Family-based mHealth program to prevent early alcohol use by preteens
Official title: Type 1 Hybrid Implementation Effectiveness Cluster Randomized Trial of an mHealth Intervention to Help Parents Prevent Early Onset Alcohol Use.
Funded at Research Triangle Institute · NIH-11416644 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile-based program helps parents of preteens prevent early alcohol use by providing practical guidance and strategies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Triangle Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Research Triangle Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $699,866 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA031980-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416644 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Parents of children around 11–14 years old who are open to using a mobile, digital program.
✕Less likely to help
Families not using digital tools or not engaged with the program may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on earlier work with the BIPAS program to deliver a digital intervention for parents of middle schoolers, using smartphones to reach families. It aims to test how well the program prevents early sipping and escalation of drinking among kids by changing parental beliefs and behaviors. The study uses a cluster randomized design to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of the program across communities, focusing on families with children around the transition to middle school. Participants are parents and their 11–14-year-old children, with outcomes including parental practices and the youths’ alcohol-related behaviors. Researchers will collect data through digital tools and follow families over time to see if the intervention reduces early exposure and drinking trajectories.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could have a scalable, low-cost tool to reduce early alcohol exposure and subsequent risky drinking.
How similar studies have gone: Pilot studies suggest the digital BIPAS program is acceptable and shows potential in reducing parental provision of sips.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Triangle Institute
Research Triangle Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gottfredson O'shea, Nisha — Research Triangle Institute
- Study coordinator: Gottfredson O'shea, Nisha
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.