Sponsor Deadline
Posted: 4/2/2024

Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Chemical Countermeasures Research Program (CCRP) Initiative: Additional Research Areas of Interest focusing on Ultra-Potent Synthetic (UPS) Opioids

Ultra-Potent Synthetic (UPS) opioids, such as fentanyl, carfentanil, acetylfentanyl, sufentanil, remifentanil, lofentanil, alfentanil, and the structurally dissimilar ‘nitazene benzimidazoles’ (e.g.,meto-, eto-, isoto-nitazene), have been designated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as highly toxic chemicals of concern. These synthetic opioids are not only considered public health risks under the ongoing opioid epidemic, but also as chemical threat agents by both military and civilian agencies where large-scale exposure may occur either accidentally and/or intentionally in weaponized form. Exposure could potentially occur as single agents, as a combination of UPS opioids, or as mixtures comprising UPS opioids and other non-opioid chemical substances. Notably, there is a significant knowledge gap in understanding and treating the observed toxicities stemming from exposure to the emerging UPS opioids such as nitazenes and their combinations, and UPS opioids in combination with other chemical substances. To address this problem, the Chemical Countermeasures Research Program (CCRP) is particularly interested in basic research to understand and treat/reverse the deleterious effects of nitazenes, combinations of UPS opioids, (e.g., fentanyl and nitazene) and UPS opioids in combination with the non-opioid sedative xylazine (e.g., fentanyl adulterated or associated with xylazine).

Deadline: November 19, 2024

NOT-DA-23-044

Areas of Interest

The scientific scope of research supported by this NIDA-CCRP Notice of Special Interest initiative includes -

  • Studies on elucidating the mechanisms that contribute to the deleterious effects after acute exposure to nitazenes, a combination of UPS opioids (e.g., fentanyl and nitazene) and UPS opioids in combination with xylazine (e.g., fentanyl and xylazine) 
  • Fundamental research on the non-lethal, delayed, or persistent pathophysiological effects after acute exposure to nitazenes, a combination of UPS opioids (e.g., fentanyl and nitazene) and UPS opioids in combination with xylazine (e.g., fentanyl and xylazine)
  • Design and synthesis of chemical probes to gain mechanistic insights on biological targets of relevance to treat or reverse toxicities caused by nitazenes, a combination of UPS opioids (e.g., fentanyl and nitazene) and UPS opioids in combination with xylazine (e.g., fentanyl and xylazine)