Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50 Clinical trial Optional)

Key Dates

None

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) intends to reissue RFA-AA-22-001, Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50, Clinical Trial Optional) for applications to develop a broad-based Alcohol Research Centers program to foster and conduct interdisciplinary, collaborative research on alcohol misuse and alcohol-related problems, including alcohol use disorder and other health consequences, across the lifespan.

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

The RFA is expected to be published in Spring 2023 with an expected application due date in Fall 2023.

This RFA will utilize the P50 activity code. Details of the planned RFA 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 RFA .

The overarching goal of the forthcoming National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) RFA is to support a broad-based Alcohol Research Centers program to foster and conduct interdisciplinary, collaborative research on alcohol misuse and alcohol-related problems, including alcohol use disorder and other health consequences, across the lifespan. The NIAAA Centers Program provides leadership in research, and research methodology development 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 disorders, alcohol-related end organ diseases and their biomedical, psychosocial, and economic consequences across the lifespan. Centers are also major contributors to the development of new research methods, technologies, and approaches that sustain innovative goal-directed research.

This RFA uses the NIH Specialized Research Center (P50) 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. Alcohol Research Centers are expected to become regional, and with time, a national resource in their particular area of expertise. In addition, P50 Centers are expected to facilitate research and to actively develop research collaborations with outside investigators. Moreover, Centers should 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. The Alcohol Research Centers are encouraged to include a diverse group of scientists, including individuals from underrepresented backgrounds as per NOT OD 20-031 (Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity).This RFA requires a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP), which will be assessed as part of the scientific and technical peer review evaluation, as well as considered among programmatic matters with respect to funding decisions (PEDP guidance material).

The Specialized Alcohol Research Center 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 supports a full range of basic, developmental, clinical, and/or applied research components; allows for growth and development through pilot projects; and is intended to provide state-of-the-art leadership in the alcohol field. Unique scientific opportunities including sharing of resources or expertise warrant collaboration with investigators from other centers or from other institutions domestic or foreign. The director of component(s) in which collaborative activity with a foreign organization is proposed should be affiliated with a domestic institution.

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

Specialized Alcohol Research Center (P50) grant applications that include one or more components focusing on HIV/AIDS-related research studies will not be considered responsive to the future RFA.

TBD

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

Applications are not being solicited at this time. 

Please direct all inquiries to:

Philippe Marmillot, Ph.D.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Telephone: 301-443-2861 (office)
Email: philippe.marmillot@nih.gov