This FOA uses the NIH Comprehensive Research Center (P60) mechanism to support an integrated, broad-based multidisciplinary, multi-investigator, long-term program of research and research support activities planned around a specific major research theme. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) supports a broad-based Alcohol Research Centers program to foster and conduct interdisciplinary, collaborative research on Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), alcohol misuse and alcohol related problems, and other health related consequences across the lifespan. The NIAAA Centers Program provides leadership in research, and research methodology development on a wide variety of topics relevant to the Institute’s mission. Topics include, but are not limited to, the nature, etiology, genetics, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of AUD, alcohol-related end organ diseases and their biomedical, psychosocial, and economic consequences across the lifespan and racial/ethnic groups and other health disparity populations. Centers are also major contributors to the development of research methods, technologies, and approaches that sustain innovative goal-directed research.

This NOFO uses the NIH Comprehensive Research Center (P60) mechanism to support an integrated, broad-based multidisciplinary, multi-investigator, long-term program of research and research support activities planned around a specific major research theme. In addition, a Comprehensive Alcohol Research Center (P60) is required to develop an interactive dissemination component to accelerate the use of research findings for the benefit of public health by various target audiences including diverse and historically underserved communities, to foster community feedback and ensure participation (Dissemination Core). Outreach activities could be pursued in collaboration with other Centers and use emerging virtual platforms to broaden and diversify the participation of communities in the alcohol research enterprise. Comprehensive Alcohol Research Centers are also expected to function as a regional and national resource in their particular area of expertise; to provide students, and early stage investigators opportunities to build research expertise; and to develop research collaborations with outside investigators. Centers have the option of proposing pilot projects to support early stage investigators, attract new scientific perspectives and research sites to the center and to expand research areas addressing novel hypotheses relevant to health disparities associated with AUD (e.g., social determinants of health, trauma, and adversity). The Alcohol Research Centers program is interrelated with, and complementary to, all other research support mechanisms and scientific activities that comprise NIAAA programs. Center grants help to provide a stable environment for investigators to engage in alcohol research in a coordinated, integrated and synergistic effort.