Understanding Processes of Recovery in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (R21 - Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 18 620

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 620

Understanding Processes of Recovery in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (R21 - Clinical Trial Optional) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity that supports exploratory, early-stage research focused on how people recover from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and what contributes to relapse during or after treatment. It uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is commonly intended for innovative, high-impact ideas that may be at an earlier stage of development and that can generate strong preliminary evidence, new measures, or proof-of-concept findings. The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial, but they are not required to do so. The overall goal is to move beyond simply asking whether a treatment works and instead dig into the processes that explain why, how, and for whom recovery is sustained or disrupted.

A central emphasis of the announcement is encouraging applications that are high in innovation and significance, particularly those that can clarify the dynamic nature of recovery and relapse. The FOA highlights several priority topic areas. First, it encourages work aimed at defining recovery, recognizing that recovery can mean different things across individuals, communities, and service systems and may involve more than abstinence alone. Projects in this area might examine how recovery is measured, what outcomes best reflect meaningful change, and how definitions vary by clinical setting, cultural context, or stage of change. Second, it seeks new and innovative ways to examine precipitants of relapse, which could involve more sensitive or real-time approaches to identifying triggers and high-risk situations, including psychological, social, environmental, and biological factors that precede a return to drinking. Third, it invites research on the mechanisms of mutual help and recovery, supporting studies that explore how peer-based supports and mutual-help participation contribute to change, what components are most active or effective, and how these supports interact with formal treatment. Fourth, it supports evaluations of recovery systems of care, which focuses attention on how services are organized and delivered across time and settings, including linkages between treatment, continuing care, community resources, and recovery supports. Fifth, it calls for research on extended treatment processes for AUD, emphasizing the longer-term course of care and how ongoing or step-down treatment strategies can help maintain gains, prevent relapse, and support functioning over time.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) in the health funding activity category, associated with CFDA number 93.273, and listed under Funding Opportunity Number PA-18-620. The opportunity was created on 2018-02-02, and the original closing date provided in the source information is 2021-05-07. The award ceiling is listed as 200,000, signaling a capped maximum amount per award under the announcement as provided in the summary data. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided source fields.

Eligibility is broad and designed to include a wide range of institutions and organizations capable of conducting relevant research. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Higher education eligibility covers both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also allows applications from nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. In addition, the opportunity explicitly notes other eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible agencies of the federal government, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, Indian/Native American tribal governments other than federally recognized entities, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations.

Overall, the opportunity is aimed at building a more precise, mechanistic understanding of recovery and relapse in AUD by funding research that can sharpen definitions, develop or apply better methods to capture relapse risk, clarify how mutual-help and peer supports exert their effects, assess how systems of care support sustained recovery, and improve knowledge about extended or continuing treatment approaches. The intent is to support studies that can meaningfully improve how recovery is understood and supported in real-world treatment and recovery contexts, including diverse populations and service settings.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Understanding Processes of Recovery in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (R21 - 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 2018-02-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-07. (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 $200,000.00 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.

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