Loan Repayment Programs

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health

National Institute 

 on Drug Abuse

2010 Update

Research 

 Training
www.drugabuse.gov/researchtraining
1

“The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) offers 

a strategic set of funding mechanisms to support 

research scientists through multiple stages of their 

careers. These awards encourage the best and 

brightest scientists to pursue research addressing 

the many challenges presented by drug abuse and 

addiction so we can better overcome them.”

–Nora D. Volkow, M.D.

Director, NIDA

NIDAResearch TrainingSupport
2

NIDA appreciates the importance 

of supporting research scientists 

studying drug abuse and addiction to 

further their careers and advance the 

knowledge base needed to combat 

these urgent public health problems.

This update to NIDA’s Research Training Brochure provides the latest 

information on training and career development grants that aim to 

provide such support. Several noteworthy changes have occurred 

since the last printing, which are highlighted below:

• Enhancement of peer review at NIH, the implementation of which 

is still underway (http://enhancing-peer-review.nih.gov/). 

• Changes in the research grant application forms: all fellowships, 

training, and career development award mechanisms 

have been converted to an electronic submission format

(http://grants.nih.gov/grants/ElectronicReceipt/index.htm).
3

• Trans-NIH research training supported through NIH Blueprint 

(http://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/) and NIH Common 

Fund (http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/) initiatives (check websites 

frequently for new opportunities):

- The Clinical & Translational Science Awards program (U54) 

is a national consortium of institutional grants/sites that 

sustains and advances clinical and translational science 

as a distinct discipline, and provides research education 

and training, clinical training, career development, and 

opportunities for partnerships and collaborations (http://

nihroadmap.nih.gov/ctsa/).

- The NIH Director’s New Innovator Awards (DP2) provide 

support for highly innovative new investigators who have 

not yet obtained an R01 grant. 

This update also provides the latest contact information for NIDA 

Research Training staff. If you are planning on submitting a grant 

application, we strongly encourage you to contact NIDA staff to 

discuss the relevance of your research to NIDA’s mission and receive 

assistance in putting your application together.

Visit NIDA’s Research Training Web page at

www.drugabuse.gov/researchtraining 

for additional information.
4

NIDA’sResearch Training ProgramOrganization

NIDA’s Research Training Program uses two major funding 

mechanisms:

1. Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA), 

including:

 • Individual predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships (F)

• Institutional predoctoral and postdoctoral traineeships (T)

2. Career Development Awards (K), including:

• Mentored career development awards for young investigators 

 • Career or salary awards for mid- or senior-level investigators

The NIDA Research Training Committee (RTC) consists of staff 

from all divisions and offices committed to ensuring a robust and 

effective research training portfolio (see list at the back of this 

booklet). The RTC, in collaboration with NIDA’s Budget Office, makes 

funding recommendations for the NRSA awards and suggests 

policy changes on NRSA and K programs when needed. 

Individual fellowship (F) applications are reviewed by study sections 

managed by the Center for Scientific Review at NIH; and most 

Career (K) and Institutional Training (T) applications are reviewed by 

the NIDA-K Committee, a standing study section administered by 

NIDA.

For general questions regarding NIDA’s Research Training Programs, 

please contact Dr. Mimi M. Ghim, Deputy Research Training 

Coordinator, at ghimm@nida.nih.gov or 301.443.6071.
5

Predoctoral Individual NRSA (F30, F31)

Predoctoral Training and Education Support (T32, R25)

Dissertation Grant (R36)

Postdoctoral Training and Education Support (T32, R25)

Postdoctoral Individual NRSA (F32)

Pathways to Independence Award (K99/R00)

Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01)

Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08)

Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Program Award (K12)

Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)

Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25)

A/START (R03)

B/START (R03)

I/START (R03)

ECHEM (mechanism to be determined)

Independent Scientist Award (K02)

Research Project Grant (R01)

Exploratory/Developmental Grant Award (R21)

Mid-Career Investigator in Patient-Oriented Research Award (K24)

Senior Scientist Award (K05)

Predoctoral

Postdoctoral

Early

Middle

Senior

Research Training and Career Development RESEARCH TRAINING CAREER
6

Individual Fellowships

Predoctoral

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards 

for Individual M.D./Ph.D. Fellows (F30)

Provides combined medical school and predoctoral Ph.D. support 

for a maximum of 6 years, an annual stipend, plus funds 

for tuition and fees, research supplies, equipment, travel, and 

related items. Receipt dates: April 8, August 8, December 8. 

