Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD), Research Program (U19 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) will issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) inviting applications for the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD). The program supports a multidisciplinary consortium that integrates basic, clinical, translational, diagnostic, intervention, and prevention research on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Awardees will be expected to collaborate with the broader CIFASD network, share resources, and coordinate data collection and analysis. The solicitation emphasizes early identification, diagnostic tool development, intervention validation, mechanistic studies of prenatal alcohol exposure, and strategies to reduce prenatal alcohol exposure. Eligible applicants include a wide range of public, private, nonprofit, tribal, and educational entities. Funding will be provided as a U19 cooperative agreement (clinical trial optional) with an anticipated start in July 2028. • Multidisciplinary research on FASD covering basic to translational studies. • Required integration with the existing CIFASD consortium (shared data, resources). • Focus areas: early diagnosis, intervention development, mechanistic teratogenesis studies, prevention of prenatal alcohol exposure. • Open to state, local, tribal, nonprofit, higher‑education, and for‑profit entities. • Funding mechanism: U19 cooperative agreement (grant). • Estimated award date June 2028; project start July 2028. • No specific budget ceiling disclosed; typical NIH U19 awards range in the low‑to‑mid millions over multiple years.