International Support

NIDA funds over 75% of the worlds scientific research in drug abuse. NIDA maintains strong support for research projects that involve collaboration with other countries. International collaboration not only enables sharing global knowledge and expertise, but helps countries develop independent research programs that can contribute to global knowledge about the treatment and prevention of addiction.

Below are three research grant opportunities most likely to apply to Division-supported research. International investigators may be eligible for other opportunities described on the NIH Fogarty International website. Always check announcements to determine if the are still active and to ensure NIDA participates.

Due to the highly competitive nature of International Grants, foreign participants are strongly encouraged to work closely with a NIDA program official and to collaborate with US investigators who have previously been awarded NIH grants.

Research Project Grants

PA-06-050 International Research Collaboration on Drug Addiction (R01) 10/28/05 to 01/03/09.

• Funding levels are consistent with typical NIH R01s.
• Projects involve collaborative research proposals on drug abuse and addiction that take advantage of special opportunities that exist outside the United States. Special opportunities include access to unusual talent, resources, populations, or financing systems and other environmental conditions that will speed scientific discovery.
• Successful topics are typical of R01 applications responding to other NIDA announcements, but which have a significant foreign component.

PAR-06-437 International Research Collaboration Behavioral, Social Sciences (FIRCA-BS; R03) 03/22/05 to 09/22/07.

• Funding of total direct costs of up to $100,000 over three years in modules of $25,000 (one module in year one and year three, two modules in year two) is available.
• Eligible Project Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) must have a current, eligible NIH-funded research and collaborate with a colleague from a laboratory or research site in an eligible country. The foreign collaborator/foreign PD/PI must hold a position in an eligible country at an eligible public or private non-profit institution that will allow him/her adequate time and provide appropriate facilities to conduct the proposed research.
• Deadlines for application are January 21, May 21, and September 21. The deadlines are NOT postmark dates, but RECEIPT dates. See the following chart: FIC Program Application Deadlines and Review Cycle Dates

PAR-05-082 Global Research Initiative Program, Social Science (R01) 03/31/05 to 09/22/07.

Purpose: to promote productive re-entry of foreign investigators from low-income countries, trained in the U.S., into their home countries.

• individual awards are limited to a maximum of $50,000 direct costs per year
• uses the Research Project Grant (R01) award mechanism, using the modular grant format
• Eligible Principal Investigators include individuals from eligible institutions who have one of the following:
  • at least two years of research training experience under an FIC-supported training grant;
  • one year of D43 training experience coupled with one year of significant, well-documented mentored research experience;
  • one year of the NIDA INVEST Fellowship plus one or more years of mentored research; or
  • at least two years of research training experience through the NIH intramural Visiting Fellows Program.

Fellowships and Collaboration

It is possible to combine NIDA support to extend fellowships and visiting scientists not primarily sponsored by NIH/NIDA in order to intern with a DESPR branch as a means for establishing or enhancing international collaboration.

• Invest Postdoctoral Fellowship This 12-month award combines postdoctoral research training in the United States with professional development activities and grant-writing guidance to form a unique program for drug abuse scientists. Fellows may conduct their research in any aspect of the biomedical or behavioral science of drug abuse and addiction.
• Humphrey Fellowship This award offers up to 10 months support for researchers, treatment providers, prevention specialists, or governmental and nongovernmental organization program planners to enhance their understanding the scientific basis of drug abuse and addiction.
• Visiting Program This award offers up to 6 months support for researchers and governmental and nongovernmental organization program planners to enhance their understanding how to develop and promote drug abuse treatment and services research within their countries. Visiting grants may be appended to both NIH and other sponsored international fellowship grants such those from WHO and USAID.

Travel Awards

Foreign scientists often have limited opportunities to build rapport with potential collaborators in the US. Also because of travel costs, it may be difficult for researchers to present newly discovered research results at international conferences. NIDA offers a limited number of travel awards to help foreign drug abuse researchers participate and network with foreign colleagues both to advance scientific knowledge and to encourage collaborative research.

Researchers at any level who have a paper or poster accepted at the annual College of Problems on Drug Dependence (CPDD) conference may seek partial support from NIDA for attendance at the conference, which may include a week of WHO/CPDD/NIDA support to visit a prominent US drug abuse researcher coincident with CPDD participation.