Pilot Project Summary The University of Washington Center of Excellence in Opioid Addiction Research would continue a Pilot Project Core designed to support two new projects per year. Proposed pilot projects will be solicited annually from the 27 NIDA P30 Participants. Proposals would follow the R21 format: with an Abstract, 1-page of Specific Aims, and a 6-page Research Plan. To avoid conflicts of interest, Pilot Proposals would be reviewed and ranked by the External Advisors based on a simple set of criteria: Priority will be given to proposals that 1) address an aspect of opioid use disorder, 2) support trainees or early-stage investigators, 3) utilize the Imaging and Neural Circuits Core and Molecular Genetics Research Core resources, and 4) emphasize innovation/high risk. The specific deliverables expected (e.g., figures for research publications and new grant submissions) are expected to be described in the applications. Proposals that supplement existing funding would be excluded. The Applicants with the top two scores will be expected to revise their proposals based on the External Advisors’ reviews prior to funding. IACUC approvals and adherence to all NIH rules will be required prior to starting. Compliance would be ensured by the PI/PD. Progress will be monitored by the PI/PD to ensure that the Investigators receive the training and equipment access required to complete their projects; training and access will be coordinated with the help of the INCC and MGRC Core Managers (Drs. Zhou and Schattauer). Pilot Project Investigators will present their progress at the weekly Research Seminar series. A written progress report will be required at the end of the term that will be included in the P30 non-competing renewal annually submitted to the NIDA Program Office. We expect that some of the pilot project proposals will come from trainees supported by our NIDA-T32 DA007278 and individual NRSA awards. Providing research support to fellows already having stipend support from the T32 or an individual NRSA award will leverage the Pilot Project funds and strengthen our training program. This Pilot Project program has been very successful in its first 3 years of support. Supported studies have generated multiple manuscripts and new grant proposals. The two Pilots in the current YR04 budget commenced May 2022 and have not yet presented their 6-mon report but seem to be advancing well.