Prevention and Intervention Approaches for FASD — PAR-25-158
Supports translational research for FASD prevention and intervention, moving through feasibility and expansion milestones.
PAR-25-158 is a National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism funding opportunity supporting prevention and intervention research for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). NIAAA is the largest funder of biomedical FASD research in the United States, spending approximately $30 million per year — roughly 7% of its extramural research and training budget — across approximately 96 active FASD grants. FASD affects an estimated 1–5% of U.S. first-grade children, and NIAAA has led federal research on prenatal alcohol exposure since issuing its first health advisory in 1977. Eligible research topics include prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure, treatment of women with alcohol use disorder, FASD diagnosis improvement, prevalence estimation, and development of FASD interventions.
PAR-25-158 uses the R61/R33 phased innovation mechanism. The R61 phase funds milestone-driven feasibility research; applicants who successfully meet their stated milestones transition automatically to the R33 expanded development phase without re-entering competitive review. Clinical trial activity is optional under this solicitation. The announcement opened January 16, 2024, and expires November 17, 2026. Specific direct-cost caps and period of performance by phase are set in the full NOFO on grants.nih.gov. Applications are accepted from domestic research organizations, universities, nonprofits, for-profit firms, and individual investigators affiliated with eligible U.S. institutions.
Organizations pursuing this mechanism should submit a letter of intent before applying and should contact NIAAA program staff — particularly Bill Dunty (William.Dunty@nih.gov), the NIAAA FASD Research Coordinator — for scientific alignment guidance before preparing an application. The phased structure rewards clear milestone design in the R61 component; reviewers evaluate whether milestones are feasible, testable, and sufficient to justify R33 expansion. Given the November 2026 expiration, applicants should target a submission window that allows for review and potential award before the solicitation closes.
Prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure, treating women with AUD, FASD diagnosis improvement, and developing FASD interventions.
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