D-START: Data Science Track Award for Research Transition (D/START) (R03-Clinical Trial Optional) | PAS 24 242

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAS 24 242

D-START: Data Science Track Award for Research Transition (D/START) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity run under the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) that is designed to help more researchers enter or pivot into addiction-related data science. It sits squarely in NIDA's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan emphasis on data science as a cross-cutting approach, with the bigger goal of growing the national pool of investigators who can apply modern, high-impact analytic methods to substance use and addiction research questions. The award uses the R03 mechanism, meaning it is intended for smaller, time-limited projects that can stand on their own as focused studies while also functioning as a stepping-stone toward larger, follow-on research proposals.

The program is aimed at two main groups: newly independent investigators with data science expertise who want to establish themselves in addiction research, and established investigators who have not previously incorporated cutting-edge data science methods into their addiction research and want to do so for the first time. In practical terms, this means the proposed work should emphasize the application of emerging or advanced analytic strategies to addiction-related problems where conventional approaches are not enough. The expectation is not a large, multi-site, infrastructure-heavy study, but rather a tightly scoped project that answers a specific question, tests a novel method in an addiction context, or generates strong preliminary results that justify a subsequent larger grant.

Projects are expected to use advanced data analytic strategies and can often be built around existing datasets rather than launching new, expensive data collection. Applicants are encouraged to reuse and responsibly analyze available data resources when feasible, which can accelerate timelines and improve reproducibility. The opportunity also highlights adherence to FAIR principles, meaning data and related research products should be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable when applicable. In addition, the notice flags that researchers should address ethical considerations, especially for work involving human subjects or sensitive data, which is particularly relevant in addiction research where privacy, stigma, re-identification risk, and equitable use of data can be major concerns.

From an outcomes standpoint, D-START is meant to speed up the creation of durable research programs at the intersection of innovative data science and addiction science. The initial R03 projects are positioned as precursors, with the idea that a successful D-START study will lead to broader, more expansive research efforts later. The funding opportunity explicitly allows clinical trials as optional, which means applicants may propose a clinical trial if it is appropriate for the research aims, but they are not required to do so. This keeps the door open for a range of project types, from computational method development and validation to applied modeling and prediction work, to smaller intervention-related studies where a clinical trial component is justified.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed as discretionary grant funding, with an activity category spanning education and health, and is associated with CFDA number 93.279. The funding opportunity number is PAS 24 242, and the original closing date provided is 2027-09-07. The listed award ceiling is $1,000,000, indicating the maximum possible award amount under the announcement, though typical R03 budgets are often smaller and applicants should align scope, timeline, and costs with what is reasonable for a small, focused award.

Eligibility is broad and includes many organizational types that commonly apply to NIH: state, county, and city governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The notice also calls out additional eligible applicants and institution types, 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), eligible federal agencies, faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities. Taken together, that wide eligibility is consistent with NIDA's interest in expanding capacity across diverse institutions and communities, including those that are historically underrepresented in research funding and those that may have strong ties to populations disproportionately affected by addiction.

Overall, D-START is best understood as an on-ramp into addiction-focused data science: a mechanism for researchers to demonstrate that a novel analytic approach can meaningfully advance understanding of substance use, addiction trajectories, treatment, prevention, or related public health outcomes. The strongest fit is likely a proposal with a crisp addiction-relevant question, a clear reason why advanced data science is necessary, a feasible plan to use or curate data responsibly, and deliverables that can credibly support the next stage of a larger research program.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "D-START: Data Science Track Award for Research Transition (D/START) (R03-Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2024-07-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-09-07.
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
• 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.

Apply for PAS 24 242

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