Drug Abuse Prevention Intervention Research (R03) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the Drug Abuse Prevention Intervention Research (R03) opportunity (PA-11-313)?

PA-11-313 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity that supports small, focused research projects intended to strengthen the science of drug abuse prevention and drug-related HIV prevention. It uses the NIH Small Research Grant (R03) mechanism.

2. What is the main purpose of this R03 program?

The purpose is to move prevention science forward in practical, actionable ways. Projects are intended to quickly generate useful evidence, refine prevention intervention concepts, develop tools and methods, or address real-world barriers that limit population-level impact of proven prevention approaches.

3. What kinds of projects does the program prioritize?

The announcement highlights four broad categories of priority work:

• Development of novel prevention approaches to reduce drug use initiation, escalation, or related harms.
• Testing of novel and adapted prevention intervention approaches (including adapting evidence-based interventions to new populations or settings).
• Research on processes behind selecting, adopting, adapting, implementing, sustaining, and financing empirically validated interventions.
• Development of new methodologies for prevention research design and analysis (e.g., measurement, study design, analytic techniques).

4. Does the opportunity support only new interventions, or also adaptations of existing interventions?

It supports both. The program encourages new prevention strategies as well as testing and adapting existing evidence-based interventions so they better fit specific populations, risk contexts, delivery systems, or cultural settings.

5. What does the announcement mean by a focus on "population-level prevention impact"?

The program emphasizes research that contributes to pathways for preventing drug abuse and dependence and reducing drug-related problems across communities or systems, not only under controlled research conditions. The goal is to improve real-world prevention impact at scale.

6. What outcomes or problem areas are relevant under this opportunity?

The opportunity is aimed at preventing drug abuse and dependence and reducing drug-related problems and consequences. Examples mentioned include mental health consequences, interpersonal violence, criminal involvement, and productivity loss.

7. Is drug-related HIV prevention part of the scope?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes drug-related HIV prevention as part of the overall focus of strengthening prevention science.

8. Are other infections associated with drug use included in the scope?

Yes. In addition to HIV, the description highlights infections associated with drug use such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

9. Does the opportunity include comorbidities (co-occurring conditions)?

Yes. The scope includes drug-related disorders and complications, including comorbid substance use and psychiatric disorders.

10. What is the R03 mechanism and what type of research does it typically support?

The R03 is the NIH Small Research Grant mechanism. It is typically used for early-stage, pilot, feasibility, proof-of-concept, preliminary efficacy, measurement development, implementation process studies, or tightly scoped studies designed to generate evidence that can support larger future research.

11. What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?

The award ceiling listed is $50,000, consistent with the R03 small-grant intent and the expectation of a narrow scope with high value.

12. Is cost sharing or a matching contribution required?

No. The administrative details indicate there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

13. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and many government entities.

14. What types of government entities are included as eligible applicants?

The eligible government entities described include state, county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities.

15. Are Tribal governments and Tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Tribal governments and other Tribal entities, as well as Tribal organizations and tribally controlled colleges and universities.

16. Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The eligibility language explicitly includes faith-based and community-based organizations.

17. Are institutions serving specific populations explicitly included?

Yes. The eligibility description explicitly includes institutions serving specific populations, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and other regional organizations.

18. Can foreign institutions apply?

Yes. Foreign institutions are allowed to apply. The description also notes that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations may participate, and foreign components are permitted as defined under NIH policy.

19. Does the announcement support international or cross-national prevention research?

It allows participation by foreign institutions and foreign components, which creates room for cross-national or internationally relevant prevention work when scientifically justified.

20. What does the announcement emphasize about real-world implementation?

It highlights that interventions may work under controlled conditions but fall short in real-world settings without guidance on practical steps, organizational factors, costs, and financing. The program encourages research that clarifies how interventions are adopted, implemented, sustained, and financed in settings such as schools, clinics, community programs, justice settings, and public health systems.

21. What kinds of methodology development are encouraged?

The program invites methodological innovations appropriate for prevention research design and analysis, including improved measurement, study designs, analytic techniques, or other methods that make prevention studies more rigorous, feasible, and informative.

22. What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.279, Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs.

23. What activity categories are associated with this opportunity?

It is categorized under education and health activities, reflecting prevention research that can intersect with schools, community prevention systems, and public health infrastructure.

24. What are the key dates and is this opportunity still open?

The source information indicates the opportunity was posted August 16, 2011, with a closing date of January 7, 2015, and an archive date of February 6, 2015. Based on those dates, this specific announcement is archived.

25. Where does the listing direct applicants for full details or technical assistance?

The listing points to an NIH guide link for the complete announcement and references the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts for access or technical linking issues.