Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Comprehensive Alcohol Research Centers (P60 Clinical trial Optional)

Key Dates

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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 Request for Applications (RFA) 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 RFA is expected to be published in May 2023 with an expected application due date in Fall 2023.

The RFA will utilize the P60 activity code. Details of the planned NOFO are provided below.

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise and insights into this area of Alcohol Research to begin to consider working with their institutions to apply for this new RFA.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) supports a broad-based Alcohol Research Centers program to foster and conduct interdisciplinary, collaborative research on Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), alcohol misuse and alcohol related problems, and other health related 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. Topics include, but are not limited to, the nature, etiology, genetics, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of AUD, alcohol-related end organ diseases and their biomedical, psychosocial, and economic consequences across the lifespan and racial/ethnic groups and other health disparity populations. Centers are also major contributors to the development of research methods, technologies, and approaches that sustain innovative goal-directed research.

The RFA will use 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 a collaborative dissemination component to accelerate the use of research findings for the benefit of public health by various target audiences including diverse and historically underserved communities, and to foster community feedback and ensure participation (Dissemination Core). Outreach activities could be pursued in collaboration with other Centers and use emerging virtual platforms to broaden and diversify the participation of communities in the alcohol research enterprise. Comprehensive Alcohol Research Centers are also expected to function as a regional and national resource in their particular area of expertise; to provide students and early stage investigators opportunities to build research expertise; and to develop research collaborations with outside investigators. Centers have the option of proposing pilot projects to support early stage investigators, attract new scientific perspectives and research sites to the center and to expand research into areas addressing novel research hypotheses relevant to health disparities associated with AUD (e.g., social variables, trauma, adversity). 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.

Dissemination Core: Distribution of scientific knowledge through educational efforts is to be directed to one or more of the following:

• the public, patient populations, students, professionals and paraprofessionals, including outreach to underserved communities;
• educational institutions, the media and other appropriate organizations/groups;
• educational programs for specific audiences, including but not limited to children, women, elderly, and scientifically and medically underserved populations and communities;
• 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.
• dissemination of scientific knowledge for the purpose of reducing alcohol related health disparities among racial and ethnic minority and other health disparities populations.

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.

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 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 seek to recruit a diverse group of potential participants, including individuals from underrepresented groups as per NOT-OD-20-031 (Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity). In addition, research teams should include investigators from various disciplines/departments and specialties.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).

Before preparing an application, prospective applicants are encouraged to read 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. 

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