Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AA 15 003
Apply for RFA AA 15 003
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Partnership on Alcohol and Health Disparity Research Center (ADHRC) (U54)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273 Alcohol Research Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 8, 2014 and posted on Aug 8, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 18, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,100,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Independent school districts County governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) State governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Collaborative Partnership on Alcohol and Health Disparity Research Center (ADHRC) (U54) funding opportunity (RFA-AA-15-003) is a National Institutes of Health initiative, administered through the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), aimed at reducing alcohol-related health disparities by building durable, research-focused partnerships. The core idea is to pair Institutions that serve Underserved Communities and Populations (IUCP) with Alcohol Research Centers (ARC), meaning institutions that already have extensive alcohol research programs, including NIAAA-funded alcohol research centers and consortia. Through this cooperative agreement mechanism (U54), the government is not just providing money for standalone projects; it is encouraging structured, collaborative centers where partners jointly plan and carry out targeted research that responds to the needs and realities of underserved populations.
The FOA is specifically designed to advance two connected goals. First, it seeks to generate focused research that can measurably reduce alcohol-related health disparities in populations that experience disproportionate burdens of alcohol misuse, alcohol use disorder, and alcohol-associated health outcomes. The announcement highlights groups such as African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders as examples of populations of interest. Second, it aims to strengthen alcohol research expertise and infrastructure at IUCP institutions, which often have deep community ties and cultural knowledge but may have fewer research resources than large, established alcohol research centers. In practice, that means the partnership should not only produce publishable science, but also leave the IUCP with increased capacity to conduct alcohol research over the long term, including the kinds of systems, training, mentorship, and collaborative networks needed to compete and thrive beyond a single funding cycle.
A notable emphasis is placed on Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). The FOA explicitly encourages these institutions to apply because they have a track record of educating and training professionals from diverse backgrounds who go on to serve minority and underserved communities. The announcement frames MSIs as uniquely positioned to do two important things at once: engage communities in research in ways that are culturally grounded and respectful, and help translate research findings into real-world improvements that are culturally appropriate, measurable, and sustained. In other words, the program is not only about studying disparities; it is also about creating a research-to-impact pipeline that is credible within communities and capable of changing health outcomes over time.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity falls under the Health funding activity category and uses the cooperative agreement instrument, which typically implies a more active role for the funding agency than a standard grant. The CFDA number listed is 93.273 (Alcohol Research Programs). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the barrier for institutions that may have limited discretionary funds. The estimated total funding amount listed is $2,100,000, reflecting the program budget available under this announcement rather than a guaranteed amount per award for any one applicant.
Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, spanning many types of organizations that might be positioned to serve underserved populations or contribute specialized research strength. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities), small businesses, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district), as well as public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Tribal eligibility is also emphasized, including federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations. The announcement further clarifies that additional eligible applicants include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations and even eligible federal agencies. At the same time, the FOA draws a clear boundary around foreign participation: non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by NIH policy are not allowed.
Timing details place the opportunity in 2014, with a posted and creation date of August 8, 2014, and an application closing date of December 18, 2014 (with the same date listed as both original and current closing date). The archive date is January 18, 2015, indicating that this specific announcement is no longer open, though it may still be useful as a reference point for similar NIAAA center and partnership initiatives that come later.
Overall, the ADHRC (U54) opportunity is best understood as an NIH/NIAAA effort to combine the community reach and cultural competence of institutions serving underserved populations with the methodological depth and established infrastructure of major alcohol research centers. The intended result is a collaborative, center-like program that can both produce high-quality, targeted disparity research and build lasting capacity at IUCP sites, improving the odds that research findings translate into meaningful, sustained reductions in alcohol-related health disparities. For applicants, the competitive strength of a proposal would likely rest on how well the partnership is structured, how directly the research agenda addresses disparity drivers in specific populations, and how convincingly the plan builds research capability and community-engaged pathways to real health impact.
FAQs: Collaborative Partnership on Alcohol and Health Disparity Research Center (ADHRC) (U54) - RFA-AA-15-003
What is the ADHRC (U54) funding opportunity (RFA-AA-15-003)?
The Collaborative Partnership on Alcohol and Health Disparity Research Center (ADHRC) (U54) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiative administered by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). It is designed to reduce alcohol-related health disparities by creating durable, research-focused partnerships structured as collaborative centers rather than standalone, unrelated projects.
