Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 22 011
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced this discretionary grant opportunity (RFA-DA-22-011) to fund R01 research projects focused on identifying and characterizing the specific brain cell populations that produce opioids, respond to opioids, or change their activity in ways that track with opioid-related behaviors in rodents. The core goal is to build a clearer, more comprehensive inventory of the neuronal and non-neuronal “players” involved in opioid action by using scalable, modern methods that can map where these cells are, define what they are molecularly, and relate them to circuits and behavior. The announcement explicitly indicates that clinical trials are not allowed, so the work should remain in the preclinical research domain rather than testing interventions in human participants.
A major emphasis is on innovative, high-throughput approaches that can operate at single-cell resolution. In practical terms, NIH is looking for studies that can systematically map and register opioid-relevant cellular ensembles (groups of cells recruited together during particular functions or behaviors) and/or distinct cell types (defined by genetics, molecular signatures, physiology, connectivity, or other criteria). Projects are expected to produce detailed anatomical localization, cellular characterization, and/or molecular profiles of opioid source cells (for example, cells expressing opioid peptides) and opioid target cells (for example, cells expressing opioid receptors or showing pharmacological responses). The opportunity also highlights interest in identifying cells whose activity patterns correlate with opioid-related behaviors in rodent models, tying cellular findings to functional outcomes rather than producing purely descriptive atlases.
The scientific scope centers on the rodent brain and on technologies that scale, meaning methods that can cover large brain regions, many cells, or many samples in a reproducible way. While the announcement does not prescribe specific platforms, the language is consistent with approaches such as large-scale single-cell or single-nucleus molecular profiling, multiplexed imaging and spatial methods, whole-brain or broad-region mapping pipelines, and other next-generation strategies that support robust cell registration and cross-sample comparisons. The intent is to enable a more complete and standardized view of opioid-responsive circuitry and cellular diversity, which can ultimately strengthen mechanistic understanding of opioid effects and support future therapeutic discovery, without moving into human clinical testing under this particular FOA.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding instrument is an NIH R01 grant, categorized under education and health, with CFDA number 93.279. The listed award ceiling is $700,000, and the original closing date provided is October 15, 2021. The opportunity was created on June 21, 2021, and it is run under the NIH umbrella (with the RFA number indicating National Institute on Drug Abuse involvement). The announcement also notes “ExpectedAwards:” but does not provide a number in the source text you shared.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and government entities, as well as certain non-U.S. participants. Eligible applicants include state, county, and 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-domestic (foreign) entities. Overall, the program is designed to attract a wide range of research-capable institutions that can bring scalable mapping and molecular profiling capabilities to the study of opioid action in the rodent brain.Apply for RFA DA 22 011
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Large Scale Mapping and/or Molecular Profiling of Ensembles and/or Cell-Types Mediating Opioid Action in the Rodent Brain (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2021-06-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-10-15. (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 $700,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity, RFA-DA-22-011, using the R01 research project grant mechanism. It supports preclinical research projects focused on opioid-related brain cell populations in rodents.
What is the main goal of RFA-DA-22-011?
The core goal is to identify and characterize the specific brain cell populations that (1) produce opioids, (2) respond to opioids, or (3) change their activity in ways that track with opioid-related behaviors in rodent models. The broader intent is to build a clearer and more comprehensive inventory of the neuronal and non-neuronal cellular "players" involved in opioid action.
What types of cells does NIH want applicants to study?
The opportunity targets both neuronal and non-neuronal cell populations in the rodent brain, including:
- Opioid source cells (for example, cells expressing opioid peptides)
- Opioid target cells (for example, cells expressing opioid receptors or showing pharmacological responses)
- Cells whose activity patterns correlate with opioid-related behaviors in rodent models
Is the research limited to rodents?
Yes. The scientific scope centers on the rodent brain and rodent models of opioid-related behaviors.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The announcement explicitly indicates that clinical trials are not allowed. Projects should remain in the preclinical research domain and should not test interventions in human participants under this funding opportunity.
What kind of research approaches are emphasized?
NIH emphasizes innovative, scalable, high-throughput approaches that can operate at single-cell resolution and support systematic mapping and characterization of opioid-relevant cells across brain regions and/or samples.
Does the FOA require single-cell resolution methods?
The FOA places a major emphasis on high-throughput approaches that can operate at single-cell resolution. The intent is to enable detailed cell-type and cell-ensemble mapping and characterization.
What does the FOA mean by "cellular ensembles"?
In this context, cellular ensembles are groups of cells that are recruited together during particular functions or behaviors. The FOA is interested in mapping and registering these opioid-relevant ensembles and relating them to circuits and behavior.
What does the FOA mean by "distinct cell types"?
Distinct cell types may be defined using genetics, molecular signatures, physiology, connectivity, or other criteria. The FOA encourages systematic identification and characterization of these cell types as they relate to opioid action and behavior.
What kinds of outputs or results are projects expected to produce?
Projects are expected to produce detailed information such as anatomical localization, cellular characterization, and/or molecular profiles of opioid source cells and opioid target cells. The opportunity also highlights tying cellular findings to functional outcomes by identifying cells whose activity patterns correlate with opioid-related behaviors.
Is the FOA seeking purely descriptive brain atlases?
The FOA emphasizes connecting cellular findings to opioid-related behaviors and functional outcomes, rather than producing purely descriptive atlases without behavioral or functional relevance.
Does NIH specify which technologies must be used?
No specific platform is prescribed. However, the language aligns with modern scalable methods such as large-scale single-cell or single-nucleus molecular profiling, multiplexed imaging and spatial methods, and whole-brain or broad-region mapping pipelines that support robust cell registration and cross-sample comparisons.
What does "scalable" mean in this opportunity?
Scalable methods are approaches that can cover large brain regions, many cells, and/or many samples in a reproducible way, supporting systematic mapping, registration, and comparison across samples.
What funding mechanism is used?
The funding instrument is an NIH R01 (research project grant).
What is the award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is $700,000.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 93.279.
Which NIH institute is associated with this RFA?
The RFA number (RFA-DA-22-011) indicates involvement of NIH's National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) under the NIH umbrella.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on June 21, 2021.
What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date provided is October 15, 2021.
How many awards does NIH expect to make?
The announcement notes "ExpectedAwards:" but does not provide a number in the information available here.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and government entities, as well as certain non-U.S. participants. 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
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- 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
- Non-domestic (foreign) entities
Are foreign (non-U.S.) entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-domestic (foreign) entities.
Is the topic area considered education and health?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized under education and health.
What is the overall intended impact of the work funded by this RFA?
The intent is to enable a more complete and standardized view of opioid-responsive circuitry and cellular diversity in the rodent brain. This can strengthen mechanistic understanding of opioid effects and support future therapeutic discovery, while staying within preclinical research (no human clinical testing under this FOA).
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