Longitudinal Studies on the Impact of Adolescent Drinking on the Adolescent Brain (Phase II) (U01) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity?

This is an NIH funding opportunity announcement (FOA) RFA-AA-12-006 titled "Longitudinal Studies on the Impact of Adolescent Drinking on the Adolescent Brain (Phase II) (U01)." It supports a large, multisite longitudinal research effort focused on how alcohol use during childhood and adolescence affects the developing human brain over time.

Which NIH award mechanism is being used?

The FOA uses the cooperative agreement mechanism (U01). This mechanism is typically used when the research is complex and multi-institutional and requires close coordination between the awardee(s) and NIH, including strong standardization across sites.

What kind of study design is expected?

The program is centered on a longitudinal design, meaning participants are followed over time. The FOA emphasizes a coordinated, multisite approach to generate consistent evidence on alcohol exposure and adolescent brain development.

What is the main scientific focus of the research?

The main focus is to understand how alcohol exposure during childhood and adolescence impacts the developing human brain. The study is expected to directly address how outcomes vary by timing of drinking initiation, amount of alcohol consumed (dose), and length of exposure (duration).

Does the FOA emphasize short-term, long-term, or both types of effects?

Both. The FOA calls for examining shorter-term and longer-term effects of alcohol use on the adolescent brain, including whether brain-related changes fade, persist through later adolescence, or carry forward into adulthood.

What alcohol-related exposure patterns does the FOA expect investigators to consider?

The FOA explicitly highlights differences in outcomes based on when drinking begins, how much alcohol is consumed (dose), and how long exposure continues (duration).

Is the study expected to address whether brain changes are reversible?

Yes. A major emphasis is determining whether observed brain-related changes diminish with time, persist into later adolescence, or continue into adulthood.

What types of covariates or confounding factors are expected to be addressed?

The FOA expects careful attention to covariates that can influence brain development and mental health and may complicate interpretation of alcohol-related effects. Examples specifically noted include co-occurring substance use, psychiatric symptoms, stress and trauma exposure, family history, environmental and social context, developmental stage, and other relevant health or behavioral variables.

Why does the FOA emphasize covariates so strongly?

The intent is to better distinguish what is most plausibly attributable to alcohol exposure versus what reflects broader risk profiles or confounding influences that also affect adolescent brain development and mental health.

Does the FOA include prevention or prediction goals in addition to documenting effects?

Yes. Beyond measuring harm or impact, the FOA highlights identifying early neural, cognitive, and affective markers that may indicate heightened risk for later alcohol abuse or dependence and for the onset or worsening of mental illness during adolescence and/or adulthood.

What kinds of early markers is the program interested in?

The FOA points to early neural, cognitive, and affective markers. The goal is to identify early warning indicators that could eventually inform screening, early intervention, and targeted prevention strategies.

How many awards does NIH anticipate making?

The FOA anticipates one award.

What is the estimated total funding available?

The FOA lists an estimated total funding level of about $4,000,000.

Is there an award ceiling?

Yes. The FOA lists an award ceiling of $500,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the information provided.

Who is offering this opportunity?

This is a discretionary health research opportunity offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

When was the FOA posted and when did it close?

The announcement was posted on October 3, 2011. The closing date was January 18, 2012.

What is the archive date for this opportunity?

The archive date listed is February 18, 2012.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) organizations); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; state and local governments (including counties, cities, townships, and special districts); independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and multiple mission-specific institution types (such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions).

Are foreign institutions eligible to apply?

No. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.

Does the FOA support single-site projects, or is it oriented to multisite coordination?

It is oriented to a large, multisite longitudinal research effort with strong standardization across sites, supported through a U01 cooperative agreement that involves close coordination with NIH.

What is the overall outcome the FOA is trying to produce?

The opportunity is designed to produce high-quality, coordinated longitudinal evidence on how adolescent alcohol exposure interacts with brain development over time, what patterns of drinking are most harmful, what changes are reversible versus enduring, and which early brain and behavioral signals may forecast future substance problems or mental health trajectories.