Cutting-Edge Basic Research Awards (CEBRA) (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers conducting innovative basic research on substance use disorders (SUDs). Eligible applicants include academic institutions (including HBCUs, HSIs, tribal colleges), federal agencies, faith-based and community organizations, and foreign entities. Research must develop revolutionary new techniques for addiction research or test innovative hypotheses with transformative potential. Awards support high-risk, high-impact work that addresses gaps in the current SUD research portfolio.
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Program description
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Cutting-Edge Basic Research Award (CEBRA) is designed to foster highly innovative or conceptually creative research related to the etiology, pathophysiology, prevention, or treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs). It supports high-risk and potentially high-impact research that is sparse or not included in NIDA’s current portfolio that has the potential to transform SUD research. The proposed research should: 1. develop, and/or adapt, revolutionary techniques or methods for addiction research or that show promising future applicability to SUD research; and /or 2. test an innovative and significant hypothesis for which there are scant precedent or preliminary data and which, if confirmed, would transform current thinking.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Faith-based Organization
- HBCU
- HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution)
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- TCU (Tribal Colleges)
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Form
- Project Narrative/Research Strategy
- Biographical Sketches
- Budget Justification
- Letters of Support (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.279 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$204,359,786
-
$128,078,833
-
$126,585,435
-
$99,478,296
-
$79,333,238
-
$78,351,755
-
$74,806,844
-
$71,588,047
-
$61,578,651
-
$50,952,037
Top States by Funding
- NY 4 awards $260.8M
- WA 1 awards $204.4M
- CT 2 awards $155.8M
- CA 4 awards $141.1M
- MD 2 awards $128.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.279). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,245,503,136 | |
| 2025 | $1,343,517,098 | |
| 2026 est. | $20,194,375 |
FAQ
What types of research does CEBRA fund?
CEBRA supports innovative basic research on substance use disorders that develops new methods or tests novel hypotheses. The work must be high-risk and potentially transformative to the field.
Can international researchers apply?
Yes, non-U.S. entities are eligible applicants. However, review the NIH foreign institutional policies for any additional requirements.
What if my hypothesis has limited preliminary data?
That's acceptable for CEBRA. The program explicitly values research with scant precedent or preliminary data if the hypothesis is significant and innovative.
Are letters of intent required?
Check the specific NIH Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for LOI requirements. Most NIH R21 awards require an LOI submission before the full application.
What is the typical award amount?
The program describes a maximum of $150,000, but check the current NOFO for exact budget limits and phase structure details.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Focus on innovation and high-risk potential. Clearly articulate what makes your research conceptually creative or revolutionary compared to existing approaches.
- Emphasize the gap in NIDA's current portfolio. Explain why your research addresses an underexplored area in SUD science.
- Use preliminary data strategically. Even limited data strengthens applications; explain why limited data is appropriate for a novel hypothesis.
- Follow NIH formatting rules exactly. Margins, fonts, and page limits vary; review the current NOFO carefully before submission.
- Build a strong research team. Include collaborators with complementary expertise in addiction research, neuroscience, or relevant methodology.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when researchers don't demonstrate clear innovation or novelty compared to standard SUD research approaches. Weak applications lack a compelling justification for why current NIDA funding doesn't address this research gap. Poor preliminary data with no strategic explanation undermines claims of a significant, testable hypothesis.
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