Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Research (R34 Clinical Trial required) | PAR 23 188

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Research (R34 Clinical Trial required)."

Which agency is offering this funding?

This funding opportunity is offered by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What is the funding opportunity number (NOFO number)?

The funding opportunity number is PAR 23 188.

What CFDA (assistance listing) number is associated with this program?

The CFDA (assistance listing) number provided is 93.273.

What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?

This program uses the R34 mechanism, which is commonly used to support early-stage, pilot, or preparatory clinical research intended to build evidence and operational readiness for larger-scale studies later.

Is a clinical trial required under this opportunity?

Yes. The title explicitly states "Clinical Trial required."

What is the overall purpose of this grant opportunity?

The core purpose is to fund alcohol health services research that helps close the persistent treatment gap for people with alcohol use disorder (AUD), including people who do not receive care, do not stay engaged, or do not receive effective and accessible services.

What kind of research does NIAAA appear to be prioritizing here?

Projects that improve how AUD treatment is reached, perceived, paid for, implemented, and delivered in real-world settings. The emphasis is on actionable knowledge about service delivery and systems of care rather than only testing clinical efficacy under ideal conditions.

What is meant by the "AUD treatment gap" in this opportunity?

It refers to the large share of people with alcohol use disorder who could benefit from treatment but do not receive it, do not remain engaged, or do not receive accessible and effective services.

What are the main research emphasis areas identified in the opportunity?

The notice highlights five major emphasis areas: (1) increasing access to AUD treatment, (2) making AUD treatment more appealing (acceptability, engagement, retention), (3) examining cost structures and insurance/payment systems, (4) dissemination and implementation of evidence-based AUD treatments in routine care, and (5) reducing health disparities to address inequities in the treatment gap.

What types of projects would fit the "increase access to AUD treatment" emphasis area?

Examples described include reducing logistical barriers, expanding availability in medical or community settings, improving referral pathways, and strengthening the ability of systems to identify people and connect them to appropriate care.

What does "making AUD treatment more appealing" mean in this context?

It focuses on acceptability, engagement, and retention. The NOFO points to approaches like reducing stigma, tailoring services to patient preferences, increasing convenience, and designing services people are more willing to start and continue.

What does the NOFO say about research related to financing and insurance?

It calls for examination of cost structures and insurance systems, including how financing, reimbursement, benefit design, and payment policies affect whether organizations can provide services and whether patients can access them without prohibitive costs or administrative friction.

What kinds of dissemination and implementation (D&I) topics are relevant?

The opportunity supports D&I research on spreading and integrating evidence-based AUD treatments into routine practice, including adoption, fidelity, sustainability, workforce support, and organizational or policy conditions that influence implementation success or failure.

How does the opportunity address health disparities?

Reducing health disparities is explicitly emphasized as a way to address the AUD treatment gap for health disparity populations, including improving equity in access, quality, engagement, and outcomes for underserved or disproportionately affected groups.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S. organizations and governmental entities. The listing 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; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments.

Are nonprofits eligible?

Yes. Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible (as long as they are not institutions of higher education).

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations other than small businesses are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.

Are housing authorities eligible to apply?

Yes. Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities are included as eligible applicants.

Are tribal entities eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and the listing also includes Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. It also notes Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized tribes as an eligible category.

Are minority-serving institutions (MSIs) specifically mentioned as eligible?

Yes. The listing mentions Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other community-connected categories such as faith-based or community-based organizations.

Are U.S. territories or possessions included in eligibility?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are listed among eligible applicant categories.

Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?

Yes. The listing indicates that non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) are included among eligible applicant categories.

When was this opportunity created?

The posted source data indicates the opportunity was created on 2023-05-15.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date shown in the provided listing is 2023-07-18.

Is the award ceiling (maximum funding amount) provided in the listing?

No. The award ceiling was not specified in the provided listing.

Is the expected number of awards provided?

No. The expected number of awards was not specified in the provided listing.

Where should applicants look for budget limits, project period details, or any caps?

The listing indicates that applicants would typically need to consult the full NOFO text for budget limits, project period details, and any institute-specific caps or expectations.

What makes this opportunity different from studies focused only on clinical efficacy?

Based on the description provided, the focus is on real-world service delivery and systems of care, including access, acceptability, financing, implementation in routine practice, and measurable reductions in inequities.

What types of outcomes or impacts is this opportunity trying to achieve?

The stated aim is to generate practical, implementation-relevant evidence that helps more people with AUD: (1) get into treatment, (2) find services acceptable and engaging, (3) afford and navigate care within real-world payment systems, (4) receive evidence-based care that can be delivered at scale, and (5) experience improved equity for health disparity populations.