Synthetic Psychoactive Drugs and Strategic Approaches to Counteract Their Deleterious Effects (R01 ) | PAR 18 510

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Synthetic Psychoactive Drugs and Strategic Approaches to Counteract Their Deleterious Effects (R01)."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-18-510.

Which agency sponsors this funding opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What type of grant mechanism is this?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, described as a research project grant that generally supports a defined, investigator-driven research project.

What is the main purpose of this R01 opportunity?

The core purpose is to advance scientific understanding of synthetic psychoactive drugs and translate that knowledge into practical strategies that reduce harm. It supports research on why and how these substances are used, how they work in the body and brain, what short- and long-term health consequences they produce, and what prevention and treatment approaches are most effective.

What kinds of research topics does the FOA emphasize?

The opportunity emphasizes connected priorities that include patterns of use, mechanisms of action, health effects over time, and development and testing of prevention and treatment strategies, including emergency department-focused approaches and longer-term treatment and recovery approaches.

What does the FOA mean by "patterns of use" research?

Patterns of use research includes understanding who uses synthetic psychoactive drugs, under what conditions they are used, and which social or environmental factors contribute to initiation, escalation, and repeated exposure.

What does "mechanisms of action" refer to in this opportunity?

Mechanisms of action refers to studying the biological targets and pathways these drugs affect, how different compounds vary in potency or toxicity, and how those differences relate to outcomes such as acute intoxication, adverse events, dependence, or other effects.

Does the opportunity support research on both immediate and long-term health effects?

Yes. The FOA seeks studies that characterize health effects across time, including immediate harms that may lead to emergency care as well as longer-term physical and mental health effects.

Is emergency department (ED) research specifically encouraged?

Yes. A major emphasis includes applied work that can improve clinical responses in emergency department settings, where rapid recognition and management are critical.

Does the FOA also support longer-term treatment and recovery research?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly calls for approaches aimed at longer-term care, follow-up, and sustained recovery outcomes, in addition to emergency department-focused strategies.

Does this FOA support prevention strategy research?

Yes. The FOA explicitly calls for the development and testing of prevention strategies as part of its priorities.

Does this FOA support treatment strategy research?

Yes. The FOA explicitly calls for development and testing of treatment strategies, including those tailored to emergency departments and those targeting longer-term treatment and recovery.

What is the Funding Activity Category listed for this opportunity?

The Funding Activity Category is Education and Health.

What CFDA number is associated with this grant opportunity?

The CFDA number associated with this opportunity is 93.279.

Are funding limits (award ceiling) or the expected number of awards provided?

No. The source information does not provide a specific award ceiling or the expected number of awards.

What does the description suggest about the typical scale of an R01 project?

While specific limits are not provided in the source text, it notes that the R01 mechanism typically supports substantial, multi-year research programs where applicants justify the scope, staffing, and resources needed to answer focused scientific questions and produce actionable findings.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many domestic applicants as well as certain non-U.S. organizations. The source information lists multiple eligible applicant types across government, academic, nonprofit, for-profit, tribal, community-based, and other organizational categories.

Are state and local governments eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, and special district governments.

Are public education entities eligible, such as independent school districts?

Yes. Independent school districts are listed as eligible applicants.

Are public housing authorities eligible?

Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are listed as eligible applicants.

Are colleges and universities eligible?

Yes. Eligible academic institutions include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education as well as private institutions of higher education.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The source also highlights Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than Federally Recognized) as additional eligible applicants.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible?

Yes. Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether they have 501(c)(3) status or not, as long as they are not applying under the institutions of higher education categories referenced in the source text.

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

Are community-based or faith-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly lists faith-based or community-based organizations among eligible applicants.

Are minority-serving institutions specifically included as eligible applicants?

Yes. The FOA explicitly lists Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible federal government agencies are listed among eligible applicants.

Are regional organizations eligible?

Yes. Regional organizations are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed as eligible applicants.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The source information states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are eligible.

When was this funding opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2017-12-18.

What closing date is listed in the source information?

The source information lists an original closing date of 2020-05-07.

What overall outcomes is the FOA trying to support?

The FOA is aimed at generating rigorous, actionable research to help public health and clinical systems better understand synthetic psychoactive drugs and respond more effectively through prevention, improvements in emergency department acute care, and stronger longer-term treatment strategies.

Does the FOA focus only on basic science, or also on applied/clinical work?

It emphasizes both. The opportunity highlights basic and mechanistic insights as well as applied work intended to improve emergency department responses and longer-range treatment and recovery outcomes.