Alcohol Treatment, Pharmacotherapy, and Recovery Research (R34 Clinical Trial required)
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers planning clinical trials on alcohol treatment and pharmacotherapy interventions. Eligible applicants include academic medical centers, hospitals, research institutes, and some nonprofits with research infrastructure. Principal investigators must have a doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., D.O., or equivalent) and institutional affiliation. Research must advance evidence-based treatment approaches or medication development for alcohol use disorder.
This is a clinical trial development grant. It focuses on early-stage research design and feasibility studies. International sites may participate but the lead institution must be U.S.-based. Prior NIH funding is not required, but experience in addiction research is preferred.
This grant is for researchers planning clinical trials on alcohol treatment and pharmacotherapy interventions. Eligible applicants include academic medical centers, hospitals, research institutes, and some nonprofits with research infrastructure. Principal investigators must have a doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., D.O., or equivalent) and institutional affiliation. Research must advance evidence-based treatment approaches or medication development for alcohol use disorder.
This is a clinical trial development grant. It focuses on early-stage research design and feasibility studies. International sites may participate but the lead institution must be U.S.-based. Prior NIH funding is not required, but experience in addiction research is preferred.
Program description
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism solicits applications for an R34 Clinical Trial Optional mechanism focusing on alcohol health services. This NOFO will broadly focus on closing the treatment gap for individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD); within this focus, there are five major areas of emphasis: (1) increasing access to treatment for AUD, (2) making treatment for AUD more appealing, (3) examining cost structures and insurance systems, (4) conducting studies on dissemination and implementation of existing evidence-based approaches to treating AUD, and (5) reducing health disparities as a means of addressing the treatment gap in AUD for health disparity populations.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Hospital
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for researchers planning clinical trials on alcohol treatment and pharmacotherapy interventions. Eligible applicants include academic medical centers, hospitals, research institutes, and some nonprofits with research infrastructure. Principal investigators must have a doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., D.O., or equivalent) and institutional affiliation. Research must advance evidence-based treatment approaches or medication development for alcohol use disorder.
This is a clinical trial development grant. It focuses on early-stage research design and feasibility studies. International sites may participate but the lead institution must be U.S.-based. Prior NIH funding is not required, but experience in addiction research is preferred.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R)
- Project Narrative (Research Plan)
- Biographical Sketch (NIH Format, 5-page limit per senior key person)
- Budget & Budget Justification (Form Page 4 & narrative)
- Facilities & Administrative Resources
- Letters of Support (if collaborating institutions involved)
- IRB Approval or Plan for IRB Review
- Vertebrate Animals section (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.273 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$125,900,663
-
$34,675,742
-
$34,469,501
-
$33,261,336
-
$32,873,693
-
$31,652,514
-
$30,394,602
-
$29,168,993
-
$28,833,935
-
$27,633,126
Top States by Funding
- CA 15 awards $238.4M
- NY 3 awards $162.6M
- OR 7 awards $93.5M
- NC 4 awards $66.5M
- IN 3 awards $57.1M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.273). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $430,377,419 | |
| 2025 | $429,906,735 | |
| 2026 est. | $12,401,560 |
FAQ
Who can serve as the Principal Investigator?
PIs must hold a doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., D.O., or equivalent) and have institutional affiliation. Academic faculty and established researchers in addiction science are typical applicants.
What is the typical funding range for R34 grants?
R34 grants typically fund $150K-$300K annually for 2 years. Exact amounts vary by institute and review priority.
What types of research are eligible?
Clinical trials testing pharmacotherapy, behavioral interventions, or novel treatment strategies for alcohol use disorder qualify. Pilot studies and feasibility research are appropriate R34 activities.
When is the next deadline?
This grant cycle has a September 2026 deadline. Standard NIH grants typically have rolling or annual deadlines; check the NIH website for additional windows.
How competitive is this program?
R34 grants are moderately competitive. Success rates for NIH clinical trial development grants typically range from 20-35% depending on review pool and research quality.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Begin with a clear, focused research question addressing a specific gap in alcohol treatment. Vague or overly broad proposals score poorly.
- Include a detailed timeline showing realistic milestones for feasibility and preliminary data collection. NIH reviewers scrutinize feasibility for R34s.
- Assemble your clinical trial team early: biostatisticians, clinicians, and data managers strengthen applications significantly.
- Cite recent evidence on your chosen pharmacotherapy or intervention. Outdated references weaken competitiveness.
- Budget conservatively and justify all costs clearly. Overbudgeted or poorly explained budgets invite reviewer concerns about project management.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants propose full-scale clinical trials instead of feasibility studies; R34 is for development, not implementation. Unclear mechanisms linking the intervention to alcohol use disorder outcomes confuse reviewers. Insufficient detail on how preliminary data will inform the future larger trial undermines the grant's purpose.
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