Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50) | Apply Online

FAQs: Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50) (RFA-AA-17-001)

What is the Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50) opportunity?

The Specialized Alcohol Research Centers (P50) opportunity (RFA-AA-17-001) is a discretionary NIH grant program administered by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) within HHS. It supports the creation or continuation of specialized, center-based research programs focused on alcohol-related science.

Which agency administers this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is administered by NIAAA, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

What does the P50 mechanism mean in this context?

The P50 mechanism is designed for integrated, multi-project research centers. The expectation is a coordinated set of research activities that are deliberately organized to work together, rather than a collection of unrelated projects.

What is the main purpose of these Alcohol Research Centers?

The overarching purpose is to advance understanding and solutions related to alcohol use disorders and the broad consequences of alcohol misuse. These centers are meant to provide leadership and momentum for interdisciplinary, collaborative research aligned with NIAAA's mission.

What research topics are considered relevant under this FOA?

NIAAA highlights a wide range of topics, including the nature and causes of alcohol use disorders (etiology), genetic contributions, improved diagnosis, and treatment and prevention strategies. The FOA also recognizes biomedical, psychosocial, and economic consequences of alcohol misuse.

Does the scope include research across different age groups?

Yes. The scope explicitly spans the lifespan, meaning applications can focus on adolescents, adults, older populations, or transitions between life stages.

Are centers expected to focus only on biological or clinical outcomes?

No. The FOA explicitly notes that alcohol-related harms include biomedical, psychosocial, and economic consequences. This signals interest in work that connects health effects with behavioral, social, and real-world cost impacts.

What does it mean that the center should be "integrated" and "multi-project"?

It means the center is expected to organize multiple projects and activities into a unified program where components support each other and advance shared goals, rather than operating as separate, unrelated efforts.

Are funded centers expected to serve as resources beyond their own institutions?

Yes. A key expectation is that funded centers function as regional or national assets. They are framed as resources that help the broader field by developing methods, technologies, and approaches that others can adopt.

What kinds of outputs or contributions does NIAAA emphasize for these centers?

The FOA emphasizes sustained innovation and field-wide impact, including developing new research methods, technologies, approaches, shared tools, specialized methodologies, data resources, and novel experimental or analytic approaches.

Is this opportunity meant to fund short-term projects?

The FOA frames these centers as engines for sustained innovation rather than just short-term project funding, emphasizing infrastructure and coordinated research that can accelerate progress in the broader alcohol research field.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and an "Others" category with additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement.

Can institutions of higher education apply?

Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.

Can tribal entities apply?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) are also listed as eligible.

Can nonprofits apply?

Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status are included as eligible applicants, with the note that these nonprofit categories exclude institutions of higher education.

Can for-profit organizations or small businesses apply?

Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses, as well as small businesses.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed for this NIH health research activity is 93.273.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was created and posted on May 9, 2016.

What was the application due date for this FOA?

The application due date (original and current closing date) is listed as December 5, 2016.

What is the maximum award amount mentioned?

The listed award ceiling is $1,150,000. This indicates the maximum budget level anticipated under this announcement, although actual awards typically depend on NIH budget policy, the proposed scope, and peer review outcomes.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The provided information excerpt does not specify the number of expected awards.

Is this program focused on creating new centers, continuing existing centers, or both?

It supports the creation or continuation of specialized, center-based research programs, so it is intended to accommodate both building new centers and strengthening existing ones.

What is the overall goal in plain terms?

In plain terms, the grant is aimed at building or strengthening high-impact alcohol research centers that bring multiple disciplines together, tackle major questions about alcohol use disorders and their consequences, and produce shared advances in methods and technology that push the field forward.