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-23-001, “Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50, Clinical Trial Optional)”,  by publishing a NOFO to solicit applications for 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. 

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

The NOFO is expected to be published in Spring 2024 with an expected application due date in Fall 2024.

This NOFO will utilize the P50 activity code. Details of the planned NOFO are provided below.

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise and insights into the area of alcohol research to begin to consider applying for this NOFO.

The overarching goal of this forthcoming NIAAA-supported Request for Application (RFA) is to support 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.

This NOFO will use 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. Specialized 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, including those from underrepresented groups, 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, including those from underrepresented groups, attract new scientific perspectives and research sites to the center, and expand research into areas addressing novel research hypotheses relevant to health disparities associated with AUD (e.g., social determinants of health, 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.

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 the sharing of resources or expertise warrant collaboration with investigators from other centers or  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.

Applications Not Responsive to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

The following type of studies are not responsive to this NOFO and will not be reviewed:

• P50 Applications that include one or more components (core, research project, pilot project) focusing on HIV/AIDS-related topics..

Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP)

• This NOFO requires a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP) as described in NOT-MH-21-310, submitted as Other Project Information as an attachment (see Section IV).
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the NOFO instructions carefully and view the available PEDP guidance material. The PEDP 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.

Before preparing an application, prospective applicants are encouraged to read the NIAAA Strategic Plan and reach out to the scientific contacts listed in this NOFO

Funding Information

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

Applications are not being solicited at this time. 

Inquiries

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