Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 09 021
Apply for PA 09 021
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "International Research Collaboration on Drug Abuse and Addiction Research (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 Oct 29, 2008 and posted on Oct 29, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 7, 2012. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments For profit organizations other than small businesses County governments State governments Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses City or township governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Independent school districts Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled 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) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
The International Research Collaboration on Drug Abuse and Addiction Research (R21) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-09-021) is a National Institutes of Health grant announcement designed to support exploratory, early-stage collaborative projects in drug abuse and addiction research that rely on research advantages available outside the United States. The core idea is to fund partnerships that can move science faster because the international setting offers something genuinely distinctive, such as access to unique expertise, specialized infrastructure or datasets, hard-to-reach or particularly informative populations, or environmental and social conditions that cannot be replicated domestically. Projects are expected to align with the mission of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and, when feasible, connect directly to NIDA scientific priority areas.
Because this is an R21 mechanism, the program is geared toward developmental or high-potential studies that can test new ideas, generate preliminary data, or explore innovative approaches that may later justify larger-scale research. The FOA explicitly notes that it runs in parallel with companion announcements using other NIH mechanisms: an R01 (PA-09-020) for full research projects and an R03 (PA-09-022) for small research grants, all with the same scientific scope. Applicants therefore have multiple pathways depending on the maturity, size, and needs of the proposed work, but PA-09-021 is the one specifically framed around the exploratory/developmental R21 approach.
From a topic standpoint, proposals must be relevant to drug abuse and addiction research, and the announcement highlights that NIDA priorities can shift year to year. For FY2009, example priority areas included connections between HIV/AIDS and drug abuse, methamphetamine abuse, inhalant abuse, smoking during pregnancy, and the relationship between drug use and driving. These examples signal the kinds of public health and behavioral intersections NIDA was especially interested in at the time, particularly where substance use interacts with infectious disease transmission, maternal and child health outcomes, and injury or public safety risks.
Funding details are presented with some flexibility. The award ceiling listed is $200,000, and the announcement emphasizes that award size, project scope, and duration may vary because applications can differ substantially in what they propose to do. The total amount ultimately awarded and the number of funded projects were not fixed in advance; they depend on the volume of submissions, their scientific merit, proposed timelines, and budget requests. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces barriers for applicants who may not have unrestricted funds to contribute to project costs.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of organizational types, reflecting NIH norms for research funding. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses are listed separately, but small businesses are also eligible), and multiple levels of government entities such as state, county, city/township governments, and special district governments. The eligibility list also explicitly includes tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities, independent school districts, and various categories of minority-serving institutions (including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and tribally controlled colleges and universities). Importantly for an international collaboration program, non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations are also included as eligible applicants, along with U.S. territories and possessions and eligible federal agencies. Faith-based and community-based organizations are listed as eligible as well, which can be particularly relevant for community-engaged substance use research conducted in partnership with local service providers abroad.
Key administrative details place the announcement in its historical timeframe. It was posted and created on October 29, 2008, with an original and current closing date of January 7, 2012, and an archive date of February 7, 2012. The program falls under the Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs catalog number (CFDA 93.279) and is categorized under education/health in the funding activity classification. The administering agency is NIH, with the scientific mission alignment specifically tied to NIDA. The full announcement was made available through the NIH Grants Guide at the link provided in the source, and the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact is listed for access or technical linking problems.
In practical terms, the opportunity is best understood as NIH support for cross-border teams that can answer addiction and drug use research questions more effectively because of where the research is conducted. Competitive applications would typically make a clear case that the international setting is not incidental but essential: the work depends on unique local conditions, data, expertise, or populations, and the collaboration is structured to produce insights that advance the U.S. and global scientific understanding of substance use, addiction mechanisms, prevention, treatment, and related health and safety outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the International Research Collaboration on Drug Abuse and Addiction Research (R21) opportunity?
It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA-09-021) that supports exploratory, early-stage international collaborative projects in drug abuse and addiction research. The projects must rely on research advantages available outside the United States.
Which NIH institute and mission area does this opportunity align with?
