Notice to Clarify RFA-DA-12-003 (R01) and RFA-DA-12-004 (R21), The Placebo Effect: Mechanisms and Methodology

Notice Number: NOT-DA-11-018

Release Date: April 27, 2011

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)

The purpose of this Notice is to clarify the intention of RFA-DA-12-003 (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-12-003.html) and RFA-DA-12-004 (http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-DA-12-004.html) to ensure that applicants understand the goals of the FOA.

This initiative is concerned with understanding the placebo effect, its mechanisms and its measurement.  We are not interested in the measurement of placebo responding within the context of a randomized clinical trial that has as its primary goal the assessment of a therapeutic intervention.  That is, free standing clinical trials (of any type) will be considered not responsive and will not be reviewed. However, if the primary goal of an application is to determine the mechanism of the placebo response, and it is necessary to do this within the context of a randomized clinical trial design, this is acceptable.  In addition, we welcome secondary analyses that examine moderators and mediators of the placebo effect using anonymized datasets available to the research community.

All other aspects of the FOA remain unchanged.

Please direct all inquiries to:

Dr. Paul Schnur
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Telephone: 301- 435-1316
Email: [email protected]

Dr. John Glowa
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)
Telephone: 301-496-0527
Email: [email protected]

Dr. Joanne Fertig
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Telephone: 301-443-0635
Email: [email protected]