It’s been a busy year and as we reflect on 2019, the importance of substance use/substance use disorder research is more important than ever with the ongoing opioid epidemic and reported lung injuries linked to vaping, to name just a few. Solving these problems among many others requires a talented, devoted cadre of research scientists from all backgrounds and disciplines. The research that you do is vitally important for understanding the mechanisms of substance use disorder and finding ways to transform this information into improved treatments and prevention. The NIDA Office of Research Training is proud to help research scientists at all stages of their career further develop their talents and apply them to generating novel research findings that create the solutions we so desperately need. We are grateful for the opportunity to help and are busy planning new ways that we can better support you in the coming year. This newsletter was launched this year so that we can keep you apprised of the latest developments in research training and career development. Please let us know how we are doing and if you have some suggestions about topics you’d like for us to cover, please send them to NIDA_Training@nida.nih.gov – we’d love to hear from you!
We wish you a healthy and happy holiday season and look forward to our work together in addiction science in the new year.
Did You Know?
- Are you planning to attend the annual meeting of The College on Problems of Drug Dependence in June 20-24, 2019? There are several travel award programs that you can apply to to help defray the costs of attending. NIDA contributes support to two of these programs: 1) NIDA Director’s Travel Awards and 2) NIDA Women & Sex/Gender Junior Investigator Travel Awards – applications are due January 13, 2020. Receipt of the NIDA Director’s Travel Award includes participation in the NIDA Grant-Writing and Career Development Workshop held on the first day of the meeting prior to the opening reception. Don’t worry – even if you aren’t selected for a NIDA Director’s Travel Award, you can still attend the NIDA Grant-Writing/Career Development Workshop. Stay tuned for information about how to register for that.
- NIH published a policy extending the window of eligibility by one year for K99 R00 applicants who have given birth within the four-year eligibility window: NOT-OD-20-011 NIH Extension Policy for Eligibility Window for Pathway to Independence Awards (K99/R00). Applicants who plan to apply for a K99 R00 award and who have given birth in the four years since completing their terminal doctoral degree should send an email justifying their request for this extension to NIDA_Training@nida.nih.gov. The request must provide the child’s date of birth and be submitted at least 12 weeks prior to submitting an application.
For those of you who are interested in public outreach and advocacy, the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) and the Americans for Medical Progress (AMP), a national non-profit that supports humane use of animals in biomedical research, have recently announced the ACNP/AMP BRAD Fellowship for 2020. The fellowship, which is named for Biomedical Research Awareness Day (BRAD) held annually in April, promotes peer education about the necessary and valuable role that animals play in research. The fellowship provides recipients with an opportunity to drive innovative advocacy/outreach programs for peers, guide them in making an informed decision about animal research issues, and help strengthen public support of biomedical research.
Early career scientists in the field of neuroscience, psychology, or pharmacology, including those focusing in the areas of mental illness and addiction, are encouraged to apply. Applicants must support humane, essential animal research and have a passion for scientific communication and advocacy. For more information on the fellowship, please see the ACNP/AMP BRAD Fellowship flyer or visit the Fellowship website The application deadline is March 1, 2020.
Americans for Medical Progress (AMP)Early scientists in a photo on Biomedical Research Awareness Day (BRAD)
Policy and Program Updates
- NIAAA has issued NOT-AA-19-028, a Notice of Change to the Award Budget for PAR-19-207. The award budget for PAR-19-207 "Alcohol and Other Substance Use Research Education Programs for Health Professionals (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" is now capped at $250,000 per year. All other aspects of this R25 funding opportunity announcement (FOA) remain the same.
Funding Opportunities
For a full list of training, fellowship, career development, and research education funding opportunities, including parent announcements, please see the NIH Research Training and Career Development webpage.
Predoctoral Training
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (F31-Diversity) PA-19-196
- NIH Blueprint Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00) RFA-NS-19-011
- Drug Abuse Dissertation Research (R36) PA-16-443
Postdoctoral Training
- BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Required) RFA-NS-19-044
- BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) RFA-NS-19-043
- BRAIN Initiative Fellows: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32) RFA-MH-18-510
Career Development
- Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Availability of Administrative and Revision Supplements to Expand Vaping Research and Understand NOT-HL-19-724 Applications in response to this NOSI must be submitted using PA-18-591 or PA-18-935
- Short-term Mentored Career Enhancement Awards in Mobile and Wireless Health Technology and Data Analytics: Cross-Training at the intersection of Behavioral and Social Sciences and STEM Disciplines (K18 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-18-881
- Short-term Mentored Career Enhancement Awards in Mobile and Wireless Health Technology and Data Analytics: Cross-Training at the intersection of Behavioral and Social Sciences and STEM Disciplines (K18 Independent Clinical Trial Required) PAR-18-882
- NIDA Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorder Research (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) PAR-18-746
Research Education
- NIH Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (BP-ENDURE) (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) RFA-NS-20-015
- NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research Education Program on Translational Devices (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) RFA-NS-20-003
- NIDA Research Education Program for Clinical Researchers and Clinicians (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-19-258
- Providing Research Education Experiences to Enhance Diversity in the Next Generation of Substance Abuse and Addiction Scientists (R25 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) PAR-19-246
- Alcohol and Other Substance Use Research Education Programs for Health Professionals (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-19-207
- Summer Research Education Experience Program (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-19-197
Upcoming Events
30th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry
December 5-8, 2019
San Diego, CA
The Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium provides the latest scientific developments in Addiction Psychiatry for physicians and health professionals who treat patients with substance use disorders and mental disorders. The meeting is structured to encourage interaction among clinicians from various disciplines, approaches, and settings. Meeting details can be found at www.aaap.org
- 58th Annual Meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
December 8-11, 2019
Orlando, FL
The Annual American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Meeting is one of the world’s leading forums for the exchange of cutting-edge scientific information about the brain, behavior, and psychotropic drugs. The Annual Meeting provides an opportunity to attend an outstanding scientific program in clinical and basic research on brain behavior-drug interactions; learn about the most recent and often unpublished advances in psychopharmacology; and meet and interact with internationally distinguished researchers and scientists. Meeting details can be found at acnp.org/annual-meeting/. - 9th International Workshop on HIV Persistence during Therapy: Reservoirs & Eradication Strategies Workshop
December 10-13, 2019
Miami, FL
This scientific event tackles the topics of HIV Persistence, HIV Reservoirs, and HIV Cure, attracting VIPs and young investigators sharing unpublished data not yet shown elsewhere. 6th Annual BRAIN Initiative Investigators Meeting
June 1-3, 2020
Arlington, VA
The BRAIN Initiative Meeting will convene awardees, staff, and leadership from the contributing federal agencies (NIH, NSF, DARPA, IARPA, and FDA), plus representatives and investigators from participating non-federal organizations, and members of the media, public, and Congress. The purpose of this open meeting is to provide a forum for discussing exciting scientific developments and to identify areas for collaboration and research coordination.
