Budget Information:

Funding:

Strategy

After receiving a budget allocation under the NIH Fiscal Operations Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 that implements the H.R. 2882 – Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, signed by the President on March 23rd, 2024, the NIH and NIAAA established the financial management plans. The FY 2024 appropriation for NIAAA provides $595.3 million. This represents a flat appropriation over the FY 2023 budget level. The NIAAA appropriation includes a $6.7 million set aside for the brain initiative.

Many factors are considered in the selection of applications for award. These include: Integrated Review Group (IRG) percentile or priority scores, new (Type 1) or competing renewal (Type 2) status, proposed research in a special emphasis area, designation by NIAAA Advisory Council as projects having high program priority, uniqueness and the potential for high research payoff, and the need for bridge (interim) support pending review of amended renewal applications.

Unforeseen factors occurring throughout the fiscal year can affect the operating policies. Thus, policies are subject to change. For the most current information, it is always best to check with an appropriate Institute official.

Guidelines
These guidelines reflect NIAAA funding policy under the NIH Fiscal Operations for FY 2024:
Competing Research Project Grants (RPGs) - Awards made for new and competing continuation grant applications will follow the guidelines below:

• P01/R01/U01, Research Centers, U10, and R24/R25/R28/U24 grants/cooperative agreements will be reduced to achieve an aggregate reduction equal to 10 percent of the total costs of the project. Large projects with direct costs close to or exceeding $500,000 may require greater reductions, which will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
   
• R21/R34/U34 grants will be reduced by ¼ module if direct costs are at or above $100,000.
   
• New Investigators he NIAAA is committed to helping first-time R01 awardees. Applicants eligible for consideration as first-time R01 investigators in FY 2024 will be paid using an extended percentile payline.  Applications beyond the extended payline may also be considered for funding as exceptions. New Investigators just beyond the extended payline are invited to submit a letter to respond to the summary statement critique. These responses are reviewed by Program Staff, and when deemed appropriate, the application may be recommended to Institute leadership for award. Also, when making decisions on applications of high program priority, new investigator status is one of the criteria considered for funding beyond the formal payline,

NIAAA will follow the NIH Policy and work towards supporting new investigators on R01 equivalent awards at success rates equivalent to that of established investigators submitting new R01 equivalent applications. 
Non-Competing Continuation (Type 5) Awards - Noncompeting awards will be issued at full commitment (100%) of the FY 2024 commitment level (including RPGs, SBIRs/STTRs, Centers, and Other Research Grants). 
Ruth L. Kirschstein-National Research Service Award (NRSA) - All training grants will be funded at an average stipend change of a 3.8% increase over the FY 2023 stipend level.  
Future Year Commitments on FY 2024 New and Competing Renewal Awards - NIAAA will issue future year commitments with no inflationary adjustments except for special needs such as equipment and added personnel.
Salary Limits:  Section 203 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act prohibits payments for salaries under grants and other extramural mechanisms to rates in excess of Executive Level II.  Current salary cap levels can be found at the following URL:  https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/salcap_summary.htm. 
Duration of Grants - The NIH requires the average length of award for Research Project Grants to be 4 years. The NIAAA does not expect to have to adjust the length of awards to meet this goal.