Pilot Health Services and Economic Research on the Treatment of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Abuse (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 068

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 068

The Pilot Health Services and Economic Research on the Treatment of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Abuse (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PA 18 068) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant designed to support early-stage, pilot, and preliminary studies that lay the groundwork for larger, more definitive health services research and effectiveness trials. The central goal is to help researchers and service systems test the “early questions” that determine whether a bigger study is warranted and how it should be designed. In practice, this means generating solid preliminary evidence about whether an intervention, practice change, program model, or policy approach can realistically be implemented, whether it is acceptable to patients and providers, and whether it shows enough promise to justify a larger-scale trial focused on outcomes.

The FOA targets research connected to treatment and service delivery for drug, alcohol, and tobacco use disorders, with an emphasis on improving how people access care and how well that care performs once they get it. Projects can focus on optimizing access (for example, reducing barriers to entry, improving referral pathways, or increasing availability in underserved settings), improving quality and effectiveness (such as strengthening clinical workflows, measurement-based care, or care coordination), and addressing affordability and utilization (including how cost, reimbursement, or financing structures affect whether people receive and stay engaged in treatment). The announcement is also explicit that it welcomes projects addressing services for co-occurring medical and mental health conditions, reflecting the reality that substance use disorders often overlap with depression, anxiety, serious mental illness, chronic pain, infectious disease, or other health issues that complicate treatment planning and service delivery.

A notable feature of this opportunity is its broad openness to different types of approaches. Applicants may propose novel strategies that are still emerging, but they may also study interventions and practices that are already widely used in real-world settings yet lack a strong evidence base. This practical orientation is important for health services research, because many programs and policies are implemented long before rigorous evaluation happens. Under this FOA, the expectation is not to deliver a fully powered, large-effectiveness trial, but to produce decision-quality pilot data on feasibility (can it be done as intended in the target setting), acceptability (do clients, staff, and stakeholders view it as workable and appropriate), and utility (does it show enough value, signal of impact, or operational benefit to move forward).

The funding mechanism is the NIH R34, which is commonly used for pilot work in preparation for later-stage research. Clinical trials are listed as optional, meaning applicants can propose a study that includes a clinical trial component if it is appropriate for answering the pilot questions, but they are not required to run a trial to be responsive. The activity categories associated with the opportunity are education and health, and the CFDA numbers listed are 93.273 and 93.279, reflecting NIH program areas tied to substance use and related research portfolios. The award ceiling provided in the source information is $225,000, which signals a relatively modest budget intended to support planning, pilot testing, initial implementation, and preliminary analyses rather than full-scale multi-site evaluations.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of public and private entities. Standard 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 tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education where specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicants such as 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, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects the intent to encourage participation from diverse settings and communities, including organizations directly serving populations disproportionately affected by substance use disorders and gaps in treatment access.

From a timing and administrative standpoint, the source data shows an original closing date of May 7, 2018, and a creation date of November 15, 2017. While those dates indicate the specific posting window captured here, the substantive summary of the FOA is most useful for understanding the kind of pilot work NIH sought to stimulate: practical, implementation-aware studies that help the field move from promising ideas and common practices to well-designed, larger effectiveness trials that can genuinely inform policy and routine service delivery.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pilot Health Services and Economic Research on the Treatment of Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Abuse (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): 93.273, 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-05-07. (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 $225,000.00 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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