Alcohol Research-Related Resource Award (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 24 071

FAQs: Alcohol Research-Related Resource Award (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - PAR-24-071

What is the Alcohol Research-Related Resource Award (R24) program?

PAR-24-071 is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity (CFDA 93.273) that supports the creation, expansion, standardization, and long-term operation of shared research resources that broadly accelerate biomedical research related to alcohol. It is designed to fund enabling infrastructure (resources, platforms, repositories, services), not a traditional hypothesis-testing research project.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The core aim is to build and operate investigator-initiated, shared resources that many researchers can use to do alcohol-related biomedical research faster, with higher quality, and more cost-effectively. The emphasis is on community utility, access, and national-scale impact.

Is this funding opportunity intended to support hypothesis-driven research projects?

No. This announcement is explicitly non-hypothesis-driven. Applications centered on conducting hypothesis-driven research are not considered a fit for this R24 mechanism and are expected to be submitted under other NIH mechanisms intended for hypothesis-testing research.

Are clinical trials allowed under PAR-24-071?

No. Clinical trials are not allowed under this program. Applicants should not propose activities that meet NIH definitions of a clinical trial.

What kinds of resources can be supported under this R24?

The opportunity supports shared resources such as (but not limited to) data sets, specimen or material repositories, specialized tools, technology platforms, services, and other enabling resources that support alcohol-related biomedical research broadly across the community.

What makes a proposed resource a strong fit for this opportunity?

A strong fit is a high-value resource positioned to serve the wider alcohol research community rather than primarily advancing the applicant's own research agenda. Review expectations emphasized in the provided description include broad utility, open and fair access, strong outreach, rigorous quality control, clear governance and operations, and clear justification that the resource fills a real gap without duplicating existing options.

Who is the intended user community for the resource?

The resource is expected to support the broad alcohol research community on a national scale. It should be available to any qualified investigator and should not be constrained by a primarily regional or local focus.

Does the resource need to be accessible to investigators outside the applicant's institution?

Yes. The resource is expected to be available to any qualified investigator, which implies that access should not be limited to a single lab, institution, state, or small network.

What access and sharing expectations are described for the resource?

The description emphasizes open and fair access policies, clear eligibility criteria, transparent procedures for requesting and receiving services or materials, and an outreach plan so the broader field is aware of the resource.

What quality control expectations are highlighted?

Strong quality control is described as central. Proposals are expected to address rigorous standards for generating, curating, validating, documenting, and maintaining the data, materials, or services over time, supported by governance and operational plans that keep the resource reliable and consistent.

Can an application propose a resource that already exists commercially or is easily available elsewhere?

The announcement signals that NIH does not want unnecessary duplication. A proposed resource should not simply replicate something that is already commercially available or readily obtainable through other existing sources. Applicants should be prepared to justify the gap being filled and explain why the proposed resource is needed and distinctive.

Is a regional resource (serving primarily one state or local area) appropriate?

Generally, no. The program is intended to support resources for the broad alcohol research community and should not be constrained by a regional focus. Reviewers are described as typically expecting evidence of broad reach, such as a national user base, multi-institutional engagement, scalable service delivery, and dissemination strategies for widespread adoption.

What evidence of national reach is implied to be important?

The description points to indicators such as a national user base, multi-institutional engagement, scalable service delivery, and dissemination strategies that support widespread awareness and adoption by the field.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations and government entities. Examples listed include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities or Indian housing authorities; public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other applicant types noted in the announcement.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?

Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly highlighted among eligible applicant categories.

Are organizations like HBCUs, HSIs, and other serving institutions eligible?

Yes. The announcement explicitly highlights categories such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and other listed community-serving categories.

Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?

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

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

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply.

Can a U.S. organization apply if part of the work will be performed outside the U.S.?

The description states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. Applicants should plan for the resource to be fully domestic in organizational structure and operational footprint under NIH policy.

What agency administers this opportunity?

This opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-24-071.

What is the assistance listing or CFDA number provided?

The provided information lists CFDA 93.273.

When was this opportunity created and what is the closing date?

The opportunity was created on 2023-11-30 and lists an original closing date of 2026-09-25.

Does the provided information specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards. The description indicates applicants would need to consult the full NIH funding announcement and related NIH institute guidance for budget expectations, project period norms, and any institute-specific priorities tied to alcohol research resources.

How should an applicant position their project to align with the R24 intent?

Based on the description, applicants should present the effort as shared research infrastructure: a well-governed, high-quality, widely accessible resource with clear community demand and national-scale reach. The proposal should focus on utility, access, quality, sustainability, and non-duplication, while avoiding hypothesis-testing aims and any clinical trial activities.