Neural Ensembles & Used Substances (NExUS) Collaboratory: Building a Multimodal Inventory of Cell Ensembles Encoding the Effects of Addictive Substances
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions and investigators studying neural mechanisms of substance addiction. Eligible applicants include academic research institutions, hospitals, and NIH-eligible nonprofits conducting neuroscience research. The program supports collaborative, multimodal studies of neural cell ensembles and their response to addictive substances. Geographic scope is nationwide. Research activities focus on building inventories, databases, and collaborative frameworks for studying addiction neurobiology at the cellular level.
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Key dates
- Sep 11, 2025 Applications open
- Oct 7, 2026 Application deadline in 82 days
- Jul 1, 2027 Award announced
- Jul 1, 2027 Project start
Program description
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) seeks to advance its mission by supporting the expansion of the Collaboratory on Neural Ensembles & Used Substances (NExUS), an effort to build a knowledgebase of the neural cell populations and computations altered by substance-associated experiences, and underlying neurobehavioral states characteristic of addiction, or protective against it. This notice is provided to allow prospective applicants to develop applications that achieve the following goals:
1) Collect and share granular datasets descriptive of neural cell populations tuned to tractable features of substance-related experiences
2) Integrate cell-resolved readouts of ensemble activity with other granular data modalities (e.g., molecular cell identity, epigenetic state, morphology, spatial localization or connectivity)
3) Develop tools for analysis and visualization of ensemble composition and geometry, and document their scalability
4) Inform and test models for the mechanisms whereby cells or motifs are recruited into coding ensembles
5) Enable synergies among NExUS-funded projects and with other cell atlasing efforts through coordination of outreach, data standards, analytics, common spatial frameworks, and reference taxonomies
Grant Authorities that allow NIDA to forecast this opportunity are as follows: Section 301 (42 U.S.C. § 241) and Section 405 (42 U.S.C. § 284).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative and specific aims
- Detailed research methodology
- Budget and budget justification
- Biographical sketches of key personnel
- Letters of institutional support
- Data management and sharing plan
- References and citations
Program contact
- 👤 Integrative Neuroscience Branch Program Staff
- 📧 INBranch_NIDA@nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail
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
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$204,359,786
-
$128,078,833
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$126,585,435
-
$99,478,296
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$79,333,238
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$78,351,755
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$74,806,844
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$71,588,047
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$61,578,651
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$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
Who can apply for this grant?
Research institutions with NIH eligibility, including universities, medical centers, and nonprofits. Individual investigators must have appropriate institutional affiliation and research credentials.
What types of research does this grant support?
Studies of neural ensembles and cellular mechanisms related to addictive substances. The program emphasizes multimodal approaches and collaborative data-sharing frameworks.
Is this a single award or collaborative program?
This appears to be a collaboratory program designed to build networks and inventories. Multiple institutions may participate in coordinated research efforts.
How competitive is this grant?
NIH grants are highly competitive. Strong preliminary data, experienced research teams, and clear innovation are essential.
What is the typical funding level?
NIH research grants vary widely. Check the CFDA record or NIH website for specific funding caps and budget guidelines for this program.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate clear expertise in neuroscience and addiction research. Include strong preliminary data showing proof of concept.
- Emphasize collaboration and data-sharing commitment. Collaboratory grants prioritize building multimodal inventories accessible to the research community.
- Clearly articulate the scientific innovation. Explain how your approach advances understanding of neural mechanisms beyond existing knowledge.
- Budget realistically for sustained research and infrastructure. Multimodal studies require equipment, personnel, and computational resources.
- Align your research timeline with deliverables. Show concrete milestones for building inventories or databases that the collaboratory depends on.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak justification for why a collaboratory approach is necessary. Insufficient preliminary data or unclear research methodology. Vague commitments to data sharing or unclear data management plans.
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