HEAR: Understanding Recovery Resources and Outcomes in Alcohol Recovery
Official title: The Honoring and Examining Alcohol Recovery (HEAR) Study: A Longitudinal Examination of Recovery Capital and Its Association with Recovery Outcomes
Funded at State University of New York at Buffalo · NIH-11429243 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study with adults who recently stopped heavy drinking to see how social, physical, and personal resources help sustain recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $628,150 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AA033409-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11429243 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ who recently resolved an alcohol problem (3–11 months) and are willing to participate in online surveys over 24 months.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not in early recovery or those unwilling to participate in online follow-up may not benefit.
What this research studies
The HEAR study tracks adults 21 and older who recently resolved an alcohol problem over 2 years, using online surveys at multiple time points. We will measure recovery capital with the MIRC tool and see how it relates to clear recovery benchmarks defined by NIAAA. The goal is to understand how people’s supports and resources influence staying in recovery, and whether income affects these relationships. The study will help identify which resources are most beneficial during early recovery and how they change as time passes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide personalized support plans and improvements in programs that help people maintain sobriety.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests recovery capital is linked to recovery outcomes, but the long-term, income-stratified patterns are not fully understood.
Where this research is happening
-
State University of New York at Buffalo
Amherst, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bowen, Elizabeth a — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Bowen, Elizabeth a
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.