National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

Scientific Director: David Lovinger, Ph.D.

With more than 10 million Americans suffering from alcoholism, the NIAAA Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research (DICBR) aims to identify the causes and consequences of alcoholism and excessive drinking, and to understand the underlying biological processes at the molecular, cellular, and whole organism levels.

The DICBR uses a broad range of research approaches to study the disease, including clinical investigations using state-of-the-art brain imaging techniques, studies of alcohol-drinking behavior in primate models, analyses of drug and alcohol action at the cellular and molecular levels, and genetic studies aimed to identify genes that increase or decrease one’s vulnerability to develop alcoholism.

The Division plans, develops, and conducts a program of basic and applied alcohol research, including metabolic, preclinical, and clinical investigations on the multiple determinants and processes of alcoholism and other alcohol-related problems. Additionally, they:

• Conduct research in the areas of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation
• Operate a clinical research facility to conduct research on alcohol-related diseases and develop improved methods of clinical care

Learn more about the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research.