Adolescent Overdose Prevention and SUD Treatment Initiative (R34 - Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DA 25 031

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 25 031

The Adolescent Overdose Prevention and SUD Treatment Initiative (R34 - Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-25-031; CFDA 93.279) focused on early-stage, applied research that can lay the groundwork for larger, definitive studies. The intent is to fund pilot projects and preliminary research that help investigators design and prepare for rigorous, large-scale trials aimed at expanding effective overdose prevention, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and recovery services specifically for adolescents. A central emphasis is on approaches that are non-stigmatizing and youth-appropriate, with the larger goal of improving real-world care and outcomes for young people at risk of overdose or living with SUD.

Projects supported under this NOFO are expected to generate practical evidence that strengthens the case for later, larger trials. The opportunity explicitly invites studies that examine changes in overdose-related risk behaviors, such as whether adolescents are more or less likely to use substances alone, and whether they carry and/or use naloxone. More broadly, applicants can propose and test interventions, service models, or implementation strategies that improve how prevention, treatment, and recovery supports are delivered to youth. The NOFO is described as "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that include clinical trials if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required; the core expectation is that the work meaningfully advances readiness for scalable, rigorous evaluation.

The outcomes NIH is looking for are wide-ranging and reflect both clinical effectiveness and the realities of service delivery. Outcomes of interest include harm reduction and overdose prevention impacts, recovery-related outcomes, treatment retention and effectiveness, quality of care, and patient-centered outcomes that reflect adolescents experiences and needs. The NOFO also highlights implementation factors, signaling that NIH wants applicants to pay attention to how interventions can be adopted, delivered with fidelity, and sustained in everyday settings like clinics, schools, community programs, or other youth-serving systems. Across all of these outcomes, the emphasis is on identifying approaches that are effective but also practical: cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable beyond the study period.

Eligibility is broad and designed to encourage participation from many types of organizations that touch adolescent health, education, and community support systems. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The NOFO also calls out additional eligible applicant categories, including 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), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This broad eligibility aligns with the NOFOs focus on expanding adolescent overdose prevention and SUD care across diverse communities and systems.

Key administrative details from the listing include that the opportunity is a grant under the NIH umbrella, with an original closing date of March 13, 2024, and a creation date of November 17, 2023. The award ceiling and expected number of awards were not specified in the provided source data. Overall, the NOFO is best understood as a stepping-stone funding mechanism for teams that want to develop, refine, and pilot test promising, non-stigmatizing interventions or service models for adolescent overdose prevention and SUD treatment and recovery, while producing the preliminary evidence needed to justify and design larger trials that can influence practice and policy at scale.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Adolescent Overdose Prevention and SUD Treatment Initiative (R34 - 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 2023-11-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 RFA DA 25 031

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