Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 20 019
The NIH grant opportunity "Exploiting In Vivo Precision Pharmacology Techniques to Understand Opioid Receptor Signaling in Specific Circuits, Cell Types, and Subcellular Compartments" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-20-019) is a discretionary grant program focused on advancing research tools and strategies that can precisely control or probe signaling from endogenous opioid receptors inside living organisms. The central goal is not simply to study opioid receptors in general, but to enable experiments that can manipulate or measure opioid receptor signaling with high spatial and biological specificity, meaning within particular neural circuits, specific cell types, or even distinct locations inside cells (subcellular compartments). This emphasis reflects the idea that opioid receptor function can vary dramatically depending on where signaling occurs, which cells are involved, and what intracellular context shapes downstream effects.
The scientific scope is aimed at the development and application of novel pharmacological approaches that work in vivo, rather than approaches limited to isolated cells or simplified model systems. In practice, this kind of program typically encourages approaches that can disentangle complex opioid biology by allowing researchers to turn receptor signaling on or off, bias signaling pathways, or read out signaling events in targeted regions with minimal off-target effects. The opportunity explicitly highlights endogenous opioid receptors, pointing to a preference for methods that interface with receptors as they naturally exist in the organism, rather than relying entirely on overexpression systems that may alter receptor abundance, localization, or signaling dynamics. Overall, the funding seeks to push beyond conventional systemic drug dosing, which affects many tissues and circuits at once, and instead enable mechanistic clarity about how opioid receptor signaling in a defined biological context drives particular physiological or behavioral outcomes.
The mechanism is an R61/R33, which is commonly used for projects that start with a milestone-driven, early-stage development phase followed by a second phase that supports expanded application once feasibility and performance are demonstrated. In other words, the structure is designed to support tool creation or optimization first, then transition into using those tools to answer specific biological questions about opioid receptor signaling once the approach has been validated. The announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," which means the supported work must remain in the non-clinical research space and cannot involve clinical trial activities as defined by NIH, even if the broader topic is relevant to human health and substance use outcomes.
Administratively, the opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health and falls under the Education and Health activity category, with CFDA number 93.279. The original closing date listed is October 17, 2019, and the creation date is May 30, 2019. While the award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data, the presence of an R61/R33 structure signals an intent to fund projects that are both innovative and technically rigorous, with clear go/no-go criteria appropriate for technology development and subsequent biological deployment.
Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of government entities and research-performing organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories as stated); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). Taken together, this indicates a deliberate attempt to make the program accessible across many institutional settings, including minority-serving institutions, community-connected organizations, and international partners where appropriate.
In plain terms, this funding opportunity is about building and using next-generation in vivo pharmacology methods that can precisely interrogate opioid receptor signaling in the places and contexts that matter most for understanding function. The expected outcome is a set of validated, deployable approaches that let researchers move from broad, system-wide observations to circuit-, cell-, and compartment-level causal understanding of opioid receptor biology, while remaining firmly in the non-clinical trial research domain.Apply for RFA DA 20 019
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exploiting In Vivo Precision Pharmacology Techniques to Understand Opioid Receptor Signaling in Specific Circuits, Cell Types, and Subcellular Compartments (R61/R33 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2019-05-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-10-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: NIH RFA-DA-20-019 (R61/R33) - In Vivo Precision Pharmacology for Opioid Receptor Signaling
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this NIH grant?
The opportunity is titled "Exploiting In Vivo Precision Pharmacology Techniques to Understand Opioid Receptor Signaling in Specific Circuits, Cell Types, and Subcellular Compartments" and the Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-DA-20-019.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central goal is to advance research tools and strategies that can precisely control or probe signaling from endogenous opioid receptors in living organisms, with high specificity for particular neural circuits, specific cell types, or even distinct subcellular compartments.
What does "in vivo precision pharmacology" mean in the context of this program?
In this program, it refers to pharmacological approaches that work inside living organisms (not just in isolated cells or simplified systems) and that allow targeted manipulation or measurement of opioid receptor signaling with strong spatial and biological specificity.
Which receptors are emphasized: endogenous receptors or overexpressed receptors?
The opportunity explicitly highlights endogenous opioid receptors, indicating a preference for methods that interface with receptors as they naturally exist in the organism rather than relying entirely on overexpression systems that could alter receptor abundance, localization, or signaling dynamics.
What kinds of biological specificity does NIH emphasize here?
The announcement emphasizes specificity at multiple levels: within particular neural circuits, within specific cell types, and within distinct subcellular compartments (different locations inside cells) where signaling may differ.
Why does the opportunity focus on circuits, cell types, and subcellular compartments?
The premise reflected in the description is that opioid receptor function can vary dramatically depending on where signaling occurs, which cells are involved, and what intracellular context shapes downstream effects. The funding aims to enable experiments that can pinpoint these context-dependent differences.
Is this grant meant to study opioid receptors broadly, or something more specific?
It is not aimed at studying opioid receptors in a general, non-targeted way. It is specifically focused on enabling experiments that can manipulate or measure opioid receptor signaling with high spatial and biological precision to support mechanistic clarity.
What types of approaches does the opportunity encourage researchers to develop or use?
Based on the description, it encourages novel in vivo pharmacological approaches that can disentangle complex opioid biology by enabling researchers to turn receptor signaling on or off, bias signaling pathways, or read out signaling events in targeted regions with minimal off-target effects.
How does this differ from conventional systemic drug dosing studies?
Conventional systemic dosing affects many tissues and circuits at once. This opportunity aims to push beyond that by supporting methods that enable targeted interrogation and manipulation of opioid receptor signaling in defined biological contexts.
What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
The mechanism is an R61/R33.
What does the R61/R33 structure imply for how projects are supported?
It typically supports a milestone-driven early-stage development phase (R61) followed by a second phase (R33) that supports expanded application once feasibility and performance are demonstrated. The structure is designed to support tool creation or optimization first, then transition to applying those tools to answer specific biological questions after validation.
Does the opportunity require milestone or go/no-go criteria?
The description indicates that the R61/R33 structure is milestone-driven and suitable for technology development with clear go/no-go criteria, implying that projects should be structured around feasibility and performance milestones before transitioning to broader application.
Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?
No. The announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the supported work must remain in the non-clinical research space and cannot involve clinical trial activities as defined by NIH.
Can a project be relevant to human health even if clinical trials are not allowed?
Yes. The description notes that even if the broader topic is relevant to human health and substance use outcomes, the work supported by this opportunity cannot include clinical trial activities.
Which federal agency is offering this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the activity category listed for this program?
It falls under the Education and Health activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 93.279.
What are the key dates provided for this opportunity?
The creation date listed is May 30, 2019, and the original closing date listed is October 17, 2019.
Is the award ceiling or expected number of awards provided?
No. The provided information states that the award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the source data.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many government entities and research-performing organizations, including state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (with the noted exclusions as stated); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly called out as eligible.
Can U.S. territories or regional organizations apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations.
Are non-U.S. entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
What is the intended outcome of projects funded through this opportunity?
The expected outcome is a set of validated, deployable in vivo approaches that enable circuit-, cell-, and compartment-level causal understanding of opioid receptor biology, moving from broad observations to precise, mechanistic experiments while remaining in the non-clinical trial domain.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Health
Next opportunity: Evaluation and Coordination of Pacific Lamprey Activities in the Yakima River Basin
Previous opportunity: Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA DA 20 019
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA DA 20 019) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| National Drug Early Warning System Coordinating Center (U01 Clinical Trial Optional ) Apply for RFA DA 20 016 Funding Number: RFA DA 20 016 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $550,000 |
| NCI Research Specialist (Core-based Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 290 Funding Number: PAR 19 290 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NCI Research Specialist (Laboratory-based Scientist) Award (R50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 291 Funding Number: PAR 19 291 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Development of Clinical Outcome Assessments for Clinical Trials in Substance Use Disorders as FDA-qualified Drug Development Tools (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 20 015 Funding Number: RFA DA 20 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Leveraging Big Data Science to Elucidate the Mechanisms of HIV Activity and Interaction with Substance Use Disorder (R21 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 20 009 Funding Number: RFA DA 20 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Leveraging Big Data Science to Elucidate the Mechanisms of HIV Activity and Interaction with Substance Use Disorder (R01 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 20 008 Funding Number: RFA DA 20 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Novel Technology Tools to Facilitate Research Using Next Generation Patient-derived Cancer Models (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 19 055 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 055 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network (CP-CTNet): CP-CTNet Sites (UG1 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA CA 19 031 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 031 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Stimulating Innovations in Behavioral Intervention Research for Cancer Prevention and Control (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 19 309 Funding Number: PAR 19 309 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Behavioral Science Track Award for Rapid Transition (B/Start)(R03 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 19 310 Funding Number: PAR 19 310 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Leveraging Big Data Science to Elucidate the Neural Mechanisms of Addiction and Substance Use Disorder (R01 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 20 006 Funding Number: RFA DA 20 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Leveraging Big Data Science to Elucidate the Neural Mechanisms of Addiction and Substance Use Disorder (R21 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 20 007 Funding Number: RFA DA 20 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Modeling HIV Neuropathology Using Microglia from Human iPSC and Cerebral Organoids (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 20 023 Funding Number: RFA DA 20 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| The NCI Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00) Apply for RFA CA 19 057 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 057 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Strategic Alliances for Medications Development to Treat Substance Use Disorders (R01-Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 19 318 Funding Number: PAR 19 318 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Participant Engagement and Cancer Genome Sequencing (PE-CGS): Research Centers (U2C Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 19 045 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 045 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Participant Engagement and Cancer Genome Sequencing (PE-CGS): Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA CA 19 046 Funding Number: RFA CA 19 046 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Clinical Characterization of Cancer Therapy-induced Adverse Sequelae and Mechanism-based Interventional Strategies (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 19 325 Funding Number: PAR 19 325 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Palliative Care in Home and Community Settings (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 19 320 Funding Number: PAR 19 320 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Reducing Stigma to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 19 326 Funding Number: PAR 19 326 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA DA 20 019", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.