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National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

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 to develop a broad-based Comprehensive Alcohol Research Center program to foster and conduct interdisciplinary, collaborative research on alcoholism, alcohol use disorder and the impact of alcohol on health and disease.

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 2021 with an expected application due date in Fall 2021.

This FOA will utilize the P60 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise and insights into this area of Alcohol Research to begin to consider applying for this new FOA.

The overarching goal of the forthcoming National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) FOA is to support a broad-based Alcohol Research Centers program to foster and conduct interdisciplinary, collaborative research on alcohol use disorder and the impact of alcohol on health and disease. The NIAAA Centers Program provides leadership in research, research methodology development and information dissemination on a wide variety of topics relevant to the Institute’s mission. These topics include, but are not limited to, investigations into the nature, etiology, genetics, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of alcohol use disorder, alcohol-related end organ diseases and their biomedical, psychosocial, and economic consequences across the lifespan. Where applicable and of significant health concern, comorbidity can be included. Centers are also major contributors to the development of new research methods, technologies, and approaches that sustain innovative goal-directed research.

This FOA uses the NIH Comprehensive Research Center (P60) mechanism to support an integrated, broad-based multidisciplinary, multi-investigator, long-term program of research and research support activities planned around a specific major research theme. In addition, a Comprehensive Alcohol Research Center (P60) is required to develop an effective information dissemination component to help accelerate the use of research findings for the benefit of public health (Dissemination Core). Outreach activities could be pursued in collaboration with other Centers, thereby optimizing the impact. Comprehensive Alcohol Research Centers are also expected to function as a regional and national resource in their particular area of expertise; to facilitate research training; to develop research collaborations with outside investigators; and to provide a means to develop new ideas and encourage new investigators via pilot projects. The Alcohol Research Centers program is interrelated with, and complementary to, all other research support mechanisms and scientific activities that comprise NIAAA programs. Center grants help to provide a stable environment for investigators to engage in alcohol research in a coordinated, integrated and synergistic effort.

Research shows that diverse teams working together outperform homogenous teams. Scientists and trainees from diverse backgrounds and with different life experiences bring different perspectives, creativity, and individual enterprise to address complex scientific problems. Diverse teams of scientists will lead the way to develop more innovative inclusive research that will more broadly enhance public health. Fostering diversity by addressing underrepresentation in the scientific research workforce is a key component of the NIH strategy to identify, develop, support, and maintain the quality of our scientific workforce. It is expected that the Alcohol Research Centers will include a diverse group of scientists, including individuals from underrepresented backgrounds (such as racial, ethnic and gender minorities, persons with disabilities, or persons from disadvantaged backgrounds), women, and early-stage investigators. These individuals are expected to serve as key contributors to the biomedical research along with investigators who have a strong track record of funding. In addition, research teams should include investigators from various disciplines/departments and specialties. NOT OD 20-031 (Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity).

The Comprehensive Alcohol Research Centers (P60) are expected to have a Dissemination Core component to support the distribution of scientific knowledge through educational efforts, as detailed below.

• the public, patient populations, students, professionals and paraprofessionals;
• educational institutions, the media and other appropriate organizations/groups;
• educational programs for specific audiences, e.g., children, women, elderly etc.;
• dissemination of scientific knowledge for the purpose of expanding the capacity of other institutions, including institutions from scientifically underserved communities, in developing alcohol research programs.

The Alcohol Research Center grant provides a mechanism for fostering interdisciplinary cooperation within a group of established investigators conducting exceptional alcohol research. Therefore, existence of a strong research capability is fundamental to the establishment of a new Center or the continuation of an existing Center. A Center should be an identifiable organizational unit within an institutional or organizational structure such as a university, medical center, or a consortium of affiliated cooperating institutions. In addition to providing support for shared resources, this type of Center can support a full range of basic, developmental, clinical, and/or applied research components; allow for growth and development through pilot projects; and is intended to provide state-of-the-art leadership in the alcohol field. Unique scientific opportunities such as sharing of resources or expertise may warrant collaboration with investigators from other centers or from other institutions, domestic or foreign. The director of a component who proposes a collaborative activity with a foreign organization should be affiliated with a domestic institution.

For more information on NIAAA topics of interest, please see the NIAAA Strategic Plan.

Comprehensive Alcohol Research Center (P60) grant applications that include one or more components focusing on HIV/AIDS-related research studies will not be considered responsive to the future RFA.

Applications are not being solicited at this time. 

Please direct all inquiries to:

Abraham P. Bautista, Ph.D.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

301-443-9737

bautista@mail.nih.gov