HIV/AIDS application receipt dates: May 7, September 7, January 7.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards 

for Individual Predoctoral Fellows (F31)

Provides up to 5 years of support toward a research doctoral degree 

(Ph.D., D.Sc.), an annual stipend, plus funds for tuition and fees, 

research supplies, equipment, travel, and related items. 

Receipt dates: April 8, August 8, December 8. 

HIV/AIDS application receipt dates: May 7, September 7, January 7.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards 

for Predoctoral Fellows to Promote Diversity in HealthRelated Research (F31) 

Provides up to 5 years of support toward a research doctoral degree 

(Ph.D., D.Sc.) or a combined professional doctoral/research degree 

(M.D./Ph.D.). The primary objective of this funding opportunity is 

to support individuals from underrepresented groups, including 

underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with 

disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. 

Receipt dates: April 8, August 8, December 8. 

HIV/AIDS application receipt dates: May 7, September 7, January 7.

Research 

TrainingAwards

>>
7

Drug Abuse Dissertation Research: 

Epidemiology, Prevention, Treatment, Services, 

and/or Women and Sex/Gender Differences (R36)

Provides up to 2 years of support for drug abuse doctoral 

dissertation research in epidemiology, prevention, treatment, 

services, and women and sex/gender differences—areas in which 

there is a significant need for new investigators. New application 

receipt dates: February 16, June 16, October 16. Resubmission 

application receipt dates: March 16, July 16, November 16. HIV/AIDS 

application receipt dates: May 7, September 7, January 7.

Postdoctoral

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards 

for Individual Postdoctoral Fellows (F32)

Provides up to 3 years of support at the postdoctoral level, 

with a stipend that is based on the number of years of relevant 

postdoctoral experience at the time of award. Additional funds are 

provided to help defray expenses for research supplies, equipment, 

and travel, as well as tuition and fees. Receipt dates: April 8, 

August 8, December 8. HIV/AIDS application receipt dates: May 7, 

September 7, January 7.

For more information, please go to 

www.drugabuse.gov/researchtraining.
8

>> Institutional Research Training Opportunities

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Service Award for Institutional 

Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Traineeships (T32) 

NIDA supports predoctoral and postdoctoral students through 

institutional training sites across the country. Applications for these 

positions need to go directly to the training sites’ program directors. 

A list of training sites and brief program descriptions are available 

at www.drugabuse.gov/researchtraining/trainingsites.html. 

Receipt date for institutions: May 25 or September 7 for HIV/AIDS 

applications.

Research Education Program for Clinical Researchers 

and Clinicians (R25)

NIDA supports the research education of medical/graduate 

students, postdoctoral fellows, medical residents, and/or 

independent scientists through institutional research education 

grants. These grants provide institutional support for clinically 

focused, transdisciplinary training programs in substance use/

abuse/addiction research. Eligible participants should be training 

for careers as clinical researchers, clinicians/service providers, or 

(optimally) a combination of the two. Participants are selected 

and appointed to the program by the grantee institution. 

Receipt date for institutions (including for HIV/AIDS applications):

May 25 (Note change from 3 to 1 receipt dates per year).
9

>>

Early Career—Individual

New Application Receipt Dates: February 12, June 12, October 12

Renewal and Resubmission Receipt Dates: March 12, July 12, Nov. 12

HIV/AIDS Application Receipt Dates: May 7, September 7, January 7

Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01)

Provides support for 3 to 5 years of intensive, supervised career 

development in the biomedical, behavioral, or clinical sciences 

leading to research independence. 

Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08)

Provides 3 to 5 years of supervised specialized study for outstanding 

clinical research scientists with health professional doctoral degrees, 

who have the potential to develop into independent investigators 

and who are committed to a career in laboratory- or field-based 

research.

Mentored Patient-Oriented Career Development 

Award (K23)

Provides support for 3 to 5 years of supervised study and research 

for the career development of investigators with a clinical doctoral 

degree, or its equivalent, who have made a commitment to focus 

their research endeavors on patient-oriented research. 

Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development 

Award (K25)

Provides support for 3 to 5 years of career development in clinical 

biomedicine, bioengineering, bioimaging, or behavioral medicine 

for investigators in quantitative science and engineering research 

who had not previously focused primarily on questions of health 

and disease.

Career

 DevelopmentAwards
10

>>

NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)

Provides up to 5 years of support consisting of two phases: 1–2 

years of mentored support for highly promising, postdoctoral 

research scientists, followed by up to 3 years of independent 

support contingent on securing an independent research position. 

