NIDA Avenir Program: Fundamental Mechanistic Research in Addiction Science

The NIDA Avenir Program: Fundamental Mechanistic Research in Addiction Science is a forecasted federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Avenir, meaning future in French, reflects NIDA's commitment to developing the next generation of leaders in addiction science. Since 2015, the Avenir Program has supported exceptionally creative early stage investigators in launching innovative research programs. Through this opportunity, NIDA plans to expand the program to support bold mechanistic research across a broader range of addiction science. The opportunity is categorized as Health funding and is associated with Assistance Listing 93.279, Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs. The initiative is intended to catalyze high-risk, high-reward research and attract outstanding new investigators, including researchers coming from outside the addiction field. Supported scientific areas may include genetic, epigenetic, molecular, cellular, circuit, chemical, pharmacological, behavioral, and cognitive processes relevant to Substance Use Disorders. NIDA encourages applications proposing novel, unconventional, or interdisciplinary wet-lab and/or data science approaches that advance understanding of the mechanisms underlying Substance Use Disorders. The program is specifically designed for early stage investigators who may lack the preliminary data needed for an R01 application but who propose high-impact research and demonstrate strong potential to become future leaders in fundamental mechanistic addiction science. The forecast estimates total program funding of 3000000 and approximately five awards. The stated award ceiling is 375000, while no award floor is provided. Cost sharing or matching is not required. The forecast does not provide additional details regarding allowable costs, indirect cost limitations, subaward limitations, individual project periods, or other spending restrictions. The estimated award date is April 1, 2028, and the estimated project start date is April 1, 2028. Because this is a forecast rather than the final funding announcement, these funding and timing details should be treated as estimated until the complete opportunity is posted. Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants listed in the forecast include public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, public and State controlled institutions of higher education, county governments, small businesses, independent school districts, private institutions of higher education, Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments, nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, State governments, city or township governments, special district governments, for profit organizations other than small businesses, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education. Additional eligible applicants include Indian or Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized tribal governments, eligible agencies of the Federal Government, U.S. territories or possessions, faith-based or community-based organizations, and regional organizations. The notice also includes an Others eligibility category. The opportunity remains in the forecast stage and therefore is not yet accepting applications based on the information provided. The estimated posting date is February 1, 2027, and the estimated application due date is May 26, 2027. The source does not identify a letter of intent, concept paper, pre-proposal, notice of intent, or other pre-application gating requirement. It also does not provide application forms, required narratives, required uploads, evaluation criteria, scoring procedures, or detailed submission mechanics. Those requirements are expected to become clearer when the complete funding opportunity is posted. No recurring annual, biennial, quarterly, or other repeating application schedule is stated in the forecast. The forecast was issued September 10, 2026, and was last updated on the same date. The estimated award and project start dates are April 1, 2028, for fiscal year 2028. Applicants considering this opportunity should focus on the program's stated emphasis on exceptionally creative early stage investigators, bold mechanistic research, high-risk and high-reward approaches, scientific innovation, interdisciplinary methods, and potential for high impact and future leadership in fundamental mechanistic addiction science. The listed program contact is the National Institute on Drug Abuse Genetics, Epigenetics, Development Branch program staff, which directs inquiries to NIDA_GED_Program@nida.nih.gov. No individual contact person or telephone number is provided.

Emphasize bold, mechanistic, high-risk, high-reward addiction science; propose novel, unconventional, or interdisciplinary wet-lab and/or data science approaches; show potential for high impact and future leadership in fundamental mechanistic addiction science; the program is designed for early stage investigators who may lack preliminary data needed for an R01 application.