Mechanistic Research on Neuromodulation for Substance Use Disorders Treatment (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) | RFA DA 24 032

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 24 032

Mechanistic Research on Neuromodulation for Substance Use Disorders Treatment (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (RFA-DA-24-032) aimed at improving substance use disorder (SUD) treatment by advancing the science behind non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS). The central focus is not simply testing whether a stimulation approach reduces craving or drug use, but digging into how and why it might work. Projects are expected to identify and validate new neural targets for NIBS and to measure the neurobiological, cognitive, and behavioral changes that happen in response to stimulation, especially early changes that are believed to come before later clinical outcomes like reduced substance use or craving. In other words, the NOFO prioritizes studies that can connect stimulation to specific mechanisms and intermediate responses, rather than treating clinical improvement as a black box outcome.

The award uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which is typically meant for substantial, hypothesis-driven research programs. Here, the R01 is specifically framed around mechanistic research: studies designed to explain a biological or behavioral process, clarify disease pathophysiology, or determine an intervention's mechanism of action. That mechanistic requirement is a key point, because applicants need to propose more than a standard efficacy trial. Competitive applications will generally be expected to include a clear conceptual model of the mechanism being tested, strong justification for the chosen stimulation target(s), and well-chosen measures that can detect the relevant brain-based and behavioral responses to NIBS.

Another defining requirement is that applications must meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial. NIH considers a study a clinical trial when one or more human subjects are prospectively assigned to one or more interventions (including placebo or control conditions) to evaluate effects on health-related biomedical or behavioral outcomes. Since the NOFO is labeled "Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required," it is pointing toward carefully controlled human experiments that still qualify as clinical trials under NIH rules. Practically, this means applicants should be prepared to describe prospective assignment, intervention conditions (for example, active vs sham stimulation or different stimulation parameters), and pre-specified outcome measures, while still emphasizing mechanistic endpoints such as changes in neural circuitry, cognition, decision-making, reward processing, inhibitory control, stress responsivity, or other SUD-relevant domains.

The NOFO also includes a firm administrative requirement: a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP). This plan is not optional and is scored as part of scientific and technical peer review. Applications that do not include a PEDP will be considered incomplete and will be withdrawn without review. The intent is to strengthen the research by incorporating diverse perspectives, which can include (depending on the project) diversity in research teams, participant populations, settings, scientific approaches, stakeholder engagement, or partnerships that broaden the relevance and rigor of the work. Applicants are expected to follow the NOFO instructions closely and use NIH-provided PEDP guidance when preparing this section.

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types commonly permitted under NIH grants, spanning public and private higher education institutions, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses as well as small businesses), and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts). It also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations. This wide eligibility is consistent with the NOFO's interest in expanding perspectives, settings, and scientific contributions to mechanistic neuromodulation research in SUD.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant in the education and health category, associated with CFDA (Assistance Listing) 93.279. The original closing date provided is 2026-08-14. An explicit award ceiling is not specified in the source information shown, and the expected number of awards is also not provided there, so applicants would typically need to consult the full NOFO text for any budget guidance, project period limits, institute-specific expectations, and review considerations.

Overall, this funding opportunity is for teams that can run well-controlled human neuromodulation studies and, at the same time, produce convincing mechanistic evidence about what NIBS is changing in the brain and behavior of people with SUD. The ideal project is one that can credibly move the field toward more precise stimulation targets and measurable intermediate markers that explain and predict later clinical benefit, while also meeting NIH clinical trial requirements and incorporating a strong, compliant PEDP.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mechanistic Research on Neuromodulation for Substance Use Disorders Treatment (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-09-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

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