Drug Abuse Dissertation Research (R36) | PA 16 443

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 16 443

The Drug Abuse Dissertation Research (R36) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 16-443) is a National Institutes of Health grant program designed to support doctoral candidates who are finishing dissertation research focused on drug abuse and addiction-related topics. Its central aim is to strengthen and broaden the diversity of the drug abuse research workforce by helping promising graduate researchers complete high-quality dissertation projects and move into long-term research careers. The program is meant to expand the pipeline of skilled scientists who can contribute to the field and encourage cross-disciplinary, transdisciplinary work that brings together different methods, perspectives, and academic traditions.

Research supported under this award can cover a wide range of drug abuse-related areas, including basic and clinical neuroscience, human development, epidemiology, prevention, treatment, and health services research. The program also explicitly highlights research that addresses women and sex/gender differences as they relate to drug abuse, reflecting the need for more precise and inclusive science in understanding causes, trajectories, and outcomes across populations. Projects are expected to align with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funding priority areas and/or the NIDA strategic plan, so applicants should frame their dissertation work in ways that clearly connect to those priorities and the broader direction of NIDA-supported research.

The award provides up to two years of support specifically intended for completion of the doctoral dissertation research project, making it a targeted, time-limited mechanism for students who are at the dissertation stage and need resources to carry out and finalize the research. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity category is listed under education and health (CFDA 93.279). The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $50,000, which sets expectations for a modest but meaningful level of support tailored to dissertation-scale research rather than large multi-year projects.

Eligibility is oriented toward higher education institutions and includes both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education, along with specific categories of institutions that often serve underrepresented groups. The announcement explicitly notes eligibility considerations for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). While the focus is on strengthening diversity in the research workforce and encouraging applications from doctoral candidates across many disciplines, the application is submitted through an eligible institution rather than by an individual acting entirely independently, consistent with typical NIH grant structures.

There are also clear restrictions related to foreign organizations. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. At the same time, the opportunity allows “foreign components” as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S.-based applicant organization may include certain allowable international elements in the project when justified and compliant with NIH policy. This distinction matters for dissertation research that may involve international datasets, collaborations, or field components, since it may be feasible under a foreign component arrangement even though a foreign institution cannot be the applicant.

In practical terms, this program is best understood as a dissertation-completion grant for doctoral students doing drug abuse research that fits within NIDA’s scientific priorities. It is structured to help launch early-career scientists into the addiction research workforce by providing short-term funding, emphasizing strong alignment with NIDA’s agenda, and encouraging a broad range of disciplinary approaches, from neuroscience to public health and services research. The opportunity was created on 2016-09-22, and the original closing date listed in the provided source data is 2020-05-07.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Drug Abuse Dissertation Research (R36)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-09-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for PA 16 443

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