Dynamic and Adaptable Infrastructure for Drug Development and Outreach to Aid the Research Community in Advancing Medication Repurposing and Repositioning Efforts for substance use disorders (SUDs) (U54 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has forecasted a new cooperative agreement funding opportunity aimed at addressing substance use disorders (SUDs) through the development of a specialized infrastructure. This initiative, structured as a U54 Center grant, is designed to create a dynamic and adaptable infrastructure to support medication repurposing and repositioning research, particularly for SUD treatment. The funding opportunity is expected to strengthen the drug development pipeline by supporting academic and biotech researchers with key development resources and technical support. This infrastructure will function as a central hub delivering comprehensive services across all stages of drug development. These services include the creation of Target Product Profiles, Freedom-to-Operate analyses, intellectual property consultations, regulatory guidance, and other pipeline support services. The center is envisioned to aid both academic and industry researchers, offering the necessary tools and consultative resources to advance promising medication repurposing projects. Applications are not being accepted yet; this forecast allows for the formation of strategic collaborations and planning for responsive proposals. The funding mechanism will support one awardee under a cooperative agreement (U54) and clinical trials will not be permitted. The total estimated funding available for this opportunity is $2,500,000. There is no requirement for cost sharing or matching funds, which can ease the application burden for eligible entities. This opportunity is designated under the Health category of funding activity and falls within the fiscal year 2026 budget. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as state and county governments, independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments and organizations, public and Indian housing authorities, and various nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Notably, this includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses and nonprofits that do not have 501(c)(3) status, broadening the scope of potential applicants. The estimated post date for this opportunity is July 25, 2025, with applications due by September 25, 2025. The anticipated award and project start date is July 1, 2026. Researchers with backgrounds in pharmacology, neuroscience, toxicology, and drug development are encouraged to consider this opportunity. The call also encourages cross-disciplinary collaborations involving expertise in areas such as preclinical development, regulatory strategy, intellectual property law, and in silico discovery. For further inquiries, Dr. Saravanan Karuppagounder serves as the main point of contact at NIDA. He can be reached at 301-480-9471 or via email at saravanan.karuppagounder@nih.gov.