Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AA 09 005
Apply for RFA AA 09 005
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited CompetitionCollaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) (U10)" 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 Dec 18, 2008 and posted on Dec 18, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 23, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments Independent school districts Special district governments County governments Private institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Small businesses 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 State governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) For profit organizations other than small businesses.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions 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) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity, RFA AA 09 005, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement announcement from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) to continue and expand the long-running Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). It is a limited competition, meaning it is essentially reserved for investigators already supported under the existing COGA study, with the goal of sustaining a coordinated, multi-site research program focused on the genetic and biological foundations of alcohol dependence and related outcomes. The overall emphasis is on leveraging COGA's established cohorts, data, and infrastructure to push forward discovery of risk-related genetic variants and to connect those variants to real-world clinical and developmental patterns of alcohol use and dependence.
The scientific aims outlined in the announcement are broad but tightly centered on understanding why some people develop alcohol dependence and others do not. The funded project is expected to identify genetic variants that influence susceptibility to alcohol dependence in both adults and adolescents, which implies continued recruitment, assessment, or analysis across developmental stages rather than focusing solely on one age group. Beyond discovery, the FOA explicitly calls for work that determines the molecular and functional mechanisms of identified variants, signaling that the award is not meant to stop at statistical associations. Applicants are expected to bridge genetics with biology, for example by linking variants to gene expression, protein function, neural systems, or other mechanistic pathways that help explain how inherited differences translate into risk.
A major component of the continued COGA effort under this FOA is the investigation of interactions, specifically gene by gene and gene by environment interactions, that may contribute to alcoholism. This recognizes that alcohol dependence risk typically reflects combinations of genetic factors and environmental exposures rather than single-gene effects. In practice, that could include examining how genetic liability interacts with stress, trauma, peer and family influences, availability of alcohol, comorbid psychiatric conditions, or other social and developmental variables, as well as how different genetic loci may work together to shape vulnerability. The FOA also emphasizes the development and refinement of phenotypes to facilitate genetic analysis. That includes improving how alcoholism-related traits are defined and measured, potentially incorporating intermediate phenotypes, endophenotypes, neurobehavioral measures, clinical course features, or more nuanced diagnostic and symptom profiles that increase the power and interpretability of genetic studies.
Another required element is prospective research on COGA probands, which points to forward-looking, longitudinal follow-up rather than only retrospective analysis. Prospective studies typically strengthen causal inference and help clarify trajectories: how risk manifests over time, what early indicators predict later dependence, and which protective factors alter outcomes. This component reinforces the program's interest in developmental pathways, relapse and recovery patterns, and the temporal ordering of exposures, behaviors, and clinical events.
The mechanism is a U10 Cooperative Clinical Research Agreement, which means NIAAA is not just providing funds but is also expected to have substantial programmatic involvement in the conduct of the research, consistent with a cooperative agreement model. While the announcement text provided does not list specific cooperative terms, U-series awards generally involve close coordination with NIH program staff, shared governance expectations, and a higher level of NIH involvement than a standard R01 grant. The activity category is health, and the CFDA program listed is 93.273 (Alcohol Research Programs). Cost sharing or matching is not required.
In terms of funding, the FOA indicates up to 6.8 million dollars in total direct costs may be awarded, and NIAAA anticipates making a single award. The single-award structure aligns with the limited competition approach and the intent to maintain one integrated COGA program rather than funding multiple unrelated projects. The eligible applicant organizations list is broad (including state and local governments, public and private higher education institutions, nonprofits, small businesses, tribal governments and organizations, housing authorities, and certain federal entities), but the practical eligibility is constrained by the limited competition requirement: only investigators already supported under the existing COGA study are the intended applicants for this continuation. The announcement also notes that outside researchers who want to contribute should first coordinate with the appropriate COGA principal investigators so their proposed collaboration can be built into the single consolidated application.
The FOA allows multiple principal investigators (multiple PDs/PIs), which fits the collaborative, multi-site nature of COGA and the need to integrate expertise in clinical assessment, psychiatric genetics, epidemiology, statistics, molecular biology, and longitudinal research. At the same time, it restricts submissions sharply: only one application will be considered, resubmissions are not permitted, and a renewal application is permitted, indicating the FOA is structured as a continuation pathway for the established COGA effort rather than an open solicitation for new competing teams. The announcement uses non-standard due dates; in this cycle the posted date was December 18, 2008, with an application closing date of February 23, 2009, and an archive date of March 26, 2009.
In summary, this FOA is designed to sustain and extend the COGA consortium through a single, cooperative agreement award that supports advanced genetic discovery, biological mechanism work, sophisticated interaction analyses, improved phenotype development, and prospective follow-up of key participants. The opportunity is highly targeted, collaborative by design, and structured to keep the COGA research program unified while continuing to generate findings that clarify genetic risk and developmental pathways leading to alcohol dependence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - RFA AA 09-005 (COGA Continuation)
What is RFA AA 09-005?
RFA AA 09-005 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement funding opportunity from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Its purpose is to continue and expand the long-running Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) as a coordinated, multi-site research program focused on the genetic and biological foundations of alcohol dependence and related outcomes.
Which NIH institute is sponsoring this opportunity?
The sponsoring institute is the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), which is part of the NIH.
What program or study does this funding support?
This opportunity supports the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA), leveraging its established cohorts, existing data resources, and research infrastructure.
Is this an open competition?
No. This is a limited competition. It is essentially reserved for investigators already supported under the existing COGA study, with the intent of sustaining a single integrated COGA program rather than funding new unrelated teams.
If an outside researcher wants to contribute, what should they do?
Outside researchers who want to contribute are expected to coordinate with the appropriate COGA principal investigators (PIs) so the collaboration can be incorporated into the single consolidated application.
What is the primary goal of the funded research?
The primary goal is to advance discovery of genetic variants related to risk for alcohol dependence and to connect those variants to real-world clinical and developmental patterns of alcohol use and dependence.
What kinds of scientific aims are emphasized in this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes: identifying genetic variants influencing susceptibility to alcohol dependence (including both adults and adolescents), determining molecular and functional mechanisms of identified variants, investigating gene-by-gene and gene-by-environment interactions, developing and refining phenotypes relevant to alcoholism, and conducting prospective (longitudinal) research on COGA probands.
Does the FOA focus only on adults, only on adolescents, or both?
Both. The FOA calls for identifying genetic variants that influence susceptibility in adults and adolescents, implying work that spans developmental stages rather than focusing on a single age group.
Is the research expected to go beyond identifying genetic associations?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls for determining the molecular and functional mechanisms of identified variants, meaning the work is expected to connect genetic findings to biological pathways (for example, via gene expression, protein function, neural systems, or other mechanistic links).
What types of interactions are specifically highlighted?
The FOA highlights investigating gene-by-gene interactions and gene-by-environment interactions as contributors to alcoholism risk, reflecting the expectation that risk often involves combinations of genetic factors and environmental exposures.
What kinds of environmental or contextual factors might be examined under gene-by-environment work?
Based on the description provided, examples could include stress, trauma, peer and family influences, availability of alcohol, comorbid psychiatric conditions, and other social or developmental variables.
What does the FOA mean by phenotype development and refinement?
It refers to improving how alcoholism-related traits are defined and measured to support genetic analysis. This may include incorporating intermediate phenotypes or endophenotypes, neurobehavioral measures, clinical course features, or more nuanced diagnostic and symptom profiles to increase statistical power and interpretability.
Is prospective (longitudinal) research required or optional?
A prospective research component on COGA probands is described as a required element, emphasizing forward-looking longitudinal follow-up rather than relying only on retrospective analyses.
Why does the FOA emphasize prospective follow-up?
Prospective follow-up can help clarify trajectories and developmental pathways, including how risk manifests over time, which early indicators predict later dependence, and which protective factors may alter outcomes. It can also help with understanding timing and sequence of exposures, behaviors, and clinical events.
What funding mechanism is used?
The mechanism is a U10 Cooperative Clinical Research Agreement.
What is a cooperative agreement in this context?
In a cooperative agreement model (U10), NIAAA is expected to have substantial programmatic involvement in the conduct of the research. While specific cooperative terms are not listed in the provided text, U-series awards generally imply close coordination with NIH program staff and shared governance expectations compared to a standard research grant.
How many awards does NIAAA expect to make?
NIAAA anticipates making a single award under this FOA, consistent with maintaining one integrated COGA program.
What is the maximum funding amount mentioned?
The FOA indicates that up to $6.8 million in total direct costs may be awarded.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. Cost sharing or matching is not required.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA program listed is 93.273 (Alcohol Research Programs).
What is the activity category?
The activity category is health.
What types of organizations are listed as eligible applicants?
The eligible applicant organization list is broad and includes state and local governments, public and private higher education institutions, nonprofits, small businesses, tribal governments and organizations, housing authorities, and certain federal entities. However, practical eligibility is constrained by the limited competition requirement tied to existing COGA investigators.
Can the application include multiple principal investigators?
Yes. The FOA allows multiple PDs/PIs, aligning with the collaborative, multi-site nature of COGA and the integration of expertise across areas such as clinical assessment, psychiatric genetics, epidemiology, statistics, molecular biology, and longitudinal research.
How many applications will be considered?
Only one application will be considered, reflecting the FOA design to support a single consolidated COGA continuation effort.
Are resubmissions allowed?
No. Resubmissions are not permitted under this FOA.
Are renewals allowed?
Yes. A renewal application is permitted, consistent with the FOA functioning as a continuation pathway for the established COGA effort.
What were the key dates provided for this cycle?
The posted date was December 18, 2008. The application closing date was February 23, 2009. The archive date was March 26, 2009. The announcement uses non-standard due dates.
What does it mean that the announcement uses non-standard due dates?
It means the opportunity did not follow standard recurring NIH receipt dates and instead listed specific dates for this cycle (posted, closing, and archive dates) as provided in the FOA description.
What makes this FOA different from a typical open NIH genetics RFA?
Based on the description provided, the defining differences are the limited competition (targeted to existing COGA investigators), the single anticipated award supporting one unified program, and the cooperative agreement (U10) structure that includes substantial NIAAA involvement.
What is the overall emphasis of the continued COGA effort under this FOA?
The emphasis is on leveraging existing COGA cohorts, data, and infrastructure to identify risk-related genetic variants and connect them to clinical and developmental outcomes, while also advancing mechanistic biology, interaction analyses, improved phenotype definitions, and prospective longitudinal research.
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