NIDA Core Center of Excellence Grant Program (P30) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIDA Core Center of Excellence Grant Program (P30)

What is the NIDA Core Center of Excellence Grant Program (P30)?

The NIDA Core Center of Excellence Grant Program (P30) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity intended to create a coordinated research "center" that brings together multiple investigators who already have active research support from NIH or other federal and non-federal sources. The program provides shared infrastructure, leadership, and scientific integration around a unifying theme to make existing research more connected and more impactful.

What is the main purpose of this grant program?

The main purpose is to strengthen and transform an existing, funded research portfolio by integrating projects under a center theme focused on drug abuse, addiction, and related public health challenges. The program is designed to enable investigators to do more together than they could separately, especially through shared resources and collaborative approaches.

Is this funding meant to start brand-new, unrelated research projects?

No. The central idea is not to start from scratch with unrelated projects. Instead, the program is intended to build on and connect already-funded research efforts and make them more powerful through shared cores, leadership, and scientific integration.

What does NIDA mean by "transformation rather than maintenance"?

NIDA expects centers to be ambitious and capable of changing the trajectory of the sciences they engage. The proposed center activities should go beyond maintaining existing work and should generate new research directions that would be difficult to achieve if projects continued operating independently.

What is the NIH P30 mechanism in this context?

The P30 is a center core grant mechanism. In this program, it supports core resources and activities that serve multiple research projects. The center is typically organized around cores that align with the overarching theme and enable cross-project collaboration and integration.

What kinds of activities are expected to be supported by the center?

Based on the program description, expected activities include shared infrastructure and leadership, scientific integration under a unifying theme, and core resources that promote cross-project collaboration. The center is also expected to encourage shared methods, shared data, and shared expertise to increase the overall impact of the participating research projects.

How should the center be organized?

The program emphasizes organization around cores that clearly tie back to the overarching center theme. These cores should actively promote collaboration and integration across multiple funded projects, including shared approaches, resources, and expertise.

Does the program emphasize collaboration across investigators and projects?

Yes. A practical goal of the grant is to create an environment where investigators can do more together than they could separately, especially by deepening or broadening the relevance of their work to substance use, addiction, and related public health challenges.

Does the program include expectations for training or mentorship?

Yes. Beyond research integration, the program emphasizes building the field through education, training, and mentoring. Centers are expected to support the development of new investigators, typically through structured mentorship opportunities, career development support, and a collaborative environment that provides access to tools, datasets, expertise, and multidisciplinary teams.

Are dissemination and resource sharing required or encouraged?

They are emphasized as a stated priority. Centers are expected to share findings, data, and research resources so that benefits extend beyond the immediate group of funded investigators.

What type of grant is this?

This opportunity is described as a discretionary grant using the NIH P30 center core grant mechanism, and it falls under a health and education-related funding activity category.

What is the CFDA program number for this opportunity?

The CFDA program number listed is 93.279, titled Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to contribute non-federal matching funds as a condition of receiving the award.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) entities and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and many government entities (state, county, city/township, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities).

Are tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include federally recognized tribal governments, other tribal organizations, and tribally controlled colleges and universities.

Are minority-serving institutions specifically mentioned as eligible?

Yes. The announcement explicitly notes additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and other organizations including faith-based or community-based organizations and regional organizations.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly included among eligible applicants.

Are federal government agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The announcement notes eligible federal government agencies among the eligible applicants.

What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?

The funding opportunity number is PAR-10-220.

Where was the full announcement made available?

The full announcement was made available through the NIH Grants Guide.

What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?

The posting date is listed as June 22, 2010. The original closing date is January 7, 2013. A current closing date is listed as January 7, 2014. The archive date is February 7, 2014.

Who should be contacted for access or technical issues related to the notice?

For access or technical issues, the notice directs inquiries to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact.