Understanding Processes of Recovery in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 619

FAQs: Understanding Processes of Recovery in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)

What is the title of this NIH funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity is titled "Understanding Processes of Recovery in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PA-18-619.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.273.

What type of grant mechanism does this opportunity use?

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism.

Is a clinical trial required to apply?

No. The notice states "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning you may propose a clinical trial if it fits your research aims, but a clinical trial is not required.

What is the overall purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to support health-related research that improves how Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) treatment is understood and delivered by studying real-world processes behind recovery and relapse. The opportunity emphasizes projects that are highly innovative and clearly significant to the field.

What kinds of research topics does the FOA prioritize?

The FOA highlights several priority directions, including defining recovery from AUD, developing creative ways to detect and understand precipitants of relapse, understanding how mutual help and recovery supports work, evaluating recovery systems of care, and studying extended treatment processes for AUD.

What does it mean to "define recovery" in the context of AUD research?

The FOA notes that recovery can mean different things depending on what is being measured. Examples include abstinence, reduced drinking, improved health, better functioning, quality of life, and broader social stability. Research that clarifies and measures recovery concepts is a key theme.

What does the FOA mean by "processes behind recovery and relapse"?

It refers to studying how recovery develops over time and what factors push individuals toward relapse or help them sustain improvement, particularly in real-world contexts rather than only within a single, time-limited treatment episode.

What are "precipitants of relapse," and what does the FOA encourage in this area?

Precipitants of relapse are factors or signals that occur in the lead-up to a return to heavy drinking. The FOA encourages new or creative approaches to detect and understand these relapse triggers, including novel measurement tools, higher-frequency tracking, and improved ways to capture contextual and behavioral risk signals in the days, hours, or moments before relapse.

Does the FOA encourage research using high-frequency or near-real-time tracking approaches?

Yes. The FOA explicitly mentions higher-frequency tracking approaches and methods that can capture risk signals close in time to relapse events.

What does the FOA mean by studying "mutual help and recovery supports"?

This refers to examining how peer-based or community-based supports contribute to change and improved outcomes. The FOA points to potential mechanisms such as social networks, accountability, identity shifts, coping skills, social reinforcement, and engagement in recovery communities.

What is meant by "recovery systems of care" in this opportunity?

Recovery systems of care research looks beyond a single treatment episode and examines how coordinated services, referral pathways, continuing care models, and community resources work together to support sustained recovery.

What are "extended treatment processes" for AUD?

The FOA recognizes that recovery may involve long-term engagement, multiple episodes of care, and ongoing support rather than a one-time intervention. Research on these longer-term treatment and recovery trajectories is encouraged.

What types of organizations are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S. organizations and governmental entities, higher education institutions (including minority-serving institutions), tribal entities, nonprofits, for-profits (other than small businesses), small businesses, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations.

Are state and local governments eligible applicants?

Yes. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.

Are colleges and universities eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible higher education applicants include public and state-controlled institutions, private institutions, and specialized institutions, including a range of minority-serving institutions.

Which minority-serving institutions are specifically mentioned as eligible?

The FOA mentions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).

Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA includes federally recognized tribal governments and also includes Native American tribal organizations (and tribal governments) that are not federally recognized.

Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), as long as they are not institutions of higher education.

Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA permits applications from for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and also separately lists small businesses as eligible applicants.

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed as eligible applicant categories.

Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?

Yes. The FOA indicates that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations are eligible, supporting participation by international partners when appropriate for the research.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?

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

When was this funding opportunity originally posted?

The original posting/creation date provided is February 1, 2018.

What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed is May 7, 2021.

Is the award ceiling specified in the provided information?

No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided data.

Is the expected number of awards specified?

No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided data.

Where should applicants look for budget expectations or project period norms?

Based on the provided information, applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text and NIH institute-specific guidance for budget expectations, project period norms, and any institute priorities or constraints tied to this announcement.

What makes a proposal a good fit for this FOA, based on the description provided?

Projects are intended to be highly innovative and clearly significant to understanding AUD recovery and relapse, especially those that clarify what recovery looks like over time, identify relapse risk signals, explain how mutual help and recovery supports contribute to change, evaluate recovery systems of care, or examine extended treatment and continuing care processes.