Substance Use/Substance Use Disorder Dissertation Research Award (R36 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-06-08. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you're a doctoral candidate researching substance use or addiction, this two-year award removes funding barriers to complete your dissertation and launch your research career.
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What this is
The R36 award from NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) provides funding for doctoral dissertation research aligned with NIDA's published priorities in substance use and disorder research. Eligible applicants include doctoral candidates from any academic discipline whose dissertation aligns with NIDA's research focus areas. The award period extends up to two years and is designed to facilitate entry into the SU/SUD research field, supporting promising new investigators. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this mechanism.
Who can apply
Applicants must be doctoral candidates at eligible institutions (universities, nonprofits, state/local governments, small businesses, and various other organization types). Your dissertation research must align with NIDA's published funding priorities in substance use and substance use disorder research; clinical trials are not permitted.
Eligible applicant types
- Small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- City or township governments
- State governments
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- County governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Special district governments
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Private institutions of higher education
Full description — from the agency
The goal of this NOFO is to support doctoral candidates from a variety of academic disciplines for up to two years for the completion of the doctoral dissertation research project. Research projects should align with NIDA funding priorities detailed here (https://www.drugabuse.gov/funding/funding-priorities). This award will facilitate the entry of promising new investigators into the field of substance use/substance use disorder (SU(D) research, enhancing the pool of highly talented SU(D) researchers.
Topics: substance use disorder research · NIDA funding · doctoral dissertation grant · addiction research · emerging investigators
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.