Pilot and Feasibility Studies in Preparation for Substance Use and HIV Prevention Intervention and Services Research Trials
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers planning early-stage studies on substance use and HIV prevention interventions. Applicants must be eligible NIH grant recipients, typically academic institutions, research hospitals, and nonprofit research organizations. Awards support pilot and feasibility work to strengthen applications for larger clinical trials. Funding is available to U.S. domestic institutions and qualifying international organizations. Studies must address substance abuse prevention or HIV prevention through behavioral, social, or clinical approaches.
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Key dates
- Jan 26, 2026 Applications open
- Oct 2, 2026 Application deadline in 77 days
- Jul 1, 2027 Award announced
- Jul 1, 2027 Project start
Program description
The National Institute on Drug Abuse seeks to support pilot and feasibility studies in preparation for efficacy, effectiveness and/or services research trials. Topics may include:1) developing interventions to prevent substance use, misuse or progression to disorder, 2) substance use prevention, treatment or recovery services research, including comorbid pain, medical and mental health disorders, 3) HIV eradication research, including implementation science, prevention, treatment and recovery in substance use settings/populations.
Projects may address information gaps, strengthen stakeholder partnerships, or pilot test interventions. Activities might include intervention development/adaptation; assessing intervention or service model acceptability and feasibility; and development of measures, materials, or methods for the future trial. Preliminary data is not required. A well-defined theory of change or logic model is expected. Applicants must engage relevant end users in study design, execution, and interpretation (e.g., policymakers, state and local decision makers, practitioners, individuals with lived/living experience, families, youth, and community members).
Applications are not being solicited at this time. This notice is to allow applicants time to develop collaborations and responsive projects. Grant authorities that allow this forecast are 42 U.S.C. §§ 241 and 284.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative (research plan)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (key personnel)
- Institution Certification of IRB review
- Letters of Support from partners or sites
- Preliminary Data/Feasibility evidence
Program contact
- 👤 NIDA DESPR Program Staff
- 📧 nida-par-26-092@mail.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
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$128,078,833
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$126,585,435
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$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
-
$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?
Academic research institutions, hospitals, nonprofit research organizations, and government agencies. International organizations may apply if they meet NIH requirements.
What costs are covered?
Personnel, equipment, supplies, travel, and direct research costs. Indirect costs follow your institution's negotiated NIH rate.
What types of studies are supported?
Pilot projects and feasibility studies for substance use or HIV prevention interventions. Focus is on early-stage research before large clinical trials.
How competitive are these grants?
Moderately competitive. Strong preliminary data and clear justification for the pilot phase improve success rates.
When is the deadline?
Check NIH's NCCR portal for rolling deadlines. Typically multiple submission dates per year.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly explain why a pilot phase is needed before launching a full trial. Show gaps in preliminary data.
- Connect your study directly to substance use or HIV prevention. Demonstrate public health impact and relevance.
- Detail feasibility outcomes: recruitment rates, retention, intervention fidelity, and preliminary effect size estimates.
- Use your institution's research office early. NIH grants require institutional review and compliance documentation.
- Build in partnerships with community organizations or clinical sites. Collaboration strengthens feasibility claims.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak preliminary data. Applicants often underestimate how much pilot work reviewers expect before proposing a full trial. Vague feasibility aims. Define specific, measurable targets for recruitment, retention, or implementation success. Unclear public health significance. Failing to connect the intervention to actual substance use or HIV prevention evidence.
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