Endocannabinoid Signaling in Alcohol Consumption, Intoxication and Alcohol Use Disorders (R21)

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Purpose. This FOA issued by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), encourages Research Project Grants (R21) applications from institutions/organizations that propose to study the roles and underlying mechanisms of endocannabinoid signaling in alcohol preference, consumption, intoxication and alcohol use disorders, and to explore endocannabinoid signaling system as potential targets for alcohol pharmacotherapy. With increasing knowledge of the function of eCBs in the developing and adult brain and recent behavioral and pharmacological evidence linking alcohol and eCB signaling system, there is now great potential to explore the role of eCB signaling system in alcohol-related behaviors and alcohol use disorders. Studies supported with this FOA will help to gain knowledge about the role and underlying mechanisms of eCB signaling in alcohol preference and consumption; the interactions of acute and chronic alcohol exposure with eCBs at synapses; the effects of such interactions on short- and long-term synaptic plasticity; the role of eCB signaling in the development and maturation of the central nervous system; and the eCB signaling system in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Mechanism of Support. This FOA will use the NIH Exploratory/Developmental (R21) award mechanism and runs in parallel with a FOA of identical scientific scope, PA-10-249, that encourages applications under the R01 mechanism. Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the mechanism numbers, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.

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