NIAAA Collaborative Centers for HIV/AIDS and Alcohol Outcomes Research (U01, U24) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NIAAA Collaborative Centers for HIV/AIDS and Alcohol Outcomes Research (RFA-AA-11-003)?

This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) aimed at supporting multi-institution research consortiums focused on the intersection of HIV/AIDS and alcohol use. The program is designed to strengthen the evidence base on how alcohol use, misuse, and dependence affect people living with HIV, and to translate that knowledge into coordinated, practical interventions.

What is the overall goal of this funding opportunity?

The overall goal is to reduce alcohol-related harm and improve health outcomes among people living with HIV by producing stronger, more coordinated evidence about alcohol's role in HIV-related morbidity and mortality and by developing and testing interventions that can work in real-world care settings.

Why does the program emphasize alcohol as a driver of HIV-related outcomes?

The announcement describes alcohol use as more than a co-occurring issue. It highlights alcohol as a major driver of HIV-related morbidity and mortality through pathways such as reduced engagement in care, poorer medication adherence, increased risky behaviors, and compounded medical and psychosocial complications.

What kinds of research outcomes are centers expected to measure?

Supported centers are expected to measure both short-term and long-term outcomes among people with HIV who use alcohol, including individuals who drink heavily, have alcohol abuse patterns, or meet criteria for alcohol dependence. The emphasis on both short- and long-term outcomes signals interest in longitudinal research and clinically meaningful endpoints.

Does the opportunity focus only on observational studies?

No. In addition to measuring outcomes, consortiums are expected to develop, refine, and strategically test interventions that reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. The initiative is structured to move beyond isolated efforts by aligning research across sites so results can accumulate into clearer guidance for prevention and care.

What does "coordinated" intervention research mean in this program?

The opportunity is built around a collaborative-center model where multiple institutions align research efforts. This includes coordination across sites and studies so that intervention development and testing are not isolated pilots, and findings can be synthesized into broader, more actionable guidance.

What role does implementation research play in this funding opportunity?

Implementation research is a major emphasis. Applicants are expected to create a framework for sustainable implementation of interventions in real-world settings that serve people living with HIV who drink. The intent is to support interventions that can be adopted, maintained, and scaled within health care systems.

What does "real-world settings" imply for proposed interventions?

It implies that interventions should be designed with routine care delivery in mind, not only tightly controlled clinical environments. The opportunity calls for attention to practical constraints such as staffing, workflow, training, reimbursement realities, and the needs of diverse patient populations.

Are applicants expected to use existing patient cohorts?

Yes. The announcement indicates that projects should build on existing cohorts of patients, or on cohorts being formed among individuals newly diagnosed with HIV, entering care, or continuing treatment. This approach is meant to leverage established infrastructure and improve feasibility for long-term follow-up.

What patient populations are specifically referenced in the opportunity?

The opportunity references populations of people with HIV who use alcohol, including those who drink heavily, show alcohol abuse patterns, or meet criteria for alcohol dependence. It also references cohorts that may include individuals newly diagnosed with HIV, entering care, or continuing treatment.

What funding mechanisms are used in this opportunity?

The opportunity uses two NIH mechanisms: the Cooperative Agreement (U01) and the Resource-Related Research Project (U24). These mechanisms support the collaborative-center structure, including coordinated research activities and shared consortium-wide resources.

What is a U01 cooperative agreement in the context of this program?

A U01 cooperative agreement typically indicates that NIH program staff will have substantial scientific involvement during the project period. In this opportunity, that structure supports active partnership and coordination across multiple sites, such as shared protocols, common data elements, or harmonized intervention testing.

What is a U24 Resource-Related Research Project in the context of this program?

The U24 mechanism is generally used to support shared resources, infrastructure, and coordination functions that enable broader research goals. In a consortium model, this can include functions such as data management, coordinating center activities, measurement harmonization, and other cross-site supports.

How much funding did NIAAA plan to commit, and how many awards were anticipated?

NIAAA planned to commit up to $4.5 million in total costs in fiscal year 2011 to support up to two research consortium awards, contingent on available funds and the quality of applications received.

Does the opportunity require cost sharing or matching funds?

No. The funding opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching.

What types of organizations were eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and government entities at multiple levels (state, county, city/township, special districts). Additional eligible entities included tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and independent school districts.

Did the announcement explicitly include minority-serving and special-designation institutions?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly noted eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). It also noted eligibility for regional organizations and U.S. territories or possessions.

What was the timeline for this funding opportunity (posting, closing, and archive dates)?

The posting and creation date was September 13, 2010. The original and current closing date was January 11, 2011. The archive date was February 11, 2011.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA listing tied to the opportunity is 93.273 (Alcohol Research Programs).

What is the funding instrument type and activity category?

The funding instrument type is listed as a cooperative agreement, and the activity category is health.

Where was the full announcement hosted and where were support contacts referenced?

The full announcement was hosted through the NIH grants system under the referenced RFA link. General technical support contacts were provided through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster channels.

What does it mean that only one or two awards were anticipated?

Because the program anticipated only one or two awards, the opportunity implicitly favored applications that could demonstrate strong leadership, clear governance, well-justified multi-site collaboration, and a compelling plan for producing results broader than any single project could generate.