Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 250

The grant opportunity "Extracellular Vesicles and Substance Use Disorders (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-17-250) is a discretionary National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grant administered through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). It supports investigator-initiated research projects using the R01 mechanism, with the central goal of advancing what is known about how extracellular vesicles (EVs) relate to substance use disorders (SUDs). EVs are small membrane-bound particles released by cells that can carry proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids between cells, making them potentially important messengers in the brain and peripheral systems. NIDA is specifically encouraging studies that examine the two-way relationship between EV biology and addiction-related processes, especially where EVs may help explain neuroplastic changes that contribute to SUD development, maintenance, relapse risk, or recovery.

A major emphasis of the announcement is on using EVs to better understand neuroplastic mechanisms relevant to substance use disorders. In practical terms, this can include research on how exposure to drugs of abuse alters EV release, EV cargo, or EV signaling pathways, and how those EV-mediated changes influence neural circuits implicated in reward, stress, learning, memory, motivation, and executive function. The opportunity also highlights EVs as potentially useful tools for translational applications. That includes developing or validating EV-based biomarkers, for example EV signatures in blood, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, or other accessible samples that could indicate drug exposure, severity of disorder, neuroinflammation, risk of relapse, treatment response, or comorbid conditions. In addition, the FOA points to the therapeutic angle, where EVs could be explored as delivery vehicles or modulators of disease processes, potentially enabling new ways to influence addiction-relevant biology or support recovery.

This is a grant in the Education and Health activity category and is listed under CFDA number 93.279. The posting indicates the original closing date was 2020-03-03, and the opportunity record was created on 2017-04-04. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA text and NIH guidance for budget expectations, allowable costs, and any institute-specific funding considerations.

Eligibility is broad and includes many standard NIH-eligible organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township governments; 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; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types, underscoring a strong interest in participation from diverse institutions and community-connected organizations. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); 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; Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).

Overall, the opportunity is geared toward research that connects EV science to addiction science in a way that can clarify mechanisms in the nervous system and accelerate practical tools for detection, monitoring, or treatment. Projects that combine rigorous EV characterization with well-defined SUD-related models, clinical cohorts, or mechanistic hypotheses align with the intent described in the FOA, particularly when they advance understanding of neuroplasticity or move toward biomarker and therapeutic development relevant to substance use disorders.

  • The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Extracellular Vesicles and Substance Use Disorders (R01)" 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 2017-04-04.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-03-03. (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 PAR 17 250

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Extracellular Vesicles and Substance Use Disorders (R01)" opportunity?

This funding opportunity supports investigator-initiated research projects that examine how extracellular vesicles (EVs) relate to substance use disorders (SUDs). It uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism and is intended to advance understanding of EV biology in addiction-related processes.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-17-250.

Which federal agency is offering this grant?

The grant is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is administered through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

What type of grant mechanism does this opportunity use?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which is designed to support discrete, specified research projects led by investigators.

What is the central scientific focus of the FOA?

The central goal is to advance knowledge about the relationship between extracellular vesicles (EVs) and substance use disorders (SUDs), including how EVs may contribute to addiction-related biology and outcomes.

What are extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the context of this opportunity?

EVs are small membrane-bound particles released by cells. They can carry proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids between cells, and may function as important messengers in the brain and peripheral systems.

What does the FOA mean by a "two-way relationship" between EV biology and addiction?

The opportunity encourages studies that look in both directions: (1) how exposure to drugs of abuse changes EV release, EV cargo, or EV signaling, and (2) how those EV-mediated changes influence addiction-relevant processes, including behaviors and biological pathways tied to SUDs.

Why is neuroplasticity emphasized in this grant?

A major emphasis is on using EV science to better understand neuroplastic mechanisms relevant to substance use disorders. The FOA highlights EVs as a way to help explain neuroplastic changes that may contribute to SUD development, maintenance, relapse risk, recovery, or treatment response.

What kinds of brain functions and circuits are mentioned as relevant?

The opportunity references neural circuits implicated in reward, stress, learning, memory, motivation, and executive function, particularly where EV-mediated signaling may influence these systems in the context of substance use disorders.

What are examples of research topics that align with the FOA?

Examples described include studies of how drugs of abuse alter EV release, EV cargo, or EV signaling pathways, and studies of how those EV-related changes affect neural circuits and addiction-related processes tied to SUD onset, persistence, relapse, or recovery.

Does the FOA support translational research using EVs?

Yes. The opportunity highlights translational applications, including EV-based biomarkers and therapeutic angles where EVs could be explored as delivery vehicles or modulators of disease processes relevant to addiction and recovery.

What types of EV-based biomarkers are mentioned?

The FOA points to developing or validating EV-based biomarkers, including EV signatures in accessible samples such as blood, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, or other sample types. These signatures could potentially indicate drug exposure, disorder severity, neuroinflammation, relapse risk, treatment response, or comorbid conditions.

What therapeutic possibilities involving EVs are noted?

The FOA mentions exploring EVs as delivery vehicles or as modulators of disease processes, potentially opening new approaches to influence addiction-relevant biology or support recovery.

What is the activity category for this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under the Education and Health activity category.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.279.

When was the opportunity record created?

The opportunity record was created on 2017-04-04.

What was the original closing date shown for this opportunity?

The posting indicates the original closing date was 2020-03-03.

Is the award ceiling listed in the provided opportunity information?

No. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling.

Is the expected number of awards listed?

No. The provided source data does not specify the expected number of awards.

What should applicants do if they need budget expectations or allowable cost details?

Because an award ceiling and number of awards are not specified in the provided data, applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text and NIH guidance for budget expectations, allowable costs, and any institute-specific considerations.

Who is eligible to apply for this grant?

Eligibility is broad and includes many standard NIH-eligible organizations, spanning government entities, educational institutions, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, tribal entities, and other organization types listed in the opportunity description.

Which government entities are listed as eligible applicants?

Eligible government applicants include state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; and federally recognized Native American tribal governments.

Are public housing authorities eligible?

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

Which higher education institutions are eligible?

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.

Are nonprofits eligible, including those without 501(c)(3) status?

Yes. The eligible applicant list includes nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).

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 tribal organizations that are not federally recognized eligible?

Yes. The eligibility list includes Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).

Are minority-serving institutions specifically encouraged or listed?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among eligible applicant types.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible federal agencies are listed as eligible applicants.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

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

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

Yes. The eligible applicant list includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).

What kinds of projects appear to best fit the intent of this opportunity?

Projects that connect EV science to addiction science in a way that clarifies nervous system mechanisms and supports practical tools for detection, monitoring, or treatment fit the intent described. The opportunity particularly emphasizes rigorous EV characterization paired with well-defined SUD-related models, clinical cohorts, or mechanistic hypotheses, especially when focused on neuroplasticity or on biomarker/therapeutic development relevant to SUDs.

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