Award recipients will be expected to compete for independent R01 

support from the NIH during the second phase of the award period.

NIDA Budget and Salary Guidelines

NIDA’s policy update for Career Development Awards contains 

budget and salary guidelines. For details, please go to 

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-06-013.html.

Early Career—Institutional

New Application Receipt Dates: February 12, June 12, October 12

Renewal and Resubmission Receipt Dates: March 12, July 12, Nov. 12

HIV/AIDS Application Receipt Dates: May 7, September 7, January 7

Mentored Clinical Scientists Development Program 

Award (K12)

Provides support to an educational institution or professional 

organization to support career development experiences for 

clinicians, leading to research independence. Newly trained 

clinicians are selected and appointed to the program by the grantee 

institution. Clinical research includes patient-oriented research, 

behavioral research, epidemiologic research, outcomes/health 

services research, and research with human tissues and specimens 

where an investigator directly interacts with human subjects in an 

outpatient or inpatient setting.
11

>>

>>

Middle Career

New Application Receipt Dates: February 12, June 12, October 12

Renewal and Resubmission Receipt Dates: March 12, July 12, Nov. 12

HIV/AIDS Application Receipt Dates: May 7, September 7, January 7

Independent Scientist Award (K02)

Provides support for newly independent scientists who can 

demonstrate the need for a period of intensive research focus to 

enhance their research careers and expand their potential to make 

significant contributions to their fields. Eligibility: doctoral degree and 

peer-reviewed, independent, research support at the time of award.

Mid-Career Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented 

Research (K24)

Provides clinical scientists support to conduct patient-oriented 

research and to mentor clinical investigators by relieving them of 

patient care and administrative responsibilities. This is a 5-year award 

that requires 3 to 6 person-months of effort (equivalent to 25–50 

percent effort), and provides additional funds for incidental expenses.

Senior Career

New Application Receipt Dates: February 12, June 12, October 12

Renewal and Resubmission Receipt Dates: March 12, July 12, Nov. 12

HIV/AIDS Application Receipt Dates: May 7, September 7, January 7

Senior Scientist Award (K05)

Provides support to outstanding scientists who have demonstrated a 

sustained, high level of productivity and research accomplishments 

critical to NIDA’s mission. This is a 5-year award to enhance the 

recipient’s skills and dedication to his or her research area and 

provide time for mentorship to new investigators. Senior scientists 

are expected to mentor from two to five new investigators or junior 

faculty members each year. Eligibility: senior scientist and recognized 

leader in field; peer-reviewed support at time of award.
12

>> Supplements and Other Awards

Research Supplements to Promote Reentry into Biomedical 

and Behavioral Research Careers

Administrative supplements to support individuals with high 

potential to reenter an active research career after taking time 

off to care for children or attend to other family responsibilities. 

Funding is provided to existing NIH research grants to support fulltime or part-time research by these individuals in a program that 

brings their research skills and knowledge up to date. The program 

supports candidates with doctoral-level degrees and sufficient prior 

research experience to qualify for a doctoral-level research staff 

or faculty position at the time they left active research. Period of 

support is for a maximum of 3 years. 

Receipt dates: Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in HealthRelated Research

Administrative supplements to help increase the numbers of 

underrepresented scientists in biomedical and behavioral research. 

Funding is provided to existing NIH research grants to support 

underrepresented scientists who want to pursue a career in the 

biomedical or behavioral research sciences. The program supports 

individuals at the high school, undergraduate, predoctoral 

(graduate), postdoctoral, and investigator levels. 

Receipt dates: Applications are accepted throughout the year.

NIDA Small Grants Program (R03)

Intended for newer, less experienced investigators; investigators 

at institutions without well-developed research traditions and 

resources; and more experienced investigators conducting 

exploratory studies that either represent a significant change in 

research direction or test new methods or techniques. Provides 

research support up to a maximum of $50,000 per year in direct 

costs for up to 2 years. 

Receipt dates: February 16, June 16, October 16. HIV/AIDS application 

receipt dates: May 7, September 7, January 7.
13

A/START—AIDS-Science Track Award for Research 

Transition (R03)

Facilitates the entry of newly independent and early career 

investigators to the area of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS research. 

Provides support for 2 years, with a maximum of $100,000 per year 

in direct costs. Investigators funded under this mechanism are 

expected to use their data to develop R01 grant applications on 

the intersection of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS application 

receipt date: September 7.

