The NIH Almanac
National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism
MissionThe mission of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) is to provide leadership in the national effort to reduce alcohol-related problems by:
The Institute's efforts to fulfill its mission are guided by the NIAAA vision to support and promote, through research and education, the best science on alcohol and health for the benefit of all by:
Research opportunities to increase our understanding of why, how, and when people drink, and why and how some people develop alcohol use disorders, are set forth in the NIAAA Strategic Plan for Research. The Strategic Plan can be found on the NIAAA Web site: www.niaaa.nih.gov. Important Events in NIAAA HistoryDecember 31, 1970—NIAAA was established under authority of the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-616) with authority to develop and conduct comprehensive health, education, training, research, and planning programs for the prevention and treatment of alcohol abuse and alcoholism. May 14, 1974—P.L. 93-282 was passed, establishing NIAAA, the National Institute of Mental Health, and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) as coequal institutes within the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration (ADAMHA). July 26, 1976—NIAAA's research authority was expanded to include behavioral and biomedical etiology of the social and economic consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism under authority of the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act amendments of 1976 (P.L. 94-371). August 1981—The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (P.L. 97-35) was passed, transferring responsibility and funding for alcoholism treatment services to the states through the creation of an Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Services block grant administered by ADAMHA and strengthening NIAAA's research mission. October 27, 1986—A new Office for Substance Abuse Prevention in ADAMHA was created through the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-570), which consolidated the remainder of NIAAA's nonresearch prevention activities with those of NIDA and permitted NIAAA's total commitment to provide national stewardship to alcohol research. 1989—NIAAA launched the Collaborative Studies on Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) with the goal of identifying the specific genes underlying vulnerability to alcoholism as well as collecting clinical, neuropsychological, electrophysiological, and biochemical data, and establishing a repository of immortalized cell lines. 1991—NIAAA began the National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey, designed to study drinking practices, behaviors, and related problems in the general public. July 10, 1992—NIAAA became a new NIH research institute under the authority of ADAMHA Reorganization Act (P.L. 102-321). May 3, 1995—NIAAA celebrated its 25th anniversary. 1996—NIAAA established the Mark Keller Honorary Lecture Series. The series pays tribute to Mark Keller, a pioneer in the field of alcohol research, and features a lecture each year by an outstanding alcohol researcher who has made significant and long-term contributions to our understanding of alcohol's effects on the body and mind. View image. April 8, 1999—NIAAA organized the first National Alcohol Screening Day, created to provide public education, screening, and referral for treatment when indicated. The program was held at 1,717 sites across the United States, including 499 college sites. 1999—NIAAA co-sponsored the launch of the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free, a unique coalition of State Governors' spouses, Federal agencies, and public and private organizations that targets prevention of drinking in young people ages 9- to 15-years old. April 9, 2002—NIAAA published A Call to Action: Changing the Culture of Drinking at U.S. Colleges, the Final Report of the Task Force on College Drinking, which was developed by the Task Force of the National Advisory Council on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as a comprehensive review of research on college drinking and the effectiveness of prevention programs. June 2004—First publication of the results from the 2001-2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), a longitudinal survey that is a representative sample of the United States population with data on alcohol and drug use; alcohol and drug abuse and dependence; and associated psychiatric and other co-occurring disorders. Biographical Sketch of NIAAA Director Kenneth R. Warren, Ph.D. (Acting)Kenneth R. Warren, Ph.D., a nationally-recognized expert on alcohol and pregnancy, and a long-time senior administrator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) became Acting Director of NIAAA on November 1, 2008, following the retirement of Ting-Kai Li, M.D. on October 31, 2008. Dr. Li had served as NIAAA Director from September 2002 through October 2008. Dr. Warren was named as the NIAAA Deputy Director in February 2008. He joined NIAAA in 1976 as a staff member of the then Division of Research. He later became chief of the Biomedical Research Branch, and then deputy director of the Division of Extramural Research. From 1984 to 2005 he directed the Office of Scientific Affairs, whose responsibilities included peer review, grants management, committee management, scientific communications, and activities of the NIAAA National Advisory Council and Extramural Advisory Board. From 2002 to 2007, Dr. Warren served as Associate Director for Basic Research, and over the past year he has also served as acting director of the institute's Office of Science Policy and Communications. A graduate of the City College of New York, Dr. Warren earned his doctorate degree in Biochemistry from Michigan State University in 1970. He subsequently undertook postdoctoral positions at the University of California, Los Angeles and at University of Michigan Mental Health Research Institute before joining the Federal government in a research position at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in 1974. Dr. Warren has maintained an active interest in all areas of alcohol and health and in past years often served as the editor of the triennial Reports to Congress on Alcohol and Health. He has been particularly active in research on the effects of alcohol use during pregnancy, including fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). Dr. Warren initiated NIAAA's research program on FAS over 30 years ago. He currently chairs the government-wide Interagency Coordinating Committee on FAS. Dr. Warren has received numerous honors, including a superior service award from the Public Health Service in 1982 for his work in development of the first Surgeon General's Advisory on FAS. In 1994, Dr. Warren received the Seixas Award from the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA). In 2002, he received the Henry Rosett Award from the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Study Group of RSA. In 2007, the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) honored Dr. Warren by placing his name into their Tom and Linda Daschle FASD Hall of Fame, followed by the receipt of the NOFAS Excellence Award in 2008. NIAAA Directors
