Initiative: Translating Addiction Epidemiology, Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Research into Practice (R61/R33 – Clinical Trial Optional)
Can you apply?
This grant is for U.S.-based researchers studying addiction epidemiology, prevention, treatment, and recovery. Eligible organizations include academic institutions, research centers, and health systems. Work may occur at individual, provider, organizational, community, or system levels. Foreign organizations cannot apply, but U.S. organizations may include foreign components.
Applications focusing on opioid crisis response, evidence-based intervention translation to practice, and chronic pain with substance use comorbidity are prioritized. The research must demonstrate a clear pathway to moving findings into real-world practice settings.
This is an R61/R33 two-phase mechanism, with clinical trials optional.
This grant is for U.S.-based researchers studying addiction epidemiology, prevention, treatment, and recovery. Eligible organizations include academic institutions, research centers, and health systems. Work may occur at individual, provider, organizational, community, or system levels. Foreign organizations cannot apply, but U.S. organizations may include foreign components.
Applications focusing on opioid crisis response, evidence-based intervention translation to practice, and chronic pain with substance use comorbidity are prioritized. The research must demonstrate a clear pathway to moving findings into real-world practice settings.
This is an R61/R33 two-phase mechanism, with clinical trials optional.
Program description
The goal of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to address the opioid crisis and/or overdose events by supporting action-oriented research, accelerating the translation of addiction epidemiology, prevention, treatment services, and recovery research to practice. Proposed studies may target the individual, provider, organizational, community, or system level. This initiative prioritizes replicable and scalable approaches for accelerating the routine use of effective, evidence-based prevention, treatment and recovery interventions and services. The translation of research to practice and research relevant to chronic pain comorbid with substance use is also a priority. Research may deploy a variety of methods and approaches, including but not limited to identifying and characterizing malleable factors, developing and testing interventions and implementation strategies, deploying and testing collaborative data science approaches, and/or developing and testing approaches that integrate the collaboration of researchers and decision-makers at any levels (e.g., clinical-, health system-, public health- or policy-level).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Community Health Center
- County Government
- Hospital
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for U.S.-based researchers studying addiction epidemiology, prevention, treatment, and recovery. Eligible organizations include academic institutions, research centers, and health systems. Work may occur at individual, provider, organizational, community, or system levels. Foreign organizations cannot apply, but U.S. organizations may include foreign components.
Applications focusing on opioid crisis response, evidence-based intervention translation to practice, and chronic pain with substance use comorbidity are prioritized. The research must demonstrate a clear pathway to moving findings into real-world practice settings.
This is an R61/R33 two-phase mechanism, with clinical trials optional.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative (research plan aligned with R61/R33 phases)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical sketches of key personnel
- Letters of support from practice/implementation partners
- Preliminary data or evidence summary
- Timeline showing R61 and R33 milestones
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 NIDA-26-063@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
-
$128,078,833
-
$126,585,435
-
$79,333,238
-
$78,351,755
-
$74,806,844
-
$71,588,047
-
$61,578,651
-
$50,344,757
-
$41,820,011
-
$39,479,041
Top States by Funding
- NY 4 awards $260.8M
- CT 2 awards $155.8M
- CA 3 awards $90.2M
- KY 1 awards $79.3M
- MA 1 awards $78.4M
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 is eligible to apply?
U.S.-based research institutions, universities, health systems, and nonprofits. Foreign organizations cannot be primary applicants.
What research topics are priorities?
Opioid crisis interventions, evidence translation to practice, and chronic pain with substance use comorbidity. Individual through systems-level approaches qualify.
What is the R61/R33 mechanism?
A two-phase award. R61 funds the exploratory phase; R33 supports the confirmatory phase if progress meets benchmarks.
How competitive is this grant?
Highly competitive. Reviewers look for strong preliminary data, clear translation pathways, and feasible implementation plans.
What research methods are allowed?
Various approaches including intervention development, implementation testing, collaborative data science, and researcher-stakeholder partnerships.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize the translation-to-practice angle. Reviewers want evidence that moves from research directly into clinical or community settings.
- Include letters of support from practice partners. Healthcare systems, clinics, or policy makers strengthen implementation credibility.
- Show preliminary data or evidence base. Explain what current evidence supports your proposed intervention.
- Address scalability and replicability early. Describe how others can adopt and adapt your approach.
- Consider the opioid crisis context. Frame your work within public health urgency and stakeholder need.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposals treating this as basic research rather than translation to practice fail to align with initiative goals. Vague implementation plans without concrete practice partner involvement weaken competitiveness. Overlooking chronic pain comorbidity or focusing narrowly on single-level interventions misses funding priorities.
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