Rapid Translation of Epidemiological Findings into Interventions to Prevent Substance Use and Addiction (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DA 24 010

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 24 010

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Rapid Translation of Epidemiological Findings into Interventions to Prevent Substance Use and Addiction (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)" (RFA-DA-24-010; CFDA 93.279) is designed to speed up the path from epidemiology to real-world prevention strategies for substance use and addiction. The core problem it targets is that epidemiologic findings often stay in the realm of observation and risk-factor identification and do not reliably translate into prevention interventions that can be tested, refined, and implemented. This initiative aims to change those incentives by explicitly tying epidemiologic discovery to the development, adaptation, or targeting of prevention interventions.

The opportunity uses a phased grant mechanism, R61/R33, to support a structured pipeline from data to action. In the R61 phase (the early, exploratory stage), awardees conduct innovative epidemiologic research focused on substance use and addiction. That epidemiologic work can be based on primary data collection, secondary analysis of existing datasets, or other rigorous approaches that can generate credible, actionable prevention hypotheses. The expectation is that the R61 phase does not end with descriptive findings alone; it must generate a clear foundation for what should be changed, for whom, and why, in order to prevent substance use initiation, escalation, or related harms.

The R33 phase (the later, implementation-oriented stage) is where the translation happens. Projects are expected to apply the R61 findings directly to a targeted prevention intervention. Applicants can take one of two main approaches. First, they may adapt or more precisely target an existing intervention to increase its effect size, improve its fit, or extend its reach to a new or underserved population. Second, they may develop a novel intervention aimed at a new prevention target that emerged from the epidemiologic evidence in R61. In either case, the goal is not simply to conduct another observational study, but to use epidemiologic results to inform an intervention strategy that can be tested, optimized, and positioned for broader prevention impact. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation indicates that a clinical trial may be proposed if it fits the project goals, but it is not required for all applications.

A key structural requirement is the use of a Multiple Principal Investigator/Multiple Project Director (MPI/MPD) leadership model. This reflects the program's emphasis on bridging disciplines that often operate separately. Applicants must assemble leadership with the expertise to drive both the epidemiologic components and the prevention intervention components, ensuring that the project is equipped to move from identifying risk and protective factors to designing practical, testable prevention solutions. In practice, this means the team should be able to credibly handle epidemiologic methods, prevention science, intervention development or adaptation, implementation considerations, and the analytic strategy that connects the phases.

The announcement also highlights a supplement mechanism intended to promote "bidirectional" translational science. This means translation is not treated as a one-way street from epidemiology to intervention. Existing epidemiologic projects may seek support to test prevention hypotheses that emerge from their data, while existing prevention intervention projects may request added epidemiologic inquiry to better interpret, contextualize, or refine their findings. The intent is to create a feedback loop where observational data informs intervention design, and intervention results generate new epidemiologic questions that sharpen understanding of who benefits, under what conditions, and through what mechanisms.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations and institutions that could contribute to prevention research. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. Nonprofits are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status, and both for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses may apply. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible groups 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, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This breadth signals an interest in supporting prevention solutions that can be culturally and contextually grounded and that address diverse populations and settings.

From a practical standpoint, the opportunity sets an award ceiling of $500,000, and it was created on December 12, 2022, with an original closing date listed as March 15, 2023. Overall, the funding call is built around a clear expectation: generate strong epidemiologic evidence in the first phase, then use it to drive a concrete prevention intervention strategy in the second phase, with leadership and team structure explicitly designed to prevent the work from stalling at discovery and to push it toward measurable prevention impact.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rapid Translation of Epidemiological Findings into Interventions to Prevent Substance Use and Addiction (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-12-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-03-15. (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 $500,000.00 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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