Organizational Structure—The Office of the Director of NIAAA comprises the following positions and offices: the NIAAA Deputy Director; the Associate Director for Administration; Associate Director for Basic Research; Associate Director for Clinical and Translational Research; the Office of Extramural Activities; the Office of Resource Management; and the Office of Science Policy and Communications. Programs and ActivitiesNIAAA conducts and supports research through its Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research and through its 4 extramural divisions that provide grants to scientists at leading research institutions across the country. In addition, findings from these research endeavors are made available through a variety of research translation and dissemination programs and activities. More information on NIAAA programs can be found at NIAAA's Web site at http://www.niaaa.nih.gov. Intramural Research The overall goal of NIAAA's Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research is to understand the mechanisms by which alcohol produces intoxication, dependence, and damage to vital body organs, and to develop tools to prevent and treat those biochemical and behavioral processes. Areas of study include identification and assessment of genetic and environmental risk factors for the development of alcoholism; the effects of alcohol on the central nervous system, including how alcohol modifies brain activity and behavior; metabolic and biochemical effects of alcohol on various organs and systems of the body; noninvasive imaging of the brain structure and activity related to alcohol use; development of animal models of alcoholism; conducting epidemiologic research on alcohol use, abuse, and dependence; and the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcoholism and associated disorders. NIAAA utilizes a combination of clinical and basic research facilities, which enables a coordinated interaction between basic research findings and clinical applications in pursuit of these goals. A 12-bed inpatient unit and a large outpatient program are located in the NIH Clinical Research Center in Bethesda, Maryland. NIAAA intramural researchers investigate a number of areas, including:
Extramural Research Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research NIAAA's Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research (DEPR) seeks to reduce alcohol-related mortality and morbidity and other alcohol-related problems and consequences through the integration and application of epidemiology and prevention science by setting research priorities; stimulating and supporting research, training, and career development; conducting research and publishing in the scientific literature; promoting dialogue and collaboration between DEPR and other organizations; contributing to alcohol-related surveillance; and disseminating scientific information. Two major areas of focus for the Division are:
2) the prevention of alcohol-related problems, a broad area that includes the study of the following:
Division of Metabolism and Health Effects Chronic alcohol use affects every organ and system of the body. It also can lead to medical disorders (e.g., fetal alcohol syndrome, liver disease, cardiomyopathy, and pancreatitis) throughout the lifespan—from early development to adolescence and adulthood—and contribute to the depression of immune and endocrine functions. Heavy alcohol use is also an important factor for co-morbid conditions, such as hepatitis C, osteoporosis, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. NIAAA's Division of Metabolism and Health Effects (DMHE) supports a wide range of research to elucidate the genetic, metabolic, and immunologic mechanisms of alcohol-induced tissue injury that contribute to the initiation and progression of these disorders. Basic and clinical research studies are identifying the molecular pathways through which alcohol causes organ damage, with the goal of identifying targets for drug discovery to prevent or treat alcohol-related disorders. The potential for tissue repair and regeneration following tissue damage due to chronic heavy drinking is being explored through stem cell therapy, gene targeting, pharmacogenomics, and metabolic manipulations. The role of epigenetic effects of chronic alcohol consumption in tissue damage is another area of study. Metabolic research in the field of alcohol abuse and alcoholism is accordingly broad in nature, encompassing enzymes, proteins, substrates, substrate adducts, co-factors, vitamins, nucleic acids, sugars, and other metabolites that may be affected by alcohol or alcohol by-products. Other basic investigations seek to identify biomarkers for the early stages of disease using genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches that will facilitate early identification and treatment before diseases become irreversible. The use of systems biology to study mechanisms of alcohol-induced tissue damage is one of the new endeavors supported by DMHE. DMHE also supports research to elucidate the mechanism of alcohol's potential beneficial effects, including studies related to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain inflammatory diseases. Division of Neuroscience and Behavior The Division of Neuroscience and Behavior promotes research on ways in which neuronal and behavioral systems are influenced by genetic, developmental, and environmental factors in conjunction with alcohol exposure and how these factors may lead to alcohol abuse and alcoholism. The primary goal is to support investigations into neurobiological processes promoting the initiation and maintenance of drinking, and the subsequent neuroadaptative changes leading to excessive alcohol use. This includes studies to elucidate the basic mechanisms of alcohol action on intracellular signaling pathways, neuronal membrane structure and function, ion channels and receptors, synaptic vesicle release and cycling, transporter systems, and the physiology of neurotransmission. Another goal is to identify and characterize the neurobiological and cognitive consequences of acute, binge, and chronic alcohol exposure. Results from such studies will inform the development of effective preventive and therapeutic interventions. Areas of particular interest include:
