NIH: Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid Transition (B/START) (R03)

Sponsor: The National Institutes of Health (NIH)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), through the issuance of this FOA seeks to facilitate the entry of beginning investigators into the field of behavioral science research. NIDA invites newly independent investigators to submit applications for small-scale, exploratory, or pilot research projects related to NIDA's behavioral sciences mission. Funding of B/START awards is relatively rapid, i.e., within approximately six months of the date of receipt of the application.

General Background

NIDA, through the issuance of this FOA, seeks to facilitate the entry of beginning investigators into the field of behavioral science research. Understanding behavioral processes is fundamental to understanding drug abuse and addiction.

To be appropriate for a B/START award, research must be primarily focused on behavioral processes and research questions. Thus, research on neural, genetic, or other biological processes would be appropriate for a B/START award only if its overall emphasis were on understanding behavioral processes or outcomes.

Behavioral research proposed under B/START need not be conducted in drug-abusing populations or involve administration of drugs; however, the relevance of the research to drug abuse or drug addiction must be clearly established in the application.

In all proposed research, investigators are encouraged to consider designing the research to permit an analysis of data by gender.

All areas of behavioral research related to drug abuse are sought under this announcement including (a) animal and human basic behavioral research aimed at elucidating underlying behavioral mechanisms, determinants and correlates of drug abuse and characterizing the consequences of drug abuse and addiction; (b) research incorporating neural and other biological approaches if the research has a primary focus on behavior; (c) drug abuse epidemiology, risk and protective factors, treatment, prevention, and drug abuse services; and (d) behavioral research on the intersection of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. These areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

Measurement of the incidence, prevalence, and patterns and trends of drug abuse (in various stages).

Identification of risk, vulnerability, protective, and resiliency factors for drug use and dependence.

Studies of learning, motivational, cognitive, and emotional factors contributing to the acquisition of drug taking, maintenance, withdrawal, and relapse.

Characterization of the effects of abused drugs on diverse behavioral domains including sensory-perceptual, psychomotor, learning, motivation, cognitive, social, and cultural. Development of new animal behavioral paradigms that provide valid models of human abuse and addiction.,

Development of new animal behavioral models to serve as screening procedures in the search for pharmacotherapies to treat drug dependence.

Development of mathematical or computational models of learning, conditioning, or cognitive processes relevant to drug abuse.

Studies of the behavioral factors involved in tolerance, and sensitization, and in the transition from drug use to drug dependence.

Behavioral genetic approaches either in animal models (e.g., transgenic animals, development of simple high-input behavioral screens) or human subject studies (e.g., establishment of pedigrees, twin studies).

Studies of innovative theory-based prevention approaches including interventions to mitigate or ameliorate adverse consequences associated with drug abuse.

Studies of behavioral treatments of drug dependence, including animal models.

Identification and examination of factors affecting treatment access, entry, readiness, retention, and compliance.

Studies of the effects of organization, financing, and management of services on treatment outcomes.

Studies of risk reduction strategies to reduce HIV and other infectious diseases among drug abusers.

Studies of drug abuse treatment services for HIV seropositive patients and for those at risk for HIV infection.

Amount: Although the financial plans of the NIDA provide support for this program, awards pursuant to this funding opportunity are contingent upon the availability of funds and the receipt of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

An award is not to exceed $50,000 in direct costs and is for a period of one year only. The award is not renewable. The total amount to be awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the quality of the applications received.

Deadline: February 16, June 16, and October 16 until September 2, 2009

For further information, please visit: http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-06-541.html