Key Dates

Related Announcements

• May 8, 2024 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PAR-24-214.
• May 8, 2024 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PAR-24-152.
• April 24, 2024 - NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required). See PA-24-193.
• April 24, 2024 - NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-24-194.
• April 24, 2024 - NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). See NOFO PA-24-195.
• April 24, 2024 - Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-24-175.
• April 24, 2024 - Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-24-176.
• April 24, 2024 - Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 – Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). See NOFO PA-24-177.
• April 11, 2023 - Exploratory Clinical Neuroscience Research on Substance Use Disorders (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO PAR-23-157.
• April 11, 2023 - Exploratory Clinical Neuroscience Research on Substance Use Disorders ((R61/R33 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans (BESH) Required)). See NOFO PAR-23-158.
• February 7, 2023 - Accelerating the Pace of Drug Abuse Research Using Existing Data (R21 Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO RFA-DA-24-037.
• January 10, 2022 - Accelerating the Pace of Drug Abuse Research Using Existing Data (R01 Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO RFA-DA-22-037.
• May 7, 2020 - NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed), See NOFO PA-20-200.
• May 7, 2020 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-20-194.
• May 7, 2020 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-20-195.
• May 7, 2020 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). See NOFO PA-20-196.
• May 5, 2020 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-20-183.
• May 5, 2020 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). See NOFO PA-20-184.
• May 5, 2020 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Required). See NOFO PA-20-185.

Issued by

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Purpose

This Notice invites applications using computational modeling techniques to understand the neurobiology of substance use disorder (SUD)-relevant behavior and symptoms, to provide insights leading to SUD prevention and treatment. 

Key definitions:

Computational model: A mathematical model used to simulate, study, and analyze complex systems. The model contains mathematically linked variables that characterize the system being studied. The simulation is conducted by adjusting these variables, either alone or in combination, and observing the outcomes. Computational models can be used to study a wide range of phenomena, and are a powerful tool for predicting and understanding the behavior of complex systems. 

Background:

Computational models have enabled a wide range of insights into the function of the brain, and provide a rich set of tools, methods, and approaches for understanding the function of neurobiological systems. Advances in computational modeling have involved the application of algorithms from domains such as computer science and statistics, including reinforcement learning and Bayesian inference to understand the function of different brain systems.

Further, computational approaches can be applied to the understanding of multidimensional neural representations and how these representations evolve over different stages of processing, applying techniques from the analysis of neural networks to understand neural representations. Computational models can be applied at several different levels of abstraction or levels of detail, from models that describe cognitive processes, to more mechanistic models that describe the specific implementation of a process in the brain. 

Research gaps exist in the application of computational modeling frameworks to elucidate the neurobiological and behavioral basis for SUD as existing computational models have not always captured different stages of SUD, such as craving, withdrawal, and recovery. SUDs also incorporate many different behavioral symptoms, including but not limited to loss of control over consumption, continued use despite negative consequences, and experiencing social/interpersonal problems related to use. Computational modeling approaches capturing diverse stages and phenotypes of the substance use trajectory would facilitate novel mechanistic insights into the biological processes underlying development, persistence of and recovery from SUD. 

Research Objectives:

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) seeks applications that use computational modeling approaches to understand the neurobiology of SUD-relevant behavior and symptoms, to provide insights leading to SUD prevention and treatment. Applications may rely on existing data or propose to collect new data to lead towards development and validation of models. Projects are encouraged to include close collaboration between individuals with quantitative expertise and researchers with experience in SUD neuroscience. Investigators are encouraged to make any computational models and tools developed through these projects widely accessible to the neuroscience community.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Applying simulation-based approaches to understand how individual differences in computations and neurobiological systems underlying cognitive processes related to addiction, including but not limited to decision-making, working memory and reward learning, influence the propensity to develop substance-use disorders.
• Using computational approaches to understand the brain representations associated with the risk and trajectory of SUD, and different SUD symptoms.
• Using techniques including but not limited to reinforcement learning, Bayesian modeling, or neural network modeling to understanding the function of brain systems relevant to the development, maintenance, and treatment of SUDs.
• Extending existing and developing novel computational models of brain systems involved in SUDs, in cognitive processes impacted in SUD that are less understood, including but not limited to episodic memory, social behavior, and metacognition.
• Using computational modeling to capture behavioral and neural data in individuals with SUDs, such as by fitting the parameters of a computational model to behavioral or neural data or looking for brain correlates of computational model parameters.
• Models of fundamental cognition and neurobiology relevant to SUD, including but not limited to decision-making, social cognition and executive function.
• Computational models examining the interaction between sleep and cognitive processes relevant to SUD, and the effect of drugs on this interaction.
• Models at different scales and levels of abstraction examining neural mechanisms or behaviors relevant to substance use, including but not limited to models of: neurons and microcircuits, populations of neurons, interactions between brain areas, the links between brain computations and behavior, and behavior, including social interactions.
• Multi-scale computational models linking modeling at different scales and levels of analysis to understand SUDs. For example, models linking neural changes to changes in cognitive processes and behavior, and the interaction between these processes. Brain-based multi-scale models could integrate detailed neuron and microcircuit models with models of brain networks.
• Models of interactions between brain systems and whole-body pathophysiological pathways (such as inflammatory, immune, or stress-response systems).
• Models of interactions of broader socioenvironmental factors (including, but not limited to, social inequity, neighborhood disadvantage, social isolation, pollution) with pathophysiological pathways (including, but not limited to, inflammatory, immune or stress-response systems), and interactions of these pathways with the brain. 

Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to due dates on or after October 5, 2024 and subsequent receipt dates through September 8, 2027. 

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

• May 8, 2024 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PAR-24-214.
• May 8, 2024 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PAR-24-152.
• April 24, 2024 - NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Required). See PA-24-193.
• April 24, 2024 - NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-24-194.
• April 24, 2024 - NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). See NOFO PA-24-195.
• April 24, 2024 - Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-24-175.
• April 24, 2024 - Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-24-176.
• April 24, 2024 - Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 – Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). See NOFO PA-24-177.
• April 11, 2023 - Exploratory Clinical Neuroscience Research on Substance Use Disorders (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO PAR-23-157.
• April 11, 2023 - Exploratory Clinical Neuroscience Research on Substance Use Disorders (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO PAR-23-158.
• February 7, 2023 - Accelerating the Pace of Drug Abuse Research Using Existing Data (R21 Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO RFA-DA-24-037.
• January 10, 2022 - Accelerating the Pace of Drug Abuse Research Using Existing Data (R01 Clinical Trial Optional). See NOFO RFA-DA-22-037.
• May 7, 2020 - NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed), See NOFO PA-20-200.
• May 7, 2020 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-20-194.
• May 7, 2020 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See NOFO PA-20-195.
• May 7, 2020 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). See NOFO PA-20-196.
• May 5, 2020 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required). See NOFO PA-20-183.
• May 5, 2020 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required). See NOFO PA-20-184.
• May 5, 2020 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Required). See NOFO PA-20-185.

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

• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-DA-26-001” (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.

Additional Considerations: Applicants who are interested in computational neuroscience and computational modeling are encouraged to apply through other programs in computational neuroscience, such as Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) (NOT-MH-24-140). BRAIN Initiative programs on understanding neural circuits also provide support for building computational tools for understanding dynamic circuits.

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

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to the contacts in Section VII of the listed notice of funding opportunity with the following additions/substitutions:

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Jessica Mollick
National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: 301-827-2949
Email: [email protected]