Imaging - Science Track Award for Research Transition (I/START) (R03 Clinical Trial Optional)

The Imaging - Science Track Award for Research Transition (I START) is a federal funding opportunity administered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which operates under the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program is designed to support the advancement of scientific research related to substance use disorders through the application and development of neuroimaging tools. The National Institute on Drug Abuse plays a central role in funding research that improves understanding of addiction and substance use, and this grant specifically aims to facilitate the entry of investigators into neuroimaging research areas. It addresses barriers that researchers face when attempting to incorporate complex imaging technologies into their work, particularly at early or transitional stages of their careers. The purpose of the program is to encourage small, proof of concept studies that leverage imaging technologies to expand understanding of the central nervous system in the context of substance use and addiction. The grant supports research into the development, optimization, and application of imaging tools such as PET, SPECT, and optical imaging methods. Projects are expected to contribute to knowledge about neurobiological mechanisms, molecular targets, treatment responses, and individual variability in addiction. The scope includes both the development of new imaging tools and the application of existing tools in innovative ways to address substance use disorder related questions. Funding under this opportunity is structured as a Small Research Grant with a relatively short duration and limited resources. Applicants may request direct costs up to 150000 dollars for a single year project period. The funding is intended for discrete, well defined projects that can be completed within this timeframe. There is no cost sharing requirement, and the funding mechanism allows flexibility in research design, including optional clinical trials. However, proposals must clearly align with the program’s focus on neurobiology of substance use disorders and must incorporate imaging methodologies. Applications that do not address these requirements or that focus solely on alcohol related research are considered non responsive. Eligibility for the program is broad and inclusive, encompassing a wide range of organizational types. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without tax exempt status, for profit organizations including small businesses, and various levels of government entities such as state, local, and tribal governments. Foreign organizations and non domestic components of U.S. organizations are also eligible. Individual investigators must have the necessary expertise and resources to carry out the proposed research and must be affiliated with an eligible organization. Required registrations include System for Award Management, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons, and these must be completed prior to submission. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov using approved systems such as NIH ASSIST or institutional system to system solutions. Applicants must follow the detailed instructions in the NIH Application Guide and include all required components such as research plans, data management and sharing plans, and human subjects documentation if applicable. Applications are submitted electronically and must meet strict compliance standards. Review is conducted through the NIH peer review system, with evaluation criteria focusing on the importance of the research, rigor and feasibility of the approach, and the expertise of the investigators and environment. Additional considerations include protections for human subjects, use of vertebrate animals, and biohazard safety. The timeline for this opportunity follows standard NIH submission cycles with multiple due dates throughout the year. Applications are accepted on recurring dates including February 16, June 16, and October 16 annually, with corresponding review and award cycles. Applications must be submitted by 500 PM local time on the due date. The program is recurring and has been reissued, indicating ongoing availability. The expiration date for the current version was updated to July 29, 2026 due to reissuance under a new funding announcement. Awards are typically issued following peer review and advisory council review, with earliest start dates several months after submission. Applicants can seek assistance through multiple contact points provided by the agency, including general grants information, application submission support, and scientific contacts. The primary scientific contact for this program is Hoang Le at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, who can provide guidance on research alignment and program priorities. Overall, this funding opportunity provides a structured pathway for researchers to initiate neuroimaging studies that can lead to larger scale research efforts in the future.