Research

The NIAAA is the lead agency for U.S. research on the causes, consequences, prevention and treatment of alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related problems.

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Additional Resources

NIAAA Natural History Protocol

(protocol 14-AA-0181)

Drinkers and nondrinkers are needed to participate in the NIH Alcohol Research Program.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center are seeking healthy volunteers, 18 and older to join our Alcohol Research Program. This program studies the genetic and environmental factors that affect drinking behavior and how alcohol affects the body. Compensation is provided for participation. 

Study procedures may include:

  • A physical exam
  • Blood draws
  • Filling out questionnaires
  • Brain imaging scans (MRI)

You may be eligibile if you:

  • Are 18 and older and not pregnant
  • Consider yourself to be healthy
  • Drink a little, a lot, socially, or binge drink OR you do not drink at all

Location:

The NIH Clinical Center, America’s research hospital, is located on the Metro red line (Medical Center stop) in Bethesda, Maryland. 

For more information contact:

301-496-5055 or 301-451-6964 

alcoholtreatmentstudies@mail.nih.gov

A Study Drug’s Effects on Brain Receptors and Alcohol Self-Administration

(protocol 16-AA-0037)

This research study will evaluate the effects of a study drug on brain receptors and alcohol self-administration among heavy drinkers.

Research participation includes 4 outpatient visits consisting of alcohol self-administration, brain scans (MRI), blood draws, and filling out questionnaires. Participation includes taking one dose of Nalmefene, the study drug that might reduce drinking, during one visit and a placebo (an inactive pill) during another visit.

The study is enrolling 21-60 year-old male and female heavy drinkers (more than 20 drinks/week for males and more than 15 drinks/week for females). You may be eligible if you have no current psychiatric disorders and are free of certain medical conditions. You may not be eligible if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have current drug abuse, are currently seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems, or take any medications that would interfere with the study or make it unsafe for you.

Free transportation is provided to and from the study site at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The testing sessions may take up to 9 hours. There is no cost to participate and compensation up to $1000 may be provided.

For more details, call (301) 827-0905 or email: NIAAASHPResearch@mail.nih.gov

Developing a Human Laboratory Model for Alcohol Self-Administration

(protocol 08-AA-0178)

This research study seeks to develop a human laboratory model for studying alcohol dependence and treatment by using a procedure for self-administering alcohol intravenously (through a vein).

Research participation includes 4-5 outpatient visits consisting of alcohol self-administration, bloods draws, filling out questionnaires, and structured interviews.

The study is enrolling 21-60 year-old male and female social drinkers, binge drinkers. and heavy drinkers. You may be eligible if you have no psychiatric disorders and are free of certain medical conditions. You may not be eligible if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a history of drug and alcohol abuse, regularly use tobacco, or take any medications that would interfere with the study or make it unsafe for you. Free transportation is provided to and from the study site at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Study visits may take up to 10 hours. There is no cost to participate and compensation up to $1000 may be provided.

View a video here.

For more details, call (301) 451-0308 or email: NIAAASHPResearch@mail.nih.gov

Nicotinic Receptor Genetic Variation and Alcohol Reward

(protocol 17-AA-0171)

The purpose of this research study is to see if people who smoke and have different forms of a nicotine receptor gene called CHRNA5 will take alcohol in the laboratory in different ways, and to see if these people have different brain responses to alcohol cues.

Research participation includes 3 outpatient visits consisting of alcohol self-administration, brain scans (MRI), blood draws, and filling out questionnaires, and structured interviews.
The study is enrolling 21-60 years old male and female light drinkers. You may be eligible if you have no current psychiatric disorders and are free of certain medical conditions. You may not be eligible if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have current drug abuse, are currently seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems, or take any medications that would interfere with the study or make it unsafe for you.

Free transportation is provided to and from the study site at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The testing sessions may take up to 9 hours. There is no cost to participate and compensation up to $600 may be provided.

For more details, call 301.827.0905 or email: NIAAASHPResearch@mail.nih.gov 

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03294460
Protocol Number: 17-AA-0171
Principal Investigator: Vijay Ramchandani 

Alirocumab in Non-Treatment Seeking Heavy Drinkers

(protocol 000036-AA)

This research study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of the drug alirocumab on liver enzymes and liver damage in heavy drinkers.

Research participation includes 7 outpatient visits over 8 weeks. Most study visits consist of blood draws, clinical assessments, and administration of the drug (or placebo) and last approximately 2 hours. The first and last study visits include optional liver MRI, FibroScan, and doppler/ultrasound assessments and last about 4-5 hours.

The study is enrolling 21-65-year-old male and female heavy drinkers (more than 20 drinks/week). You may not be eligible if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, are currently seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems, or if you have certain serious medical conditions. 

The study is conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. There is no cost to participate and compensation up to $2640 may be provided.

To find out if you qualify, email NIAAACGETResearch@mail.nih.gov.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04781322
Protocol Number: 000036-AA
Principal Investigator: Falk Lohoff
 

Join a Research Study: Healthy Volunteers

Task Development

The purpose of this research study is to develop tasks to be used for functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) studies. These tasks are developed to investigate cognitive, motivational, and decision-making behaviors. The tasks will be tested in and out of the MRI scanner.

