NIAAA Concept Clearance
A concept describes the basic purpose, scope, and objectives of a potential solicitation of grants or contracts. Most frequently, the concept will be developed into a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) or Request for Proposals (RFP) — initiatives to stimulate research in a well-defined scientific area in order to accomplish specific program objectives. A concept clearance is the process by which NIAAA receives public feedback on the merits of the potential solicitation.
Concepts that are cleared through the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism are posted on the NIAAA website to alert researchers to NIAAA interests and potential funding opportunities; however, budget constraints may prevent an approved concept from becoming an actual NOFO or RFP.
The National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism conducts most, but not all, NIAAA concept clearances. Concepts may also be cleared through other public venues.
This listing of potential future initiatives is meant to provide the earliest possible alert to potential applicants to maximize application preparation time in the event that the concept moves forward as a NOFO or RFP. The titles and brief descriptions are consistent with the information available at the time of concept clearance. The actual solicitation may differ in title, wording, or other aspects from the original concept.
Please send questions regarding specific concepts to the program contacts listed in the concept description. Some details about cleared concepts, like receipt dates, become available only upon the concept being issued as a NOFO or RFP.
Approved Concepts
Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA)
February 08, 2024
The purpose of the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) is to advance knowledge about the complex influences of gene and environment on development and progression of alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Comprehensive Alcohol-HIV/AIDS Research Center (P60 Clinical Trial Optional) Re-issue
September 07, 2023
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 the effects of varied patterns of alcohol use and associated alcohol use disorders and the broad impact of alcohol on health and disease at the individual, group, and societal levels. This NOFO uses the NIH Comprehensive Research Center (P60) mechanism to support research center grants to conduct a range of basic and behavioral cross-cutting, intervention, and translational research in alcohol and HIV/AIDS.
Sleep Dysfunction as a Core Feature and Intervention Target in Alcohol-induced Hyperkatifeia
September 07, 2023
The concept aims to explore the influence of sleep disturbance on hyperkatifeia during alcohol withdrawal. It seeks to gain a comprehensive understanding of hyperkatifeia’s features and its connection with sleep disruptions, while also developing focused interventions to alleviate symptoms, enhance emotional regulation, and improve the well-being of individuals experiencing hyperkatifeia.
Data Science Tools for Alcohol Research
September 07, 2023
The goal is to promote data science concepts and tools in alcohol research, integrating data across disciplines and clinical and basic sciences realms.
NIH HEAL Initiative Concept: Developing an Evidence Base for OUD-AUD Interventions
May 09, 2023
At least 30% of people with OUD also have AUD. Research projects dedicated to OUD treatment and prevention do not exclude subjects who drink, but seldom explicitly recruit subjects with AUD. Reciprocal relationships between opioid use and alcohol use sometimes seen in treatment contexts such that reduced opioid misuse and opioid agonist therapy tapering may result in increased drinking. Increased drinking may reflect other conditions associated with heightened opioid relapse and overdose risk.
Alcohol Epidemiologic Data System (AEDS) Re-competition
May 09, 2023
The Alcohol Epidemiologic Data System (AEDS) is a contract-funded effort in support of the NIAAA mission to provide in-house statistical analysis and programming support for use by NIAAA staff who are conducting alcohol-related epidemiologic research. The current AEDS contract is administered by CSR, Inc. and provides NIAAA staff technical support including expert statistical analysis and statistical programming to facilitate publication by NIAAA staff of secondary analyses of epidemiologic surveys and other data reports and scientific journals.
Alcohol-associated Hepatitis (AlcHepNet) Research Programs
February 09, 2023
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) seeks to continue the Alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH) research program, a multi-center translational and clinical network (AlcHepNet), established in 2012 with renewal in 2018. The goal of AlcHepNet is to accelerate the discovery and validation of new diagnostic and treatment options for patients with severe AH.
Model Continuums of Care Initiative (MCCI) to Advance Health Equity Among Women and Girls in Racial/Ethnic Minority and Other Marginalized Communities
September 08, 2022
The Model Continuums of Care Initiative will apply the latest implementation and dissemination science approaches to significantly reduce the prevalence and impact of multimorbidity among historically marginalized women of reproductive age at risk and living with mental health disorders, substance use disorders, cardiopulmonary diseases, and common metabolic disorders (e.g., diabetes).
Cross-Cutting Translational Research on the interaction of HIV and Alcohol
September 08, 2022
The purpose of this research initiative is to encourage mechanistic studies that explore alcohol’s effects on the gut-liver-brain interactions and their pathological consequences among HIV/AIDS patients that can be translated into interventions (e.g., pharmacological and behavioral).
Alcohol and Other Substance Use Research Education Programs for Health Professionals (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
September 08, 2022
The over-arching goal of this NIAAA/NIDA R25 program is to support educational activities that foster a better understanding of biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research on alcohol and other substance use disorders and their implications.
Advancing mHealth Interventions for Understanding and Preventing Alcohol-Related Domestic Violence
May 10, 2022
In light of the documented increases in both alcohol misuse (among some individuals) and domestic violence (DV) as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic and array of mandated restrictions enacted to mitigate COVID spread, the purpose of this grant application solicitation is to announce NIAAA’s interest in addressing alcohol and DV.
HIV and Alcohol: Ending the Epidemic (EHE)
February 10, 2022
Complex alcohol-related interconnected problems in living continue to impede this ambitious goal to End the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE). Improved alcohol-focused assessment, a further understanding of impaired decision making, distribution of alcohol-related services and the implementation of effective HIV and alcohol-focused interventions at multiple levels can facilitate the achievement of EHE goals to substantially reduce new HIV infections.
Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling and Early-Stage Development of Medications to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol-Associated Organ Damage (AAOD)
September 09, 2021
DTR intends to re-issue PAR 18-578 “Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling and Early-Stage Development of Medications to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol-Related Organ Damage (U44)”.
Epidemiology and Prevention of Alcohol Misuse in Understudied Young Adult Populations; Military, Workforce, and Community College
September 09, 2021
The purpose of this future grant application solicitation is to balance the NIAAA research portfolio by supporting research on alcohol misuse among persons aged 18 to 29 who are not enrolled in four-year colleges or universities.
Alcohol Consumption During the Pandemic: Extending Longitudinal Survey and Analysis
September 09, 2021
Changes in the epidemiology of alcohol consumption have been documented during the COVID-19 pandemic, including increases in total consumption and risky consumption behaviors, both in the overall population and, to a greater degree, among some vulnerable populations. To meet this mission, NIAAA requires additional data on changes in consumption and related behaviors as the pandemic continues to evolve, and analysis to understand potentially manipulable factors that may be available to prevent or reduce health risks associated with alcohol misuse.
A Wearable Alcohol Biosensor
May 11, 2021
The purpose of this announcement is to renew the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s initiative on the development of a wearable alcohol biosensor.
Brain Tissue Resource Center for Alcohol Research (R28, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
May 11, 2021
The objective of this NOFO is to support a unique alcohol research resource center that can provide well-characterized brain tissues obtained from subjects documented not to have misused other drugs (besides nicotine).
HIV Prevention and Alcohol
May 11, 2021
This NIAAA-led NOFO calls for research proposals supported by the research grant mechanisms R01 and associated announcement R34 for intervention development. The NOFO seeks to expand the HIV/AIDS prevention toolkit among alcohol impacted populations with a range of patterns of episodic and long-term use and associated behavioral and biological risks for HIV acquisition.
Kaiser Permanente Northern California Alcohol Registry
May 11, 2021
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) requests approval from the NIAAA Advisory Council to allow Kaiser Permanente of Northern California (KPNC) to submit a contract proposal in response to a sole-source request for proposal.
The National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA)
February 04, 2021
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) seeks to continue the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence (NCANDA), a nation-wide consortium of five research project sites to study the impact of alcohol drinking on brain structure and function during adolescence and into early adulthood.
Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD)
February 04, 2021
The purpose of the proposed NOFOs is to solicit applications to continue the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) consortium.
Public Policy Effects on Alcohol-, Cannabis-, Tobacco-, and Other Drug-Related Behaviors and Outcomes
February 04, 2021
The purpose of this announcement is to replace a series of recently expired NIAAA-issued Program Announcements (PA-17-132, PA-17-134, PA-17-135) to communicate support for research topics of interest to the Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and other participating ICs.
Mechanisms of Alcohol-associated Cancers (Clinical Trial Not Allowed, R01, R21)
September 10, 2020
This notice highlights interest in receiving investigator-initiated grant applications investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which alcohol increases cancer risk.
RFA on Health Services with An Emphasis on Health Disparities
September 10, 2020
The Division of Treatment and Recovery Research (DTRR) seeks to expand the Division’s portfolio to advance five main areas in health services research
NIAAA DTRR NOSI Concept Clearance
September 10, 2020
The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to advance research on various topics that fall within NIAAA’s Division of Treatment and Recovery Research (DTRR).
Alcohol and Aging Concept Clearance (2020 NOSI)
May 12, 2020
The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to promote research to improve our understanding of the effects of alcohol consumption on aging across different levels of biological organization including the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, organism, and societal levels.
Alcohol Research Awards (Clinical Trial Not Allowed, R24)
May 12, 2020
The purpose of the Resource-Related Research Projects (R24, clinical trial not allowed) grant mechanism is to support investigator-initiated research resource projects that will provide resources to other investigators who conduct biomedical research appropriate to the mission of NIAAA.
Epidemiology and Prevention in Alcohol Research
May 12, 2020
The purpose of this announcement is to replace a series of recently expired Program Announcements in order to communicate the broad scope of research topics of interest to the Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD): Prevention and Intervention
May 12, 2020
The purpose of this concept is to support research that advances interventions for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and prevention approaches to reduce prenatal alcohol exposure and the incidence of FASD.
Secondary Analyses of Existing Alcohol Research Data
February 06, 2020
The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to solicit applications to support the secondary analyses of existing data sets with the goal of enhancing our understanding of the following: 1) the patterns and trajectories of alcohol consumption, and 2) the epidemiology and etiology, including genetics, of alcohol-related problems and disorders.
Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) Exploratory/Developmental Research Projects (Re-issue of RFA-AA-17-012)
February 06, 2020
The purpose of this NOFO, a reissue of RFA-AA-17-012, is to solicit exploratory/developmental projects focused on developing effective diagnosis/screening, interventions and treatment approaches for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD).
The Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism (INIA)
February 06, 2020
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) seeks to continue the Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism (INIA), a translational, multidisciplinary, collaborative research effort studying brain mechanisms of excessive alcohol drinking associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and the relationship between excessive drinking, stress, and anxiety.
Medications Development for the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol-Related Organ Damage
September 12, 2019
The purpose of this RFA is to support research that advances compounds towards FDA approval. NIAAA is seeking cooperative agreement applications (U01) for studies that move promising compounds through the drug development pipeline for the treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) or Alcohol-Related Organ Damage (AROD).
Alcohol and HIV/AIDS - Comorbidities, Coinfections, and Complications Research: Intervention and Cross-Cutting Foundational Research
September 12, 2019
Research funded under the NOFO should serve as the foundation for a next generation of intervention studies to address alcohol use from transmission to treatment of HIV. Intervention studies should inform implementation efforts to improve provision of alcohol-related interventions and treatments for people living with HIV (PLWH) in healthcare and community settings.