B/START—Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid 

Transition (R03) 

Facilitates the entry of investigators who are 5 or fewer years 

past training status into the field of behavioral science research. 

Support is for 1 year, with a maximum of $50,000 in direct costs. 

New application receipt dates: February 16, June 16, October 16. 

Resubmission application receipt dates: March 16, July 16, 

November 16. HIV/AIDS application receipt dates: May 7, September 7, 

January 7.

I/START—Imaging-Science Track Award for Research 

Transition (R03)

Facilitates the entry of new investigators to the area of brain 

imaging/clinical neurobiology research, allowing for the design 

and collection of “proof of concept” brain imaging data for use in 

transitioning to more extensive research proposals. This mechanism 

has a 1-year maximum of $150,000 in direct costs. New application 

receipt dates: February 16, June 16, October 16. Resubmission 

application receipt dates: March 16, July 16, November 16. HIV/AIDS 

application receipt dates: May 7, September 7, January 7.
14

ECHEM—Early Career Award in Chemistry of Drug Abuse 

and Addiction (currently under revision—mechanism 

to be determined)

Facilitates the entry of newly independent investigators into basic 

chemistry research applied to drug abuse and addiction. The 

primary focus of the research must be on chemistry. Research 

on genetic, neural, or other biological processes is appropriate 

only if the overall emphasis is on understanding the chemical 

mechanisms involved. Receipt dates: To be announced.

Exploratory/Developmental Grant Applications (R21)

Designed to test innovative or conceptually creative, scientifically 

sound ideas and to enable exploration of the feasibility of the 

research question or approach. Data demonstrating feasibility are 

desirable. Novel and creative approaches are essential. Provides up 

to 2 years of funding and a maximum of $275,000 in direct costs 

(both years combined). New application receipt dates: February 16, 

June 16, October 16. Renewal, resubmission, revision application 

receipt dates: March 16, July 16, November 16. HIV/AIDS application 

receipt dates: May 7, September 7, January 7.

Regular Research Grant (R01)

An independent grant mechanism used for many of the research 

grant opportunities available at NIDA. Grantees can support 

mentored research training opportunities on their R01 grants. 

New application receipt dates: February 5, June 5, October 5. 

Renewal and resubmission application receipt dates: March 5, July 5, 

November 5. HIV/AIDS application receipt dates: May 7, September 7, 

January 7.

A complete listing of Grant and Funding Opportunities 

at NIDA can be found at www.drugabuse.gov/funding.
15

Diversity-promoting Institutions Drug Abuse Research 

Program (DIDARP) (R24)

Provides research support to institutions that historically and/

or currently serve students from diverse and disadvantaged 

backgrounds, to increase their capacity to conduct drug abuse and 

addiction research and foster the research career development 

of faculty, students, and staff currently underrepresented in drug 

abuse research. This grant will support any area of drug abuse 

research within NIDA’s mission areas, including neuroscience, 

epidemiology, etiology, prevention, treatment and services, 

medications development, HIV/AIDS, and health disparities 

research. Receipt dates (including HIV/AIDS applications): July 15, 

December 15.

As receipt deadlines can sometimes change, 

please contact a NIDA research training 

committee member or see grants.nih.gov/

grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm 

to stay current.
16

How to Apply for a Grant

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/how_to_apply.htm

Glossary of NIH Terms

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/glossary.htm

NIH Acronym List

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/acronym_list.htm

Frequently Used Links

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/documentindex.htm

NIH NRSA Homepage

http://grants.nih.gov/training/nrsa.htm

What to Know About the Predoctoral Process

http://www.nida.nih.gov/researchtraining/predocfaqs.html

What to Know About the Postdoctoral Process

http://www.nida.nih.gov/researchtraining/postdocfaqs.html

NIDA Budget and Salary Guidelines for Career Development 

Awards (K Awards)

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-DA-06-013.html

Career Development Kiosk

http://grants.nih.gov/training/careerdevelopmentawards.htm

Resources for New and Early Stage Investigators

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/
17

Research

 TrainingCommittee

For more information on NRSA or K awards, please contact a 

committee member in your area of research interest:

Office of Science Policy 

and Communications

Susan R. B. Weiss, Ph.D.

NIDA Research Training 

Coordinator

301.443.6071 

sweiss@nida.nih.gov

Mimi M. Ghim, Ph.D.

