Understanding Processes of Recovery in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (R01) | PA 17 285

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 285

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant opportunity titled "Understanding Processes of Recovery in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder (R01)" (Funding Opportunity Number PA 17-285) supports research projects aimed at improving the scientific understanding of how people recover from Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and why relapse occurs, particularly in the context of treatment. It is an R01 mechanism, meaning it is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven or otherwise rigorous research programs that can meaningfully advance knowledge in the alcohol treatment and recovery space. The overall emphasis is on encouraging applications that are especially innovative and highly significant, with a clear expectation that proposed studies will move beyond general outcome tracking to examine the underlying processes and mechanisms that shape recovery trajectories over time.

A central theme of the announcement is the idea that recovery is not a single event but a dynamic process that can unfold in different ways for different individuals and settings. The FOA highlights several priority areas that applicants are encouraged to address. One major topic is defining recovery itself, which can include clarifying what recovery means clinically and functionally, how it should be measured, and how definitions might differ across populations, treatment approaches, and time horizons. Another priority is developing and using new, innovative methods to study the precipitants of relapse. This includes research that can capture near-real-time risk factors, contextual triggers, and transitional periods when relapse is more likely, potentially using novel measurement strategies or analytic approaches that better reflect the day-to-day realities of recovery.

The FOA also calls for deeper work on mutual help and recovery mechanisms. This area covers research on how mutual-help involvement and peer-supported recovery pathways contribute to change, what specific components drive benefit, and for whom these approaches are most effective. In addition, the announcement encourages evaluations of recovery systems of care, which generally refers to coordinated, community- and service-based networks that support people after or alongside formal treatment. Research in this area can look at how system design, linkage to services, continuity of care, and community supports influence long-term outcomes. Finally, the FOA explicitly invites studies on extended treatment processes for AUD, recognizing that sustained care models, continuing care, and longer-term engagement strategies may be necessary to support lasting recovery and reduce relapse risk.

From an administrative and eligibility standpoint, this is a discretionary NIH grant in the health funding category, associated with CFDA 93.273. A wide range of applicant types are eligible, including 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; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education, where applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The opportunity also highlights additional eligible applicant categories 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 federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the announcement is explicit about restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In other words, this FOA is intended to fund U.S.-based research efforts without foreign components. The original closing date listed for this opportunity is January 24, 2018, and the FOA record indicates it was created on May 12, 2017. The award ceiling and expected award counts are not specified in the provided text, which is common in NIH listings when budgets depend heavily on project scope and standard NIH policy rather than a single fixed cap.

In practical terms, the opportunity is designed for research teams that can rigorously study how recovery happens over time, identify actionable relapse predictors, and test or evaluate care approaches that can be implemented in real-world treatment and recovery ecosystems. Strong proposals under this FOA would typically be expected to have clear conceptual models of recovery and relapse, thoughtful measurement strategies, and methods capable of capturing change processes rather than only end-point outcomes, with a clear line of sight to improving treatment and long-term recovery support for people with AUD.

• 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 (R01)" 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 2017-05-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 PA 17 285

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: