NIDA Funding Policies and Considerations

Visit NIH Fiscal Policies for NIH-wide information on appropriations and other budgetary information (salary limits, stipends, tuition/fees) and Funding Decisions to learn about NIH's consistent and unified approach for making funding decisions. The NIDA-specific information on this page builds on that general information.

On this page:

Fiscal Year 2026

Competing Awards

NIDA may reduce competing awards from the Integrated Review Group recommended levels in order to increase the number of awards issued. 

  • New and competing awards will be funded at approximately the same average cost as FY 25.
  • In general, competitive renewal awards should not increase by more than 10% over the prior year’s award, without strong justification.

Please note the following regarding competing awards:

  • In line with the NIH’s Unified strategy, NIDA will exercise discretion and consider portfolio balance, programmatic importance, public health impact, and other factors in determining which applications are awarded.
  • All grant awards will continue to be subject to programmatic adjustments from the NIDA Advisory Council approved levels.

Non-Competing Continuations Awards

Consistent with overall NIH policy:

  • During the Continuing Resolution (CR), non-competing continuation awards will be funded at 90% of the committed levels.
  • Future year commitments will remain unchanged.

HIV/AIDS Research

HIV/AIDS related applications will receive additional consideration to align with NIH’s HIV/AIDS research priorities (see NOT-OD-20-018) as well as programmatic relevance to the NIDA mission.

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