Which NIH institute administers this opportunity?
This funding opportunity is administered through NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) under NIH.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is intended to reduce alcohol-related health disparities by combining (1) focused research that addresses disproportionate alcohol-related burdens in underserved populations and (2) long-term capacity-building at institutions that serve underserved communities and populations.
What does ADHRC stand for?
ADHRC stands for the Collaborative Partnership on Alcohol and Health Disparity Research Center.
What does the U54 mechanism mean in this announcement?
U54 is a cooperative agreement mechanism. In this structure, the funding agency typically has a more active role than it would under a standard grant. The intent here is to support structured, collaborative, center-like partnerships that jointly plan and carry out targeted research.
Is this a project grant or a center-based partnership model?
It is a center-like partnership model. The announcement emphasizes structured collaborative centers where partners jointly develop and implement a targeted research agenda that responds to the needs and realities of underserved populations.
What kinds of partnerships does the FOA encourage?
The FOA encourages partnerships that pair Institutions that serve Underserved Communities and Populations (IUCP) with Alcohol Research Centers (ARC). ARCs are institutions with extensive alcohol research programs, including NIAAA-funded alcohol research centers and consortia.
What is an IUCP in the context of this opportunity?
An IUCP is an Institution that serves Underserved Communities and Populations. These institutions often have deep community ties and cultural knowledge, and the FOA aims to strengthen their alcohol research expertise and infrastructure.
What is an ARC in the context of this opportunity?
An ARC is an Alcohol Research Center, meaning an institution with extensive alcohol research programs, including NIAAA-funded alcohol research centers and consortia. In this FOA, ARCs are expected to partner with IUCP institutions to support collaborative research and capacity-building.
What are the two major goals of the FOA?
The FOA highlights two connected goals: (1) generate focused research intended to measurably reduce alcohol-related health disparities in disproportionately affected populations, and (2) strengthen alcohol research expertise and infrastructure at IUCP institutions to support long-term research capacity beyond a single funding cycle.
Which populations are specifically mentioned as examples of populations of interest?
The announcement provides examples including African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
Why does the FOA emphasize Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs)?
The FOA explicitly encourages MSIs to apply because they commonly educate and train professionals from diverse backgrounds who serve minority and underserved communities. The FOA also frames MSIs as well-positioned to conduct culturally grounded community-engaged research and to help translate findings into culturally appropriate, measurable, and sustained real-world improvements.
Is the program only about studying disparities, or does it also focus on impact?
It addresses both. The FOA description emphasizes a research-to-impact pipeline that is credible within communities and capable of producing sustained improvements in health outcomes over time.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is Health.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 93.273, described as Alcohol Research Programs.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
How much funding is available under this announcement?
The estimated total funding amount listed is $2,100,000. This reflects the program budget available under the announcement rather than a guaranteed amount per award.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities); small businesses; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; state governments; county governments; city or township governments; special district governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments; and tribal organizations.
Are Minority Serving Institutions specifically listed as eligible applicants?
Yes. The announcement lists eligibility that includes Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The announcement notes that faith-based or community-based organizations are included among eligible applicants.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The announcement indicates that eligible federal agencies are included among eligible applicants.
Are foreign organizations allowed to apply?
No. The announcement states that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization apply if it has non-U.S. components?
No. The announcement states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The posted and creation date is August 8, 2014. The application closing date is December 18, 2014 (listed as both the original and current closing date). The archive date is January 18, 2015.
Is this funding opportunity still open?
No. The archive date (January 18, 2015) indicates this specific announcement is no longer open.
What is the overall strategy behind pairing IUCP institutions with ARCs?
The strategy is to combine the community reach, cultural competence, and local trust often found at IUCP institutions with the methodological depth, established infrastructure, and extensive alcohol research experience of ARCs. The intended outcome is strong, targeted disparity research plus lasting increases in research capacity at IUCP partner sites.
Beyond publications, what long-term outcomes does the FOA emphasize?
The description emphasizes leaving IUCP institutions with stronger long-term capacity to conduct alcohol research, including systems, training, mentorship, and collaborative networks that support continued competitiveness beyond a single funding cycle.
What factors are implied to strengthen an application under this FOA?
Based on the description provided, competitiveness would likely depend on how well the partnership is structured, how directly the research agenda addresses drivers of disparities in specific populations, and how convincingly the proposal builds durable research capability and community-engaged pathways to measurable health impact.
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