The opportunity is administered by NIH and is specifically aligned with the mission of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Projects are expected to fit within NIDA's mission and, when feasible, connect directly to NIDA scientific priority areas.
Why does the FOA emphasize conducting research outside the United States?
The program is designed for collaborations where the international setting is essential to the science. Applications should show that conducting the work abroad provides distinctive advantages, such as access to unique expertise, specialized infrastructure or datasets, hard-to-reach or uniquely informative populations, or environmental and social conditions that cannot be replicated within the U.S.
What does the R21 mechanism mean for project type and maturity?
Because this is an R21, it is geared toward exploratory and developmental projects. The intent is to support early-stage studies that test new ideas, explore innovative approaches, and generate preliminary data that could justify larger-scale research later.
Are there related NIH opportunities with the same scientific scope?
Yes. This FOA runs in parallel with companion announcements using other NIH mechanisms: an R01 (PA-09-020) for full research projects and an R03 (PA-09-022) for small research grants. All share the same scientific scope, but PA-09-021 is the exploratory/developmental R21 pathway.
What kinds of research topics are appropriate for this FOA?
Proposals must be relevant to drug abuse and addiction research and should align with NIDA's mission and priorities. The FOA notes that NIDA priorities can shift year to year, and it provides examples of priority interests for FY2009.
What example NIDA priority areas are mentioned for FY2009?
The FOA lists examples including connections between HIV/AIDS and drug abuse, methamphetamine abuse, inhalant abuse, smoking during pregnancy, and the relationship between drug use and driving.
How should applicants use the listed priority areas?
The examples signal the types of intersections NIDA highlighted at that time (FY2009), particularly where substance use connects with infectious disease, maternal and child health outcomes, and injury or public safety risks. Applications should still ensure the work is clearly within drug abuse and addiction research and is consistent with NIDA mission alignment.
What is the maximum award amount mentioned in the announcement?
The award ceiling listed is $200,000.
Are the award size, scope, and duration fixed?
No. The FOA emphasizes flexibility: award size, project scope, and duration may vary because applications can differ substantially in what they propose. The total amount awarded and the number of projects funded are not fixed in advance.
What factors influence how many projects are funded and at what levels?
Funding outcomes depend on the volume of submissions, scientific merit, proposed timelines, and budget requests.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, consistent with NIH research funding norms. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (with small businesses also indicated as eligible); and multiple levels of government entities.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible applicants?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations, which supports the international collaboration focus of the program.
Are U.S. territories and possessions eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes U.S. territories and possessions.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes eligible federal agencies.
Which government entity types are included in eligibility?
The FOA lists state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, tribal governments, public housing authorities, and independent school districts among eligible applicants.
Are tribal organizations and tribally controlled institutions included?
Yes. The eligibility list includes tribal organizations and explicitly mentions tribally controlled colleges and universities.
Are minority-serving institutions included in the eligibility list?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes several categories of minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and tribally controlled colleges and universities.
Can faith-based and community-based organizations apply?
Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are listed as eligible applicants.
What is the key competitive rationale applicants should demonstrate?
A strong application would make a clear case that the international setting is not incidental but essential. The project should depend on unique local conditions, data, expertise, infrastructure, or populations, and the collaboration should be structured to produce insights that advance scientific understanding of substance use and addiction and related outcomes.
What catalog number (CFDA) is associated with this program?
The FOA is associated with CFDA 93.279 (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs).
How is this opportunity categorized in terms of funding activity?
It is categorized under education/health in the funding activity classification.
When was this FOA posted, and what were the key dates?
The announcement was posted/created on October 29, 2008. The original and current closing date listed is January 7, 2012, and the archive date is February 7, 2012.
Where was the full announcement made available?
The FOA was made available through the NIH Grants Guide (as referenced in the source information).
Who is listed for help with access or technical linking problems?
The NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact is listed for access or technical linking problems.
What is the overall purpose of funding international collaborations in this area?
The practical intent is to support cross-border teams that can answer addiction and drug use research questions more effectively because of where the research is conducted, accelerating scientific progress by leveraging international advantages that improve feasibility, relevance, or insight.
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