Avenir Award Program for Genetics or Epigenetics of Substance Use Disorders (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 19 223

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 223

The Avenir Award Program for Genetics or Epigenetics of Substance Use Disorders (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) designed to back early stage investigators who want to pursue bold, high-impact ideas in the genetics or epigenetics of substance use disorders. "Avenir" translates to "future" in French, and the program is built around that idea: it is meant to identify and support promising researchers early in their careers who may not yet have the kind of extensive preliminary data typically expected for a standard NIH R01, but who have a compelling, innovative research vision and clear potential to become future leaders in the field.

This opportunity uses the DP1 mechanism and is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial if it fits the scientific aims, but a clinical trial is not required. The core focus is on highly innovative research that can meaningfully advance understanding of genetic and/or epigenetic factors that influence substance use disorders, including risk, progression, treatment response, relapse, or related biological mechanisms. NIDA notes that it has developed two Avenir Award tracks overall, one centered on HIV/AIDS research and another focused on genetics or epigenetics; this specific announcement is the genetics/epigenetics of substance use disorders track.

Eligibility is broad and includes many standard U.S.-based applicant types such as public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant categories that NIH often encourages, including 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 (AANAPISI), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the program is explicit about geographic restrictions: non-U.S. (foreign) institutions and non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are not eligible to apply; non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; and foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Education and Health activity category, associated with CFDA number 93.279. The funding opportunity number is PAR-19-223, and it was created on March 18, 2019, with an original closing date of June 1, 2020. The listing includes an award ceiling of $300,000. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided source information, which typically means the number can vary depending on available funds, application quality, and program priorities in a given cycle.

Overall, the Avenir Award is best understood as a high-risk, high-reward pathway for early career scientists to launch ambitious genetics or epigenetics research on substance use disorders with NIH support, even when they are not yet in a position to compete strongly for an R01 based on extensive preliminary results. The program emphasizes innovation, potential impact, and investigator promise, while maintaining clear restrictions that the applicant organization and all project components must be entirely U.S.-based.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Avenir Award Program for Genetics or Epigenetics of Substance Use Disorders (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2019-03-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-06-01. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• 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.

Apply for PAR 19 223

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