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) | RFA DA 22 011

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.

• 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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