National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Publishes New Strategic Plan
In the spring of 2024, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) released its strategic plan for fiscal years 2024–2028, Advancing Alcohol Research to Promote Health and Well-Being. The strategic plan considers the long-term priorities of the alcohol research field while remaining flexible to adapt to emerging public health needs and scientific opportunities. It charts a course for the next five years and outlines the goals and priorities that will guide NIAAA’s research through a dynamic balance of basic, translational, and clinical research relevant to NIAAA’s mission. Specifically, the plan focuses on four research goals:
- Elucidate the biological mechanisms and consequences of alcohol misuse
- Identify patterns, trends, and public health impact of alcohol misuse
- Prevent and reduce alcohol misuse, alcohol use disorder, and associated consequences
- Improve diagnosis and expand treatment of alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related conditions
Several cross-cutting research themes are also covered in the plan:
- Advancing research on women’s health
- Applying a life course approach to alcohol research
- Encouraging a whole person, integrated approach to health
- Innovating alcohol research and care through data science
The strategic plan also describes NIAAA’s cross-cutting research programs on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and on alcohol and HIV.
“This strategic plan will guide NIAAA for the next five years of research and discovery,” said NIAAA Director George F. Koob, Ph.D. “In addition to continuing to support and conduct cutting-edge research on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of alcohol-related problems, we will continue to build our research capacity and ensure good stewardship of the public’s investment.”
The NIAAA Strategic Plan is available to view through the NIAAA website.
In this Issue
Sober-Curious Young Americans May Be Changing the Conversation Around Alcohol
According to data from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 68% of adults ages 21 and older in the United States drink alcohol. At the same time, researchers believe that the recent “sober curious” movement may be encouraging some people to reevaluate their relationship with alcohol and the impact that drinking can have on their health.
Study Confirms Real-World Reliability of a Key Tool for Alcohol Screening
The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test–Consumption (AUDIT-C) is a key, three-question tool used by health professionals to screen people for alcohol misuse. Although previous clinical research has validated use of the AUDIT-C, its test–retest reliability—a measure of the consistency of a test’s results over time—has not been evaluated in routine-care conditions with adult primary care patients.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Trainees Host Research Symposium
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s (NIAAA) Trainee Engagement Committee convened for the NIAAA 3rd Annual Trainee Research Symposium on June 4–5, 2024. About 100 fellows, interns, principal investigators, staff, and others attended the hybrid event, which highlighted the work of research trainees in the NIAAA Intramural Research Program.
Five Questions With Andrew Holmes, Ph.D.
Senior Investigator, Laboratory of Behavioral and Genomic Neuroscience, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism