Partnership to Advance Alcohol Research Across NCCU and UNC
Official title: 1/2 Partnerships to Enhance Alcohol Research across NCCU and UNC (PEAR-NC)
Funded at North Carolina Central University · NIH-11416780 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A collaborative program between NCCU and UNC aims to study how alcohol affects the body and the brain, with shared labs and resources to support research from students to scientists.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | North Carolina Central University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,105,476 |
| NIH project number | 5U54AA030451-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11416780 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adults 21+ with a history of alcohol use or exposure, who could participate through observational studies, biospecimen donation, or future clinical trials linked to alcohol-related pathology.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not directly involved in alcohol-related research or who do not participate in any component of the program may not benefit.
What this research studies
This grant funds a joint alcohol research program between NCCU and UNC, creating administrative cores and three research components that work with UNC’s Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies. It will give NCCU researchers access to UNC facilities, core services, and medical libraries to build capacity in studying alcohol-related pathology. Researchers will examine cellular mechanisms of alcohol damage and its behavioral and tissue impacts, using collaborative teams across institutions. The program also focuses on training NCCU students and expanding opportunities for hands-on research in alcohol biology. The effort is designed to advance understanding of alcohol pathology through shared resources and cross-institution collaboration.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may benefit from deeper insights into how alcohol causes disease, which could inform better prevention and treatment strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous collaborative alcohol research centers have shown that shared resources accelerate discovery and training, supporting this model as promising but still developing.
Where this research is happening
-
North Carolina Central University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marshall, Simon Alexander — North Carolina Central University
- Study coordinator: Marshall, Simon Alexander
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.