The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) announces the availability of funds to supplement existing NIDA-supported research project grants to study issues related to the transition from drug use to addiction.

Background

While NIDA-supported research has significantly advanced understanding of the behavioral, biological, and molecular factors both underlying initial drug use and characterizing the state of being addicted, we actually know very little about the predisposing factors, cellular and neural mechanisms, and behavioral processes associated with the transition from drug use to drug addiction. There is a tremendous gap in our understanding of how individuals move from early stages of drug use to later stages of drug addiction and the mechanisms that underlie the actual transition from one state to another. Research is needed to better characterize the stages of drug abuse and addiction, and transitions to and from them. The knowledge gained will form the basis for improving our understanding of addiction and development of improved prevention and treatment programs.

Research Objectives

This topic has been identified by the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse as a major area of research need, requiring new, intensive, and focused attention. The intent of this Notice is to stimulate research on the processes and mechanisms underlying the transition from drug use to drug addiction from a wide variety of academic disciplines and approaches. Research from epidemiologic, basic, and clinical disciplines, including research on other transitional states with relevance to addiction, will be supported under this program.

NIDA will consider requests from current grantees to enhance ongoing research projects, within the original scope of the research project, to take advantage of opportunities to address transition issues. Grantees are encouraged to examine ongoing projects that may not have been designed to examine transition issues, per se, for potential relevance. The primary intent of this program is to encourage grantees to analyze ongoing research projects for their potential to provide new information on the transition from drug use to drug addiction. NIDA also intends to solicit new research proposals targeting transition issues in the near future. Together these intiatives will rapidly develop a research focus on this important issue.

Budget/Adminstrative Issues

For FY 2001, $1,000,000 will be available for administrative supplements to existing research projects.

Administrative supplements will undergo a program, grants management, and budget review within NIDA. Administrative supplements may be submitted at any time, but for the remainder of FY 2001, no later than June 1, 2001; any one award should not be more than 25 percent of the Council-approved direct cost or $100,000, whichever is less.

Application Procedure

Grantees wishing to apply for a supplement should send a brief proposal describing the proposed research and its relevance to the study of transition issues, along with a budget to:

Pamela G. Fleming
Chief Grants Management Officer, NIDA
6101 Executive Boulevard
Suite 250 MSC 8403
Bethesda MD 20892-8403

A copy of the proposal should also be sent to the NIDA Program Official for the parent grant and to:

Steven W. Gust, Ph.D.
Special Assistant to the Director
National Institute on Drug Abuse
6001 Executive Blvd., Room 5-274, MSC 9581
Bethesda, MD 20892-9581.

The request must be co-signed by the PI and an authorized Business Official from the grantee institution.

Inquiries

Steven W. Gust, Ph.D.
Office of the Director
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Telephone: (301) 443-6480
Fax: (301) 443-9127
e-mail: sgust@nih.gov