Research Networks for the Study of Recovery Support Services for Persons Treated with Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (R24 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DA 20 014

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 20 014

The National Institutes of Health released this discretionary grant opportunity (RFA-DA-20-014) to build and strengthen research networks focused on recovery support services for people who are currently receiving, or have previously received, medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Rather than primarily funding large standalone clinical studies, the purpose of this R24 mechanism is to provide infrastructure support that helps the field generate stronger efficacy and effectiveness research over time. In practical terms, the FOA is meant to help organizations create the relationships, shared resources, and coordinated plans needed to study what kinds of recovery supports work best for people treated with MOUD, for whom they work, and under what conditions.

A central feature of the program is the expectation that applicants will form multi-stakeholder research networks. These networks are intended to bring together a mix of voices and roles that shape real-world recovery supports, such as academic researchers and trainees, service providers, payors, and people with lived experience of recovery. NIH is signaling that progress in this area depends on collaboration across systems, including treatment programs, community-based recovery organizations, housing and education supports, and financing and policy stakeholders. The funded infrastructure is intended to make it easier for these groups to coordinate research priorities, agree on common measures and data approaches, and build a pipeline of ready-to-launch studies.

The FOA lists several types of network-building and capacity-building activities that can be supported. These include convening meetings and conferences, running short-term educational opportunities (for example, intensive workshops, summer institutes, or visiting scholar programs), doing small-scale pilot projects that help refine research questions or methods, and conducting data development work (such as improving data systems, harmonizing measures, or laying groundwork for multi-site data collection). Dissemination is also a major emphasis, with the goal of sharing emerging tools, findings, and lessons learned so the broader recovery support field can grow faster and with better evidence behind it.

NIH highlights priority areas for the recovery support services the networks should study. These include peer-based recovery support, recovery community centers, active recovery communities, recovery residences, education-based recovery support services, and continuing care models, while still allowing applicants to propose other recovery support approaches they can justify as high priority. The intent is to stimulate rigorous research that can evaluate these services as delivered in real settings, clarify how they complement MOUD, and identify strategies that improve outcomes such as retention in care, quality of life, functioning, and sustained recovery.

The opportunity is labeled “Clinical Trial Optional,” meaning applicants may propose work that includes clinical trials, but they are not required to do so. That aligns with the infrastructure focus of the R24 mechanism, where the deliverables are often network capacity, shared resources, training, pilot data, and research-ready platforms rather than a single definitive trial.

A wide range of applicants are eligible, reflecting the cross-sector nature of recovery support services. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education institutions); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly notes eligibility for organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and eligible federal agencies, as well as U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it clearly restricts foreign participation: non-U.S. entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.

Key administrative details provided include the activity category (Education, Health), CFDA number 93.279, and the funding instrument (grant). The award ceiling listed is $400,000. The FOA was created on 2019-09-16 and had an original closing date of 2019-11-19. Overall, the grant is designed to help the field move from fragmented efforts to coordinated, multi-site, stakeholder-informed research programs capable of producing stronger evidence on recovery support services for people treated with MOUD.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Networks for the Study of Recovery Support Services for Persons Treated with Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (R24 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 2019-09-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-11-19. (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 $400,000.00 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.

Apply for RFA DA 20 014

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