Alcohol Health Services Research (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 23 252

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Alcohol Health Services Research (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) opportunity?

It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Alcohol Health Services Research (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)" (PAR 23-252), sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). It supports early-stage, time-limited projects in alcohol health services research.

What is the main purpose of this grant?

The program is aimed at helping close the treatment gap for people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The focus is on research that can move real-world systems toward getting more people into effective AUD care, keeping them engaged, and making services feasible in typical community and health system settings.

What does "health services research" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the emphasis areas listed in the announcement, this refers to research about how AUD services are accessed, delivered, paid for, implemented, and scaled in real-world settings, including the systems and structures that influence whether people can receive and stay in care.

What does "R34" indicate about the type of project?

The R34 mechanism is described here as supporting early-stage, time-limited projects. In practical terms, this opportunity is designed to generate groundwork and evidence that can improve how AUD-related services operate in health systems and communities.

Is a clinical trial required?

No. The funding opportunity is labeled "clinical trial optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that include clinical trials when appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required if the research aims can be met through other rigorous study designs.

What kinds of research topics are prioritized?

The announcement highlights five main emphasis areas tied to reducing the AUD treatment gap: (1) increasing access to AUD treatment; (2) making treatment more appealing to patients; (3) examining cost structures and insurance systems; (4) dissemination and implementation studies that scale existing evidence-based AUD interventions; and (5) reducing health disparities as a direct strategy to close the treatment gap.

What does the grant mean by increasing access to AUD treatment?

It prioritizes approaches that remove structural barriers, expand where and how services are delivered, and improve pathways into care so more people with AUD can start treatment.

What does "making treatment more appealing" involve?

The opportunity recognizes that people may avoid or leave treatment due to stigma, inconvenience, negative past experiences, or a mismatch with patient preferences. Research that addresses these factors to improve uptake and retention aligns with this emphasis.

How do cost structures and insurance systems fit into the research goals?

The NOFO explicitly calls for research examining financing, reimbursement, and benefit design, since these factors often determine which AUD services exist in practice and whether patients can afford them.

Does this opportunity support creating brand-new AUD treatments?

The dissemination and implementation emphasis is described as focusing on existing evidence-based AUD interventions, with an emphasis on understanding how to scale what already works across different care settings rather than inventing entirely new treatments.

What types of dissemination and implementation work are encouraged?

Studies are encouraged that look at how to implement and scale evidence-based AUD interventions across different care settings, with attention to real-world feasibility and broader reach.

How is reducing health disparities addressed in this opportunity?

Reducing health disparities is elevated as an explicit strategy for closing the AUD treatment gap, with attention to improving reach and outcomes for health disparity populations who may face compounded barriers to high-quality AUD care.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types that can conduct health services research or partner with delivery systems and communities, including governments, higher education institutions, tribal entities, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, and additional named categories of institutions.

Which government entities are eligible?

Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments.

Are schools and universities eligible?

Yes. Eligible applicants include independent school districts and both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible, and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized are also listed as eligible.

Are housing authorities eligible?

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

Can nonprofits apply even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?

Yes. The opportunity includes nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status.

Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are eligible, and small businesses are also eligible.

Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations are explicitly included among eligible applicants.

Are specific institution types like HBCUs and HSIs eligible?

Yes. The announcement explicitly names additional eligible applicant categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs).

Can federal agencies apply?

Yes. The announcement allows eligible federal agencies.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. Regional organizations and U.S. territories or possessions are included in the eligibility language provided.

Can non-U.S. organizations apply?

Yes. The eligibility list includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), indicating the program is open to research in diverse settings and systems.

What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $450,000, indicating the maximum amount expected per award under this announcement.

What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.273.

What funding category and grant type is this?

It is described as a discretionary grant in the health funding category.

What is the closing date for this opportunity?

The posted original closing date is 2026-09-07.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2023-08-09.

What kind of impact is NIAAA looking for from funded projects?

The announcement emphasizes practical impact: improving how AUD services are delivered, paid for, implemented, and equitably accessed, with the broader goal of increasing engagement in effective care in real-world health systems and communities.