NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH ON DRUG ABUSE (Ongoing Program Announcement) P.T. 34; K.W. 1002030, 0404009, 0705055, 0760075, 0414005, 0404000, 0785115 National Institute on Drug Abuse This Program Announcement was published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts on October 20, 1989, Vol. 18, No. 37, however, it was inadvertently omitted in the Table of Contents. The Announcement is being repeated in its entirety. PURPOSE The purpose of this announcement is to encourage and stimulate investigator interest in broad areas of neuroscience research relevant to the problem of drug abuse. Many research tools are now available to allow for major advances in understanding the neurobiology of drug abuse to determine the effects of drugs on the structure and function of the nervous system. These include new histochemical and autoradiographic procedures, light and electron microscopic analysis, imaging and analytic techniques applicable to living tissue (e.g., PET, MRI), and various neurophysiological and neuropharmacological techniques, especially those monitoring neural processes during ongoing behavior (e.g., single-cell electrophysiology, in vivo microdialysis and voltammetry, evoked potentials, EEG). As a final part of this initiative, The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) expects that an increased understanding of the relationship between brain anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology and drug abuse behaviors will increase the capacity to design appropriate therapeutic pharmaceuticals void of abuse liability and its consequences, and develop drug therapies for correcting neurochemical imbalances created by the abuse of drugs. Additionally, investigations into the neural basis of drug seeking should identify those neurobiological factors that make an individual vulnerable to the abuse of drugs. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The neuroscience program of the NIDA's Division of Preclinical Research encourages investigations into the basic mechanisms underlying the action of abused drugs and substances on the central nervous system as well as research leading to the development of drugs that potentially may be used on the relationship between drug-receptor interactions or neurochemical alterations and consequences of drug usage in terms of behavioral processes is specifically encouraged. Areas of particular interest include the following: (1) Brain Reward Mechanisms in Drug Abuse (2) Neuropsychopharmacology of Abused Drugs (3) Anabolic Steroid Abuse (4) Drug-Induced Neurotoxicity (6) Developmental Neurobiology (7) Drug Effects on Cognitive Processes (8) Drug Effects on Sensory Processes (9) Blood-Brain Barrier Studies (l0) Clinical Neuroscience Support can be obtained in the form of R01 (Research Project Grants), R03 (Small Grants), R13 (Research Conference Grants), and R29 (First Independent Research Support and Transition Awards). NIMH and various NIH Institutes have specific programs in the neurosciences. Grant applications will be assigned to the appropriate Institute based upon existing programmatic guidelines. ELIGIBILITY Applications may be submitted by public or private nonprofit or for-profit organizations such as universities, colleges, hospitals, laboratories, units of State or local governments, and eligible agencies of the Federal government. Women and minority investigators are encouraged to apply. APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND RECEIPT SCHEDULE State and local government agencies may use form PHS 5161-1 (rev. 11/88). All other applicants should use the research grant application from PHS 398 (rev. 10/88). The title of this announcement "NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH ON DRUG ABUSE" should be typed in item number 2 on the face page of the PHS 398 application form or in item 9 on the PHS 5161-1. Application kits containing the necessary forms and instructions may be obtained from business offices or offices of sponsored research at most universities, colleges, medical schools, and other major research facilities. If such a source is not available, the following office may be contacted for the necessary application material: Grants Management Branch, NIDA, Parklawn Building, Room 10-25, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857. Applications received under this announcement will be assigned to an initial review group (IRG) in accordance with established PHS Referral Guidelines. The IRGs, consisting primarily of non-Federal scientific and technical experts, will review the applications for scientific and technical merit. Notification of the review recommendations will be sent to the applicant after the initial review. Applications will receive a second-level review by an appropriate National Advisory Council whose review may be based on policy as well as scientific merit considerations. Only applications recommended for approval by the advisory council may be considered for funding. The signed original and six (6) permanent, legible copies of the completed application (original and two copies, if using PHS 5161-1) should be sent to: Division of Research Grants National Institutes of Health Westwood Building, Room 240 Bethesda, Maryland 20892** Receipt of Initial Advisory Council Earliest Applications Review Review Start Date February 1 June/July Sept/Oct December 1 June 1 Oct/Nov Jan/Feb April 1 October 1 Feb/March May/June July 1 Applications submitted in response to this Announcement are not subject to the intergovernment review requirements of Executive Order 12372, as implemented through Department of Health and Human Services regulations at 45 CFR Part 100 and are not subject to Health Systems Agency review. REVIEW CRITERIA Criteria for scientific/technical merit review of regular research grant applications will include the following: significance and originality from a scientific and technical standpoint of the goals of the proposed research; adequacy of the methodology proposed to carry out the research; qualifications of the Principal Investigator and other key research personnel; availability of adequate facilities, other resources, and collaborative arrangements necessary for the research, appropriateness of budget estimates for the proposed research activities, and adequacy of provisions for the protection of human subjects and welfare of animals subjects as applicable. FURTHER INFORMATION Further information and consultation on program requirements relevant to neuroscience research inquiries can be obtained from: Dr. Roger Brown Neuroscience Research Branch National Institute on Drug Abuse Parklawn Building, Room 10A-31 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, Maryland 20857 Telephone: (301) 443-6975 FOOTNOTE: This program is described in the catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance No. 13.279. Grants will be awarded under the authority of Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended (42 USC 241) and administered in accordance with the PHS Grants Policy Statement and Federal regulations at 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 74. This program is not subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372 or Health Systems Agency review. **THE MAILING ADDRESS GIVEN FOR SENDING APPLICATIONS TO THE DIVISION OF RESEARCH GRANTS OR CONTACTING PROGRAM STAFF IN THE WESTWOOD BUILDING IS THE CENTRAL MAILING ADDRESS FOR THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH. APPLICANTS WHO USE EXPRESS MAIL OR A COURIER SERVICE ARE ADVISED TO FOLLOW THE CARRIER'S REQUIREMENTS FOR SHOWING A STREET ADDRESS. THE ADDRESS FOR THE WESTWOOD BUILDING IS: 5333 Westbard Avenue Bethesda, Maryland 20816 Vol. 18, No. 38, October 27, 1989 - Page 7-8 NIH GUIDE