Expired NOT-DA-19-038: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Gene-Environment Interplay in Substance Use Disorders (R01, R21)

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Gene-Environment Interplay in Substance Use Disorders (R01, R21)

Notice Number: NOT-DA-19-038

Key Dates
Release Date: July 11, 2019
First Available Due Date: October 5, 2019
Expiration Date: January 8, 2022

Related Announcements

PA-19-056 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-19-055 - Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required)

PA-19-091 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

PA-19-092 -NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

PA-19-053 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-19-054 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)

Issued by
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to inform potential applicants to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) of special interest in research project applications studying the interplay of genetic and environmental factors in the onset, developmental trajectories, comorbidity, and outcomes of substance use disorders (SUDs). These interests include studies to elucidate phenotypes and develop methodologic approaches that will enhance translation to treatment, prevention, gene-finding and molecular studies.

Background

Research applying genetic epidemiologic and molecular genetic approaches has contributed increasingly significant advances to understanding the causes of use, misuse, and disorders of addictive substances, including alcohol, illicit drugs, nicotine, and prescription medications [Substance Use Disorders (SUDs)]. These studies have established that SUDs are complex developmental disorders, with high heritability, and strong shared environmental effects, particularly early in adolescence and at drug use initiation. Genetic epidemiologic approaches have highlighted the roles of gene-environment interactions and correlations in understanding SUD risk and trajectories and to apply methodologies to explicate etiological mechanisms, often in combination with molecular approaches. New studies continue to be needed to elucidate the complex interplay of genetic and environmental (GxE) factors in developmental trajectories of SUDs and comorbid conditions, deepen and refine phenotypic definitions of SUDs, and meet methodologic challenges.

Research Objectives

NIDA welcomes applications studying the interplay of genetic and environmental factors to elucidate risk trajectories and underlying mechanisms of risk and progression of substance use disorders. Applicants are strongly encouraged to explain how their work can enhance opportunities for translation to treatment, prevention, gene-finding and molecular studies. A report by an outside panel of experts on future directions for NIDA's gene-environment program can be found at https://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/strategic-plan/strategic-planning-workgroup-genes-x-environment-x-development-interplay-gedi.

Examples of approaches that are encouraged include, but are not limited to:

Studies of GxE interplay to explicate the contributions of both genetic and environmental risk factors to risk for initiation, progression, comorbidity, adverse outcomes, and cessation of SUDs and underlying mechanisms
Studies using genetically informed methods to refine phenotyping, including alternative phenotypes such as affective or inhibited subtypes
Use of animal models to better control for genetic, environmental, and/or developmental factors in the study of GxE interactions and of potential trans-generational implications of GxE interactions
Use of post-mortem brain tissue to study the intersections of genomic and epigenomic factors with specific drug exposures
Impact of HIV on GxE interactions
Studies of GxE interplay in outcomes for offspring exposed in utero to substances including marijuana, prescription opioids, alcohol or nicotine
Studies of the impact of genetic factors on response to preventive or treatment interventions

Cost effective approaches that take advantage of existing data or research infrastructure are also encouraged, including:

Modeling (secondary data analyses): single databases or harmonizing data among multiple studies
Adding environmental, genetic, or diagnostic measures to ongoing studies with sufficient power to address GxE
Developing or testing methodologic approaches to improve yield from existing data, to address challenges in data reduction, harmonization and analysis of large, heterogeneous datasets
Using existing data to replicate prior findings
Existing datasets include but are not limited to the following sources:

Application and Submission Information:

This notice applies to due dates on or after October 5, 2019 and subsequent receipt dates through January 8, 2022.

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-19-056 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
PA-19-055 - Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required)
PA-19-091 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
PA-19-092 -NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
PA-19-053 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
PA-19-054 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)

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-19-038" (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.

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Naimah Weinberg, M.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: (301) 443-6504
Email: nweinber@nida.nih.gov

Amy C. Lossie, Ph.D.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: (301) 827-6092
Email: amy.lossie@nih.gov