Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) Research Project (U01) | RFA AA 17 007

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AA 17 007

The Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) Research Project (U01) is a National Institutes of Health funding opportunity administered by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). It is designed to continue and strengthen the previously funded CIFASD consortium, a large, multidisciplinary network of researchers in the United States and internationally who are focused on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The core purpose is to speed up progress in preventing FASD, improving diagnosis across the full range of outcomes linked to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), and developing or testing interventions that can reduce harm and improve functioning for affected individuals. A central theme is accelerating translation, meaning the initiative emphasizes moving discoveries from basic science and clinical research toward practical tools, clinical approaches, and interventions that can be used in real-world settings.

This opportunity uses the Cooperative Agreement (U01) mechanism, which typically means the funded projects will not operate in isolation. Instead, awardees are expected to participate in a coordinated research effort with substantial collaboration across the consortium and ongoing involvement from NIAAA program staff. Applications are expected to propose individual research projects rather than entire centers, and projects may be clinical or basic in nature, as long as they align with the consortium's shared goals. The overall structure is meant to encourage standardization where helpful (for example, shared measures, comparable protocols, or common data approaches) and to promote synergy across studies so that findings can be integrated and used more quickly.

In practical terms, CIFASD-supported research commonly spans three interconnected areas. The prevention focus targets reducing alcohol exposure during pregnancy and improving strategies that can prevent FASD before it occurs. The diagnosis focus aims to refine how FASD and related effects of PAE are detected and characterized, including the broad spectrum of physical, cognitive, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental outcomes that can vary widely across individuals. The interventions focus is centered on developing, evaluating, or improving treatments and supports that can help individuals with FASD across the lifespan, including approaches intended to mitigate cognitive or behavioral challenges, improve adaptive functioning, or support families and communities.

Eligibility for this funding opportunity is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations, such as state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. It also includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as Native American tribal organizations and tribal governments that are not federally recognized. In addition, the announcement explicitly highlights other eligible applicant types, including 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; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility is consistent with CIFASD's consortium model and the public health reality that FASD impacts diverse populations and communities, including those that are rural, tribal, or otherwise underserved.

The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and falls under the health activity category, with CFDA number 93.273. The specific funding opportunity number is RFA-AA-17-007. The original closing date listed for applications was November 29, 2016, and the funding opportunity was created on August 29, 2016. While the listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided text, the intent is clearly to maintain momentum and continuity in a coordinated, multi-project research initiative that relies on collaboration and shared direction to deliver results that are more rapidly usable in clinical practice, public health prevention, and intervention development for people affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD) Research Project (U01)" 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 2016-08-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-11-29. (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.

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