Single Cell Opioid Responses in the Context of HIV (SCORCH) Program: Phase 2
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research teams advancing single cell biology in the context of substance use disorder (SUD) and HIV. Eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies with research capacity. The grant supports hypothesis-driven and data-mining studies examining cellular mechanisms in the central nervous system. Projects may use new single cell approaches including RNA analysis, epigenomic studies, and spatial biology techniques.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Key dates
- Aug 20, 2026 Applications open
- Jun 8, 2027 Application deadline in 232 days
- Apr 1, 2028 Award announced
- Apr 1, 2028 Project start
Program description
NIDA seeks to further advance its mission in the area of single cell biology. Since 2020, the NIDA-funded Single Cell Opioid Responses in the Context of HIV (SCORCH) consortium has generated single-nucleus datasets from human and animal postmortem brain tissue under conditions of HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and/or substance exposure (e.g. opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, and cannabinoids). Building on this Phase 1 foundation, NIDA will encourage research addressing critical questions on Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and interactions with HIV disease progression at the subcellular, cellular, or circuit levels in the Central Nervous System (CNS). Many new cutting-edge single cell approaches (e.g. interrogation of RNA splicing, non-coding RNAs, epigenomic or proteomic features, subcellular or synaptic localization and function, spatial interactions, cell-cell communication, or cellular connectivity) now enable novel hypothesis-generating studies. Along with data mining studies to identify candidate mechanisms or targets contributing to HIV/SUD interactions and hypothesis-driven studies to assess functional significance, we expect SCORCH Phase 2 to significantly advance our mechanistic understanding of SUDs and HIV in the CNS and identify targets for novel therapies. Grant authorities that allow NIDA to forecast this opportunity are 42 U.S.C. §§ 241 and 284
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- 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
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative/Research Strategy
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches of Key Personnel
- Institutional Biosketches
- Letters of Support or Collaboration (if applicable)
- Research Strategy addressing specific aims
- Data Management Plan
Program contact
- 👤 National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
- 📧 NIDA_GED_Program@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
-
$976,983,003
-
$204,359,786
-
$128,377,094
-
$126,585,435
-
$99,478,296
-
$79,333,238
-
$78,245,057
-
$74,806,844
-
$71,588,047
-
$61,572,673
Top States by Funding
- NC 2 awards $1,006.2M
- NY 4 awards $261.1M
- WA 1 awards $204.4M
- CT 2 awards $155.8M
- CA 4 awards $141.9M
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 SCORCH Phase 2?
Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, nonprofit organizations, and government entities with research infrastructure. Foreign organizations may be eligible if operating in the U.S.
What types of research does SCORCH Phase 2 fund?
The program funds single cell biology research examining HIV/SUD interactions in the central nervous system. Both hypothesis-driven studies and data-mining approaches to identify novel mechanisms are supported.
Is cost sharing required?
No, cost sharing is not required for this grant.
What is the typical award amount?
Awards range up to $1,000,000, though specific funding levels depend on project scope and review outcomes.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is June 8, 2027 (fixed date, not rolling).
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your research with NIDA's priorities on single cell approaches and HIV/SUD mechanisms in the central nervous system.
- Emphasize novel methodologies such as RNA splicing analysis, spatial biology, or epigenomic approaches that advance the field.
- Demonstrate how your study builds on existing SCORCH Phase 1 datasets or addresses identified gaps in mechanistic understanding.
- Include preliminary data showing feasibility and innovation of your single cell biology approach.
- Clearly connect your findings to potential therapeutic targets or clinical applications for SUD and HIV treatment.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing studies that lack focus on single cell mechanisms or don't connect to HIV/SUD interactions. Failing to demonstrate how your approach advances beyond Phase 1 findings or existing single cell biology techniques. Submitting weak preliminary data or unclear plans for sample collection and analysis.
Similar grants
- OPEN Neural Ensembles & Used Substances (NExUS) Collaboratory: Building a Multimodal Inventory of Cell Ensembles Encoding the Effects of Addictive Substances (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Pilot Studies of Biological, Behavioral and Social Mechanisms Contributing to HIV Pathogenesis Within the Mission of NIDDK (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN Cutting-Edge Basic Research Awards (CEBRA) (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health
- OPEN NIDA Animal Genomics Program (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) — National Institutes of Health
- CLOSED NIDA Core "Center of Transformative Science" Grant Program — National Institutes of Health