marked tolerance, characteristic
withdrawal symptoms, and an increased negative emotional state or stress when the
drug is unavailable.  The process of becoming addicted to drugs often begins with
non-compulsive or less frequent use, which, over time, can lead to compulsive
uncontrollable drug taking.  Relapse to drug use occurs following short or long
periods of abstinence and may result from stress and/or re-exposure to
environments previously associated with drug use.  Individuals addicted to drugs
have been known to report intense 'craving' for an abused drug.

Currently, available animal models do not simulate the full array of human
states, behaviors, or experiences associated with drug addiction.  New animal
models are needed that focus on critical features of human drug addiction.  In
particular, NIH-supported researchers currently developing or using animal models
to study learning, motivational states, parental behavior, foraging, aggression,
learned helplessness, or other complex behavioral processes may have important
insight into the development of new animal models of drug abuse and addiction. 

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Budget/Administrative Issues
For FY 1999, approximately $1,000,000 will be available for the funding of
administrative supplements to existing NIH research projects.  This funding is
contingent upon receipt of highly meritorious applications and continued
availability of funds.

Administrative supplements are provided to cover unanticipated cost increases
that are associated with achieving the objectives within the original scope of
a project and include cost increases that result from making modifications in the
scope of a project in order to take advantage of opportunities that would
increase the value of the project consistent with its originally approved
objectives and purposes.  Administrative supplemental funding is generally
limited to 25 percent of the Council-approved direct costs of the project or
$100,000, whichever is less.  These applications undergo program, grants
management, and budget review within NIDA and may be submitted through June 15,
1999.  It is anticipated that all supplemental funding decisions will be
completed by September 30, 1999.  Under this notice, an administrative supplement
is limited to one year of support and cannot exceed the stated life of the parent
project.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Supplement applications are to be submitted on the grant application form PHS 398
(rev. 4/98).  Application kits are available at most institutional offices of
sponsored research and may be obtained from the Division of Extramural Outreach
and Information Resources, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive,
MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910, telephone (301) 710-0267, Email: 
GrantsInfo@nih.gov.

Submit a signed, typewritten original of the application, including the
Checklist, and three signed photocopies in one package to:

Director, Division of Basic Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4S-4284, MSC 9555
Bethesda, MD  20892-9555

Supplements must be received by June 15, 1999.  If an application is received
after that date, it will be returned to the applicant without review.

REVIEW CONSIDERATIONS

Applications will be evaluated by NIDA staff. 

Review criteria include:

o  applicability of the model in understanding some aspect of drug addiction;
o  feasibility of the research plan; and
o  consistency of proposed work with the originally approved objectives.

INQUIRIES

Inquiries concerning this notice are strongly encouraged.  The opportunity to
clarify any issue or questions from potential applicants is welcome.

Direct inquiries regarding programmatic issues to:

David Shurtleff, Ph.D.
Division of Basic Research
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4S-4284, MSC 9555
Bethesda, MD  20892-9555
Telephone:  (301)443-1887
Email:  ds171a@nih.gov

Direct fiscal inquiries to:

Gary Fleming, J.D.
Grants Management Branch
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3131, MSC 9541
Bethesda, MD  20892-9541
Telephone:  (301) 443-6710
Email:  gf6s@nih.gov

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