Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 12 086
Apply for PAR 12 086
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cutting Edge Basic Research Awards (CEBRA) (R21)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 27, 2012 and posted on Jan 27, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 19, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $125,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) County governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Special district governments For profit organizations other than small businesses City or township governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Small businesses Independent school districts Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education State governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Cutting Edge Basic Research Awards (CEBRA) (R21) funding opportunity (PAR-12-086) is a National Institutes of Health program run through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to spark bold, unconventional basic research that could reshape how the field understands drug abuse and addiction, including new directions for prevention and treatment. The core idea is to give investigators room to pursue early-stage concepts that may be too speculative for more traditional mechanisms, especially projects that are high risk but could deliver high impact if they succeed. NIDA is specifically looking for work that is not well represented in its existing portfolio, meaning proposals should bring something genuinely different to the table rather than incremental extensions of established lines of research.
This announcement emphasizes two main kinds of projects. First, it encourages testing highly novel and significant hypotheses where there is little precedent or limited preliminary data, as long as confirmation would meaningfully change current scientific thinking. Second, it supports the development, adaptation, or creative application of innovative techniques and methods aimed at addiction research, including tools that may not have been designed for drug abuse research originally but could have strong future relevance. In practice, that means applicants can propose new conceptual models, unconventional biological or behavioral mechanisms, emerging technologies, or inventive methodological approaches, as long as the connection to drug abuse and addiction science is clear and the potential payoff is substantial.
CEBRA uses the NIH R21 grant mechanism, which is commonly used for exploratory or developmental research. The listed award ceiling is $125,000. The program falls under the Health and Education activity category and is tied to CFDA 93.279 (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers barriers for applicants who might not have institutional resources to contribute financially.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status, other than universities), for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses), and a wide range of government entities such as state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Tribal eligibility is also extensive, covering federally recognized Native American tribal governments as well as other tribal organizations. The opportunity further highlights eligibility for institutions and organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies. Importantly, non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also allowed; foreign components are permitted consistent with NIH policy.
Key administrative details reflect that this was a time-limited announcement. It was posted and created on January 27, 2012, with an original and current closing date of December 19, 2014, and an archive date of January 19, 2015. The full announcement was available through the NIH Grants Guide at the listed link (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-086.html). For access or technical issues related to the posting, the contact provided is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Overall, CEBRA (R21) is best understood as NIDA's invitation to take informed scientific chances: propose a striking hypothesis with limited prior evidence or bring forward a breakthrough method that could open new doors in addiction research. The program is structured to reward originality, conceptual creativity, and transformative potential, rather than requiring the level of preliminary data typically expected for more mature research proposals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Cutting Edge Basic Research Awards (CEBRA) (R21) opportunity?
The Cutting Edge Basic Research Awards (CEBRA) (R21) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity run through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). It is designed to spark bold, unconventional basic research that could reshape how the field understands drug abuse and addiction, including new directions for prevention and treatment.
What is the official program and announcement identifier?
The funding opportunity is CEBRA (R21) and the announcement identifier is PAR-12-086.
What is the main goal of this program?
The goal is to give investigators room to pursue early-stage concepts that may be too speculative for more traditional funding mechanisms, especially projects that are high risk but could have high impact if successful. NIDA is looking for research that could meaningfully change scientific thinking in drug abuse and addiction.
What types of research does CEBRA emphasize?
The announcement emphasizes two main project types:
- Testing highly novel and significant hypotheses where there is little precedent or limited preliminary data, as long as confirming the hypothesis would substantially change current scientific thinking.
- Developing, adapting, or creatively applying innovative techniques and methods for addiction research, including tools not originally designed for drug abuse research but with strong future relevance.
Does this program require extensive preliminary data?
No. The program is specifically intended to support early-stage, exploratory ideas that may have limited preliminary data. It is structured to reward originality, conceptual creativity, and transformative potential rather than requiring the level of preliminary evidence often expected for more mature research proposals.
How does NIDA describe the kind of science it wants to fund?
NIDA describes this program as an invitation to take informed scientific chances: propose striking hypotheses with limited prior evidence or introduce breakthrough methods that could open new doors in addiction research.
What makes a proposal a good fit for CEBRA?
Based on the announcement description, strong fit proposals are genuinely different from work already well represented in NIDA's existing portfolio. The intent is to fund research that is not an incremental extension of established lines of research, but instead offers bold novelty with substantial potential payoff for drug abuse and addiction science.
What kinds of approaches might be included under "innovative techniques and methods"?
The opportunity supports development, adaptation, or creative application of innovative techniques and methods aimed at addiction research. This can include emerging technologies, inventive methodological approaches, and tools originally designed for other areas that could be highly relevant to drug abuse and addiction research in the future.
What grant mechanism does CEBRA use?
CEBRA uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is commonly used for exploratory or developmental research.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is $125,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the activity category for this program?
The program falls under the Health and Education activity category.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA 93.279 (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs).
What organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes:
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status, other than universities)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profits that are not small businesses)
- Government entities such as state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations
Are specific types of institutions and communities highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity highlights eligibility for organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies.
Can non-U.S. (foreign) institutions apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign institutions) are eligible to apply. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also allowed, and foreign components are permitted consistent with NIH policy.
When was this funding opportunity posted and created?
It was posted and created on January 27, 2012.
What were the closing date and archive date for this announcement?
The original and current closing date was December 19, 2014, and the archive date was January 19, 2015.
Where can the full announcement be found?
The full announcement was made available through the NIH Grants Guide at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-12-086.html
Who should be contacted for access or technical issues related to the posting?
For access or technical issues related to the posting, the contact provided is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
What is the program trying to avoid funding?
NIDA indicates it is looking for work not well represented in its existing portfolio. In other words, proposals should bring something genuinely different rather than incremental extensions of established lines of research.
How is the connection to drug abuse and addiction expected to be addressed?
Even when proposing unconventional models, mechanisms, or tools originally developed for other fields, applicants are expected to make a clear connection to drug abuse and addiction science and show why the approach could have substantial payoff for the field.
Is the focus strictly on treatment research?
No. The description includes research that could reshape understanding of drug abuse and addiction, including new directions for both prevention and treatment.
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| Research to Assist Informal Caregivers in Assessing and Managing Symptoms in Individuals with Alzheimers Disease (R01) Apply for RFA NR 12 011 Funding Number: RFA NR 12 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Translational Research at the Aging/Cancer Interface (TRACI) (R21) Apply for PA 12 135 Funding Number: PA 12 135 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| Early Detection and Prevention of Mild Cognitive Impairment (R01) Apply for RFA NR 12 010 Funding Number: RFA NR 12 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Strategic Alliances for Medications Development to Treat Substance Use Disorders (R01) Apply for PAS 12 122 Funding Number: PAS 12 122 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Technology Based Interventions to Promote Engagement in Care and Treatment Adherence for Substance Abusing Populations with HIV (R01) Apply for PA 12 117 Funding Number: PA 12 117 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Technology Based Interventions to Promote Engagement in Care and Treatment Adherence and For Substance Abusing Populations with HIV (R34) Apply for PA 12 118 Funding Number: PA 12 118 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| NCI Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (NCI Omnibus R21) Apply for PAR 12 145 Funding Number: PAR 12 145 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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