Grants to Support New Investigators in Conducting Research Related to Understanding Polydrug Use Risk and Protective Factors | RFA CE 22 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA CE 22 001

This grant opportunity, RFA CE 22 001, is a CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) designed to help early-stage investigators build the skills, experience, and track record needed to become independent researchers in substance use and overdose prevention. The program is structured around a mentored, intensive career development plan, meaning applicants are expected to work under close supervision of experienced mentors while they develop a focused research agenda and strengthen their ability to lead future studies. The larger public health goal behind the award is to increase the number of well-trained scientists who can answer urgent research questions tied to polydrug use and overdose, areas where the evidence base still has major gaps and where improved understanding can directly inform prevention strategies.

A central requirement is that applicants propose a research project that advances understanding of polydrug use, specifically the risk factors and protective factors that influence how polydrug use begins, continues, and escalates. The CDC frames polydrug use broadly and explicitly notes interest in co-use patterns that may involve opioids, stimulants, and/or cannabis, while also leaving room for other combinations. Beyond identifying risks and buffers, the research is expected to examine potential moderators, in other words, factors that may change the strength or direction of relationships between exposures and outcomes. The opportunity also emphasizes the connection between polydrug use and overdose, encouraging applicants to investigate how different use patterns and contextual factors relate to overdose risk and related harms.

The announcement highlights a strong equity and disparity focus. Research topics should be particularly relevant to populations that experience a disproportionate burden of illicit substance use and overdose. Examples provided include people with disabilities, non-English speaking populations, tribal communities, rural communities and other geographically underserved areas, racial and ethnic minority groups, sexual and gender minority groups, and people with limited health literacy. In addition, the CDC signals interest in work that considers key life experiences and clinical or behavioral health factors often linked to substance use trajectories and overdose risk, including adverse childhood experiences, chronic pain (including pain treated with prescription opioid analgesics), and suicidal ideation or suicide attempts. In practical terms, this means proposals that incorporate these realities into research questions, measurement strategies, analytic plans, and interpretation are likely to align well with the intent of the funding.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it uses a grant funding instrument under the health funding activity category. The CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) number is 93.136. Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of organizations such as state, county, and local governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other entities as allowed by the additional eligibility language. This wide eligibility is meant to allow applications from many settings where overdose prevention research can be conducted, including academic, governmental, community-based, and applied research environments.

In terms of funding scale and competitiveness, the listed award ceiling is $150,000, and the CDC anticipated making about three awards under this announcement. The opportunity was originally posted on November 8, 2021, with an original closing date of January 7, 2022, and the notice specifies electronic submission by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on the due date. Overall, the grant can be understood as a targeted career-development pathway for promising new investigators who want to build independent research careers focused on preventing polydrug use and overdose, with a strong expectation that their work will address real-world disparities and produce knowledge that can be used to guide prevention efforts and protect high-burden communities.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Grants to Support New Investigators in Conducting Research Related to Understanding Polydrug Use Risk and Protective Factors" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.136.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 08, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 07, 2022 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 500#160pm ET on the listed application due date.. (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 $150,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification), Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for RFA CE 22 001

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