Research participation includes 1-3 outpatient study visits. Each visit will include a behavioral or fMRI session during which you will play a game. The number of study visits and the length of each visit depend on the task you complete.

Who can participate: Healthy, right-handed adults ages 18-60.

You may not be eligible if you are left-handed, pregnant, have certain metals in your body, have had serious head injuries, or have serious physical or neurological diseases.

The study is conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The study session(s) lasts 3-5 hours. Compensation is provided for participation.

First Steps to Join a Study: Learn study details, be pre-screened for eligibility, and consent to participate.

To find out if you qualify, email CNIRC_Research@mail.nih.gov

Protocol Number: 14-AA-0066
Principal Investigator: Reza Momenan

Join a Research Study: Light and Heavy Drinkers

Socioemotional Processing associated with Alcohol Use Disorder & Craving Control Using Neurofeedback

The purpose of this study is to learn more about how some people can control and train their brain activity when feeling the urge to drink, and how this affects treatment outcomes. 

Participants will have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) while looking at pictures of alcohol and responding. The study requires admission to the NIH Clinical Center Inpatient Alcohol Treatment Clinic for approximately 1 month. Compensation for your time and effort will be provided.

Who can participate: Healthy, right-handed adults ages 21-60 who drink daily or almost daily and healthy, right-handed adults ages 21-60 who drink once or twice a week.

You may not be eligible if you are pregnant, have metal in your body, have had serious head injuries, or have serious physical or neurological diseases.

The study is conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Compensation is provided for participation.

First Steps to Join a Study: Learn study details, be pre-screened for eligibility, and consent to participate.

To find out if you qualify, email CNIRC_Research@mail.nih.gov or call 1-301-451-6964.

Protocol Number: 18-AA-0098
Principal Investigator: Reza Momenan

Join a Research Study: Light and Heavy Drinkers

The Effect of Acute Alcohol Intoxication on Neural Processes during Decisions to Engage in HIV Risk Behaviors

The purpose of this study is to learn more about how drinking alcohol changes your decision making. 

Participants will be asked to consume drinks that might or might not have alcohol in them, then have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to look at brain activity while making choices related to risky sexual behavior. The study requires two visits to the NIH Clinical Center.

Who can participate: Healthy, right-handed adults ages 21-60 who drink daily or almost daily and healthy, right-handed adults ages 21-60 who drink once or twice a week.

You may not be eligible if you are pregnant, have metal in your body, have had serious head injuries, or have serious physical or neurological diseases.

The study is conducted at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Compensation is provided for participation.

First Steps to Join a Study: Learn study details, be pre-screened for eligibility, and consent to participate.

To find out if you qualify, email CNIRC_Research@mail.nih.gov or call 1-301-451-6964.

Protocol Number: 20-AA-0057
Principal Investigator: Reza Momenan

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)

(Protocol 17-AA-0114)

This research study seeks volunteers who are dependent on opioids like heroin, hydrocodone, fentanyl, methadone, or oxycodone and are receiving or not receiving treatment for their addiction. The purpose of this research study is to learn how opiate use disorder affects dopamine signaling in the brain.

Participants must be 18 - 65 years of age who are receiving or not receiving treatment for OUD. Participation includes one day for screening and up to three days for tests and procedures. Participants will have positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Participants will do tasks on a computer screen while inside the scanner and will have tests of memory, attention, and thinking. Participants will wear an activity monitor for one week. You may not be eligible if you are pregnant of breastfeeding, have a psychiatric illness or condition, such as major depression, addiction, PTSD or schizophrenia that required medication or hospitalization.

There is no cost for study-related tests and procedures.

For more details, call NIH Clinical Center Office of Patient Recruitment at 1-800-411-1222.

What is a clinical trial?

A clinical trial is a research study that uses human volunteers to answer specific health questions. Carefully conducted clinical trials offer an efficient and safe way to find treatments that work in people and improve health. There are two general types of clinical trials:

  • Interventional – These trials test whether experimental treatments or new ways of using known therapies are safe and effective in controlled environments.
  • Observational – These trials examine health issues in large groups of people or populations in natural settings.

At NIAAA, the Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research (DICBR) conducts clinical trials in the NIH Clinical Center. Through grants, NIAAA also funds clinical trials at institutions around the country.

We actively recruit volunteers to participate in NIAAA trials at the NIH Clinical Center. Participants in clinical trials benefit from:

  • Gaining access to new research treatments before they are widely available
  • Playing a more active role in their own health care
  • Helping others by contributing to medical research

Participants in NIAAA clinical studies also receive:

  • Standard treatment for alcoholism
  • Motivational and cognitive behavior therapies
  • Group and family counseling
  • Option to attend AA or other self-help groups

For additional help, or to find out if you are eligible for an active study, please call 301-496-5055 or 301-451-6964.

Federal Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339 (for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing)

Sources:

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/about-studies/learn

https://clinicalstudies.info.nih.gov/cgi/protinstitute.cgi?NIAAA.0.html

niaaa.nih.gov

An official website of the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

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