NIDA Deputy Research 

Training Coordinator

301.443.6071 

ghimm@nida.nih.gov

G. deAlmeida-Morris, Ph.D.

301.443.6071

dealmeig@nida.nih.gov

Ericka Boone, Ph.D.

301.443.6071

boonee@nida.nih.gov

Division of Basic Neurosciences 

and Behavioral Research

Beth Grigson Babecki, M.A.

301.435.0899 

mb128t@nih.gov

Albert Avila, Ph.D.

301.496.8804

aavila@nida.nih.gov

Division of Epidemiology, 

Services and Prevention 

Research

Aria D. Crump, Sc.D.

301.443.6504

acrump@nida.nih.gov

Belinda Sims, Ph.D.

301.402.1533 

bsims@nida.nih.gov

Kathleen Etz, Ph.D.

301.402.1749 

ketz@nida.nih.gov

Division of 

Pharmacotherapies and 

Medical Consequences 

of Drug Abuse

Jane B. Acri, Ph.D.

301.443.8494 

jacri@nida.nih.gov

Jamie Biswas, Ph.D.

301.443.8096 

jb168r@nih.gov
18

Division of Clinical 

Neuroscience and 

Behavioral Research

Debra Grossman, M.A.

301.443.2249 

dgrossma@nida.nih.gov

Cheryl Anne Boyce, Ph.D.

301.435.1070

cboyce@mail.nih.gov

Laurence R. Stanford, Ph.D.

301.402.3869 

ls187n@nih.gov

AIDS Research Program

Diane Lawrence, Ph.D.

301.594.3225 

lawrencedi@nida.nih.gov

Special Populations Office

Lula Beatty, Ph.D.

301.443.0441 

lbeatty@nida.nih.gov

Pamela Goodlow

301.443.0441 

pgoodlow@nida.nih.gov

Grants Management Branch

Catherine Mills

301.443.6710 

cmills@nida.nih.gov

Yinka Abu

301.204.6421

abuy@mail.nih.gov

Office of Extramural Affairs

Eliane Lazar-Wesley, Ph.D.

301.451.4530 

el6r@nih.gov

Kristen Huntley, Ph.D.

301.435.1433

huntleyk@nida.nih.gov

Planning and Financial 

Management Branch

Larry Raigrodski

301.443.6627 

lraigrod@nida.nih.gov

NIDA Center for the 

Clinical Trials Network

Harold Perl, Ph.D. 

301.443.9982

hperl@nida.nih.gov

Quandra Scudder 

301.443.6697

scudderq@nida.nih.gov
19

Loan Repayment Programs

NIDA participates in the NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs), a 

key component of our Nation’s efforts to attract health professionals 

to careers in clinical and pediatric research within the drug abuse 

and addiction fields.

A productive way to pay off educational debt: In exchange for a 

2-year substance abuse research commitment, NIDA will repay half 

of a program participant’s qualified repayable educational debt (up 

to $35,000 each year during this 2-year period). Limited assistance 

to offset repayment-related increases to Federal income tax will also 

be provided. Participants may apply for additional 1-year contracts 

to repay remaining debt.

Basic qualifications: An applicant must be a citizen or permanent 

resident of the U.S., have a doctoral-level degree, and have 

educational debt equal to at least 20 percent of base salary.

Commitment of service: Program participants must conduct 

clinical or pediatric research in the drug abuse and addiction field 

for a 2-year period. The research must be funded by a domestic 

nonprofit or U.S. Government (Federal, State, or local) entity. 

A minimum of 50 percent of total effort (i.e., at least 20 hours of a 

40-hour work week) is required.
20

Applications are accepted 

once a year in the Fall. Please 

see www.lrp.nih.gov for the 

submission deadline.

Application process: The entire LRP application is on line at 

www.lrp.nih.gov. Please refer to the Web site for details of each LRP, 

eligibility requirements, current application deadline, and award 

schedule. The LRPs are competitive programs, with no guarantee of 

an award.

Additional information: For information on NIDA funding priorities, 

contact Dr. Ericka Boone at boonee@nida.nih.gov. For additional 

LRP assistance, visit www.lrp.nih.gov or call the NIH help line at 

1.866.849.4047.
www.drugabuse.gov/researchtraining
June 2010

As receipt deadlines can sometimes 

change, please contact a NIDA research 

training committee member or see 

grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/

submissionschedule.htm to stay current.

www.drugabuse.gov

www.drugabuse.gov/researchtraining

www.grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 

AND HUMAN SERVICES

6001 Executive Boulevard

Bethesda, MD 20892