Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50 Clinical trial Optional) | RFA AA 23 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AA 23 001

The Specialized Alcohol Research Centers funding opportunity (RFA-AA-23-001) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant run through the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) that supports the creation or continuation of specialized research centers using the P50 (Specialized Center) mechanism. The central aim of this program is to build strong, interdisciplinary teams that can provide leadership in alcohol research and drive collaborative, goal-directed projects that are bigger in scope and impact than a single investigator award would typically support. Clinical trials are optional under this announcement, meaning applicants may propose clinical trials if they fit the scientific plan, but they are not required to do so.

Scientifically, the Centers are expected to address topics that align with NIAAA's mission and cover a broad range of alcohol-related health issues. This includes research on alcohol use disorder (AUD) across the full pipeline: its nature and presentation, underlying causes (etiology), genetic contributions, improved diagnosis, treatment development and testing, and prevention strategies. The scope also explicitly includes alcohol-related end-organ diseases and the biomedical, psychosocial, and economic consequences of alcohol use. A notable emphasis is placed on studying these issues across the lifespan and across racial and ethnic groups, with attention to other health disparity populations. In practice, this encourages proposals that do not treat alcohol-related harm as a one-size-fits-all problem, but instead investigate how risk, outcomes, and effective interventions vary by age, background, and context.

Beyond producing research findings, these P50 Centers are also meant to function as regional or national resources. That resource role can include developing and disseminating new research methods, technologies, tools, and approaches that strengthen the field and help sustain innovative, coordinated research programs. In other words, NIAAA is not only looking for excellent individual studies, but also for Centers that can elevate capacity in alcohol research through shared infrastructure, cross-project integration, and methodological innovation that other researchers can build on.

Eligibility is broad and includes many common U.S. applicant types: state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; regional organizations; and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. However, "foreign components" may be allowed as defined under NIH policy, which typically means limited, well-justified elements of the work may occur outside the U.S. under an otherwise eligible U.S. applicant organization.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health area (CFDA 93.273). The opportunity was created on 2023-05-24 and had an original closing date of 2023-11-15. The listed award ceiling is $1,150,000, indicating the maximum anticipated support level under the announcement (applicants would still need to align budgets with NIH/NIAAA expectations and the scope of the proposed Center). The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided source data. Overall, the opportunity is designed for institutions capable of assembling integrated, multi-project center programs that can advance alcohol science while serving as hubs for collaboration, innovation, and field-building resources.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50 Clinical trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-05-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-11-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,150,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA AA 23 001

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