The acute and chronic effects of alcohol exposure encompass molecular, genetic, and cellular factors, as well as neural pathways and circuits that mediate behavioral responses such as tolerance, dependence, sensitization, withdrawal, and relapse. Repeated exposure to alcohol results in adaptive changes that underlie behavioral tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal. Research projects focusing on these issues use sustained or episodic alcohol exposure to induce dependence in animal models. Progressive changes in the physiology and pharmacology of membrane proteins result in the development of tolerance and dependence, which sets the stage for withdrawal hyperexcitability and more subtle behavioral changes underlying addiction. A spectrum of neurotransmitters, receptors, neuromodulators, signal transduction pathways, and gene transcription factors have been implicated in alcohol dependence and craving. The division supports preclinical research incorporating biochemical, physiological, and genetic approaches to identify candidate compounds that can minimize or reverse the actions of alcohol towards its targets. The goals of this program are to test the potential therapeutic efficacy of new and existing compounds and to understand their mechanism of action. Through its Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism, NIAAA supports a multidisciplinary consortium of institutions conducting research to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the neuroadaptation to alcohol. The initiative integrates neurobiological, behavioral, and molecular genetic research and provides opportunities for collaboration between scientists in the alcohol field and prominent investigators from other research areas. Division of Treatment and Recovery Research NIAAA's Division of Treatment and Recovery Research supports research to better understand the natural history of heavy drinking and alcohol use disorders and factors associated with positive change. One priority is to better understand mechanisms of change, both for change occurring naturally as well as within the context of mutual help groups and professional treatment. There is also a need to develop and test models of disease management for chronic alcohol use disorders, especially for people who also have serious medical or mental disorders. Another priority for NIAAA is to develop medications that diminish
the craving for alcohol and reduce risk of relapse. Alcohol dependence
is a complex disorder involving many neurotransmitters and neuromodulators.
Thus, NIAAA is exploring a range of medications to improve treatment
outcomes. Several medications are at various stages of development,
ranging from preclinical research to clinical application, for
the treatment of alcohol dependence. Cross-Institute Program Activity NIAAA staff across all divisions engage in a number of cross-Institute initiatives that are require inherently broad, transdisciplinary, collaborative approaches. Examples of cross-institute activity include the following: Research Related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders NIAAA is the lead Federal agency for support of research to determine how alcohol consumption during pregnancy results in adverse consequences for the fetus, the most serious of which is fetal alcohol syndrome. This developmental disorder is characterized by reduced growth; facial abnormalities; and neurological, cognitive, and behavioral impairment. NIAAA chairs the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (ICCFAS), created in 1996 in response to an Institute of Medicine report. To learn more about the ICCFAS, see http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/AboutNIAAA/Interagency. In 2003, NIAAA launched the Collaborative Initiative on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (CIFASD), a cooperative agreement program to improve diagnosis and develop effective treatment approaches for the full spectrum of neurological disorders caused by fetal alcohol exposure. CIFASD comprises highly integrated, multidisciplinary research projects at both domestic and international sites. In 2003, NIAAA and the National Institute on Child Health and Human Development established the Prenatal Alcohol, SIDS, and Stillbirth (PASS) Research Network to determine the underlying causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and stillbirth and the role played by prenatal alcohol exposure. The study will prospectively follow 12,000 pregnant women from the Northern Plains and South Africa and their infants to one year of age. The interaction of alcohol with a variety of maternal and fetal factors will be examined. International Programs NIAAA has an ongoing program of international collaborative research. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are global health problems, and collaborative research projects can facilitate improved knowledge and care in this area. Much of the international research cooperation is carried out under formal "letters of intent" that are signed by the NIH and/or NIAAA Director and the heads of public and university medical research centers in foreign countries. For example, NIAAA has an active program of scientific exchange with the French Institut National de la Santè et de la Recherche Mèdicale (INSERM), and in the past 3 years has signed letters of intent to foster research cooperation and scientific exchange with the National Institute on Alcoholism in Japan; the Peking University Institute of Mental Health and the Institute of Nutritional Sciences in Bejing,China; the National Health Research Institute, Taiwan; and most recently, the South Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Transdisciplinary Teams Intramural and Extramural staff participate in several cross-disciplinary Trans-divisional Research Emphasis and Resource Development Teams that focus on the following:
Additional teams focus on developing technology and analysis resources as well as programs for training the next generation of investigators to carry out alcohol-related studies. For example, NIAAA's Alcohol Research Centers Program provides long-term support for interdisciplinary research that focuses on particular aspects of alcohol use disorders and alcohol-related problems. The program encourages outstanding scientists from many disciplines to provide a full range of expertise, approaches, and advanced technologies on aspects of alcohol abuse, alcoholism, or other alcohol-related problems. A complete description of the program with a list of the 15 National Alcohol Research Centers is found on the NIAAA Web site at http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/ResearchInformation/ExtramuralResearch/ResCtrs1198.htm. Research Dissemination NIAAA maintains a communications program aimed at informing health care practitioners, researchers, policy makers, and the general public about findings from supported research programs. Examples of communications products include:
These sites and other resources can be found via NIAAA's main Web site, www.niaaa.nih.gov. This page was last reviewed on
November 5, 2008
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