Program for Extramural/Intramural Alcohol Research Collaborations (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 18 195

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 195

The Program for Extramural/Intramural Alcohol Research Collaborations (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) is an NIH funding opportunity from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) designed to deliberately pair outside (extramural) alcohol researchers with scientists working inside the NIAAA Intramural Research Program. The central idea is to create true, functioning research teams that can combine complementary expertise, methods, data, populations, or infrastructure in a way that would not be feasible if each group pursued similar aims on its own. This is meant to push the field forward by enabling projects that are bigger in scope, more interdisciplinary, or more technically demanding than a typical single-lab effort.

The research focus is squarely on advancing knowledge related to alcohol use and alcohol-related harm, with an emphasis on alcohol use disorders (including dependence) and the effects of alcohol on health. In practice, that could include clinical, translational, or basic-to-clinical research questions, as long as the collaboration is essential to accomplishing the aims and the work meaningfully advances alcohol research. The announcement allows, but does not require, clinical trials (the listing is marked "Clinical Trial Optional"), meaning applicants can propose either clinical trial work or non-trial research depending on the question and the team’s strengths.

A defining requirement is that the collaboration includes an NIH Intramural Scientist who is tenured or on the tenure track within the NIAAA Intramural Research Program. The extramural Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) is expected to have already made prior contact with that intramural scientist to develop the collaborative project, so this is not intended as a mechanism where applicants apply first and find an intramural partner later. The award mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement, which generally indicates that NIH will have substantial programmatic involvement compared with a standard research project grant; the intent is to support a coordinated partnership rather than two loosely affiliated projects.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations and, notably, some non-U.S. entities as well. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other categories. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and foreign organizations. This wide eligibility suggests NIAAA is aiming to encourage diverse institutional participation while still anchoring each project with a defined NIAAA intramural collaborator.

From the provided source details, this opportunity is a discretionary NIH program under CFDA 93.273 and uses the cooperative agreement funding instrument. The opportunity number is PAR-18-195, with an original closing date listed as 2019-05-07 and a creation date of 2017-11-01. The listed award ceiling is $250,000. While the provided snippet does not specify the exact number of expected awards, the funding cap indicates the program is geared toward targeted, collaboration-dependent projects rather than large center-scale efforts.

Overall, the program is best understood as a structured way to fuse intramural NIAAA strengths (such as specialized clinical resources, unique cohorts, advanced instrumentation, or deep programmatic expertise) with extramural innovation and breadth. Competitive applications would typically be expected to show why the partnership is necessary, what each side uniquely contributes, how the team will operate as a cohesive unit, and how the proposed work will answer alcohol-related questions that neither partner could realistically tackle alone.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Program for Extramural/Intramural Alcohol Research Collaborations (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.273.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-05-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 18 195

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