Public Policy Effects on Alcohol-, Marijuana-, and Other Substance-Related Behaviors and Outcomes (R03) | PA 17 134

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 134

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Public Policy Effects on Alcohol-, Marijuana-, and Other Substance-Related Behaviors and Outcomes (R03)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA-17-134) is a discretionary grant program designed to support small, focused research projects that examine how public policies shape substance-related behaviors and related health outcomes. The core idea behind the announcement is that laws, regulations, and other policy decisions can function as large-scale public health tools, and NIH is seeking research that clarifies when, how, and for whom these policies produce meaningful changes in substance use patterns and downstream consequences. The FOA specifically emphasizes alcohol, marijuana, and other substances, with a clear public health orientation: generating evidence that can improve health and welfare by understanding policy impacts on behavior and outcomes.

This announcement is structured around policy research that can credibly measure effects rather than simply describe associations. The FOA encourages projects that use causal or quasi-experimental approaches to evaluate one policy or multiple interacting policies, including studies that estimate the effects of policy adoption, repeal, or modification across jurisdictions or over time. It also welcomes evaluations of how effective specific policies are at improving public health through measurable changes in behaviors (such as initiation, frequency, intensity, or patterns of use) and outcomes (such as morbidity, mortality, injury, overdose, dependence, treatment utilization, impaired driving, crime, or other social and health consequences). In addition to direct policy-effect studies, the FOA explicitly supports methodological and measurement-focused work that strengthens the broader field, such as developing better policy exposure measures, improving methods to handle staggered policy rollouts, addressing confounding in observational policy studies, or refining outcome measurement using administrative or surveillance data.

The mechanism used is the NIH R03 Small Research Grant Program, which is intended for discrete, well-defined projects that can realistically be completed within two years and with relatively limited funding. The R03 format is commonly used for pilot or feasibility studies, secondary analyses of existing datasets, small self-contained projects that answer a narrow but important question, and development or testing of research methods. In practical terms, the R03 structure signals that NIH is not looking for large multi-site trials here; instead, it is looking for tightly scoped projects that can quickly produce evidence, test promising analytic strategies, or generate preliminary findings that may later support larger follow-on studies. The listed award ceiling is $50,000, reinforcing that proposals should be appropriately scaled for a small-grant budget and timeline.

Eligibility is broad and includes a wide range of government, academic, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations. Eligible applicants include 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; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education where relevant); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). It further notes eligibility for U.S. territories or possessions and allows non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations, indicating an openness to research contexts beyond the continental United States when justified by the science and public health significance.

As framed in the opportunity description, the intended payoff is stronger, policy-relevant evidence about how public policy influences substance use behaviors and the outcomes that matter for public health and welfare. The FOA is aimed at innovative work with the potential to inform decision-making, improve prevention strategies, and clarify the real-world consequences of policy choices related to alcohol, marijuana, and other drugs. The original closing date shown in the source data is 2020-09-07, and the opportunity was created on 2017-01-25, which is useful context for anyone checking whether the announcement is still active or has been superseded by a newer NIH posting under a similar topic area.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Public Policy Effects on Alcohol-, Marijuana-, and Other Substance-Related Behaviors and Outcomes (R03)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-01-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-09-07. (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 $50,000.00 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 PA 17 134

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: