Translational Resource Centers to Build Bridges Between Substance Use Epidemiology/Etiology and Prevention Intervention Research (U24 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | RFA DA 25 040

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 25 040

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity RFA-DA-25-040, titled "Translational Resource Centers to Build Bridges Between Substance Use Epidemiology/Etiology and Prevention Intervention Research (U24 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)," supports the creation of Translational Resource Centers designed to connect two research worlds that too often operate in parallel: substance use epidemiology/etiology (who is affected, why, and under what conditions) and prevention intervention research (what can be done, for whom, and how to implement it). The core aim is to help form and sustain multidisciplinary teams that can take existing epidemiological and etiological datasets, run targeted analyses, and translate the findings into actionable prevention interventions or improvements in how interventions are delivered in real settings. Rather than funding clinical trials, the focus is on building the collaborative infrastructure, methods, and team-based workflows that make translation from data to prevention strategy faster and more reliable.

This opportunity uses the U24 Cooperative Agreement mechanism, meaning NIH will likely have substantial involvement beyond standard grant oversight, with the award functioning more like a partnership to develop and operate a shared resource. The activity category is listed under Education and Health (CFDA 93.279). The Center concept emphasizes practical, hands-on convening formats to accelerate collaboration and problem-solving. In particular, it calls out "sandpit" and "hackathon" models: sandpits are intensive, facilitated idea-generation and team-formation meetings where participants rapidly shape novel research questions and partnerships, while hackathons are short, focused events where teams work directly with datasets, code, measures, and analytic plans to produce concrete outputs. These formats are meant to move beyond typical workshops by pushing teams to produce usable analyses, prototypes, and cross-disciplinary plans within a compressed timeline.

Beyond these initial convenings, the Translational Resource Centers are expected to run activities that keep newly formed teams going after the event ends. The description highlights sustaining new research teams and networks, suggesting ongoing support structures such as continued coordination, matchmaking between investigators with complementary expertise, shared methodological support, and follow-on planning that helps groups progress from exploratory analyses to prevention-relevant products. The long-term intent is to create a durable foundation for research programs that have impact across disciplines, so the Centers are positioned as connective tissue that helps epidemiologic and etiologic insights actually inform prevention intervention development and implementation strategies.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of institutions and organizations, reflecting an interest in wide participation and reach. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly notes additional eligible applicant categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) entities. That breadth signals an intent to include community-connected organizations and institutions serving historically underrepresented populations, which can be especially important in prevention research where context, implementation settings, and equity considerations shape real-world effectiveness.

Key administrative details include an original closing date of July 5, 2024, and a creation date of June 10, 2024. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as NIH investing in a collaborative translational engine: a resource center that helps researchers form teams, work intensively with existing data, and build pipelines from population-level evidence about substance use risk and protection into practical prevention interventions and implementation approaches, without conducting clinical trials under this mechanism.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Translational Resource Centers to Build Bridges Between Substance Use Epidemiology/Etiology and Prevention Intervention Research (U24 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" 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 2024-06-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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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