The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a funding opportunity titled "Functional Validation and/or Characterization of Genes or Variants Implicated in Substance Use Disorders" under the R21/R33 phased innovation award mechanism. This initiative aims to support research projects that utilize genome or epigenome editing technologies to validate and characterize genes associated with substance use disorders (SUDs), addressing significant gaps in knowledge that could lead to improved prevention and therapeutic strategies. The program emphasizes the importance of understanding genetic influences on addiction and encourages applications from a diverse range of eligible institutions, including higher education and nonprofit organizations, with an anticipated budget of up to $125,000 per year for the R21 phase and up to $250,000 per year for the R33 phase. Interested applicants must submit their proposals by March 3, 2025, and can reach out to NIH Grants Information at grantsinfo@nih.gov for further inquiries.