Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 19 213

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 213

The Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R34 Clinical Trial Optional), funding opportunity number PAR 19 213, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant program designed to move promising behavioral approaches for substance use treatment forward through early development and testing. The core aim is to support research that develops, refines, and evaluates behavioral interventions for drug abuse treatment, with an emphasis on generating the kind of evidence needed before larger, more definitive trials. While clinical trials are allowed under this announcement (they are optional), the focus is strongly aligned with intervention development work, including initial efficacy testing and other foundational studies that clarify how, why, and for whom an intervention works.

A major theme of the opportunity is optimizing treatment strategies rather than simply testing whether something works in a basic way. The FOA encourages applicants to examine mechanisms of behavior change (the processes that drive outcomes), to explore dose-response relationships (how much intervention is needed and at what intensity), and to conduct treatment optimization research (identifying the best components, delivery methods, or combinations). It also highlights work on treatment sequencing, meaning studies that evaluate the best order or structure for delivering behavioral interventions alone or in combination with medication-based approaches. This includes combined, sequential, or fully integrated behavioral and pharmacological models, recognizing that real-world substance use care often involves multiple modalities.

The program is especially interested in interventions that address the complexities that commonly accompany substance use disorders. One explicit priority is drug abuse treatment interventions for patients with comorbidities, acknowledging that many people in treatment also face co-occurring mental health conditions, medical issues, or other risk factors that affect engagement and outcomes. Another major focus is adherence: projects that develop and test strategies to improve participation in drug abuse treatment itself, as well as adherence to addiction medications and, when relevant, HIV-related medications. Within adherence, the FOA also calls attention to technology-supported approaches, such as interventions that use digital tools to strengthen effects, improve feasibility in routine care, and increase long-term sustainability. In practice, this can include technology used for reminders, support, monitoring, tailoring, or extending care beyond clinical settings, as long as the work is grounded in rigorous intervention development and evaluation.

HIV prevention within drug treatment settings is another clear area of interest. The FOA encourages studies aimed at preventing acquisition or transmission of HIV among individuals in drug abuse treatment, reflecting the overlap between substance use risk environments and HIV vulnerability. Alongside that, it supports interventions that promote adherence both to drug abuse treatment and to HIV and addiction medications, where adherence is often a key bottleneck limiting real-world effectiveness. Additionally, the FOA includes interventions to treat substance misuse in the context of chronic pain, a critical area given the clinical and public health challenges at the intersection of pain management, opioid exposure, and substance use disorder risk.

In terms of the type of research encouraged, the announcement notes interest in Stage I research, which typically refers to early-phase behavioral intervention development activities. That often includes manual or protocol refinement, feasibility and acceptability testing, pilot studies, early efficacy trials, and studies that help sharpen intervention components and implementation procedures before scaling. The intent is to build a strong evidence base that justifies and informs later-stage, larger trials and eventual translation into practice.

Administratively, this is a grant mechanism under NIH, with CFDA numbers 93.273 and 93.279. The listed award ceiling is 225,000 (as provided in the source information). The funding instrument is a grant, and the activity categories are education and health, consistent with NIH research support programs. The opportunity was created on 2019-03-07, and the original closing date listed in the source data is 2022-03-23 (important context if someone is using this summary for planning, since deadlines may have changed or the opportunity may have been reissued in updated form).

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, spanning many organization types that can contribute to behavioral treatment development. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly names additional eligible groups such as 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). Overall, the applicant pool reflects NIH interest in supporting intervention development wherever the needed expertise and access to relevant populations exist, including community and culturally specific settings.

Taken together, PAR 19 213 is best understood as a targeted NIH opportunity for building and strengthening behavioral and integrative treatment approaches for substance use disorders, especially those that address adherence, comorbidity, technology-enhanced delivery, HIV prevention and medication adherence, and the intersection of substance misuse with chronic pain. The emphasis is on well-justified, methodologically solid development and early testing that clarifies intervention components, delivery strategies, and the behavioral mechanisms that lead to improved outcomes.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Behavioral and Integrative Treatment Development Program (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273, 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-03-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-03-23. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 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 PAR 19 213

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