The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) intends to promote a new initiative by publishing a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for research on human studies that will advance operations or implementation research in the context of alcohol and HIV/AIDS by facilitating the development of: (1) broader systems approaches for monitoring complex HIV and alcohol-related morbidity and mortality, and (2) interventions to reduce the impact of alcohol on HIV disease progression and transmission. Research funded under the FOA should serve as the foundation for a next generation of intervention studies to address alcohol use from transmission to treatment of HIV. Intervention studies should inform implementation efforts to improve provision of alcohol-related interventions and treatments for people living with HIV (PLWH) in healthcare and community settings. This proposed research initiative is aligned with the research priorities set forth in the NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research FY2021-2025 (Comorbidities, Coinfections, and Complications). Research funded by this FOA can, but does not have to, facilitate progress toward National HIV/AIDS Strategy for Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In addition,, a recent workshop more fully discusses the Office of AIDS Research priority for HIV-Associated Comorbidities, Coinfections, and Coinfections (NIH Workshop on HIV-Associated ComorbidiTies, co-Infections and cOmplicatioNs - HIV ACTION Workshop, September 19-20, 2019, Bethesda, MD)

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects.

The FOA is expected to be published in Spring 2020 with an expected application due date in Fall 2020.

This FOA will utilize the P01 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Ressearch Initiative Details

Harmful alcohol use is common among people living with HIV (PLWH). Patterns of alcohol use impact transmission of HIV, engagement and retention in care, and susceptibility to coinfections (e.g., COVID-19, hepatitis C and tuberculosis). HIV can now be treated effectively with multiple antiretroviral medications, which suppress viral replication and result in a longer life. Even after establishing viral control, alcohol use remains a complicating factor with clinical manifestations such as continuing systemic inflammation. Research on patterns of alcohol use is needed to understand how and at what levels alcohol consumption complicates HIV treatment. In addition, more studies are necessary to: (1) elucidate the mechanisms by which alcohol use impacts comorbidities, (2) determine whether decreasing alcohol use improves HIV-relevant outcomes, (3) examine whether state-of-the-art medications used to treat Alcohol Use Disorders and common comorbidities or coinfections are safe for PLWH who drink alcohol, and 4) implement interventions in diverse geographically distributed vulnerable populations. Support for studies using both validated biological measurements and self-reports of alcohol use would promote the identification of subgroup variation and ensure better understanding of the risks to particularly vulnerable populations.

Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education
Private Institution of Higher Education
Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
Small Business
For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business)
State Government
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)
County governments
Independent school districts
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization (Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
U.S. Territory or Possession
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized)
Regional Organization
Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government