The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is preparing to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) aimed at supporting the development of medications for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and alcohol-associated organ damage through the Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling and early-stage development phases. This funding opportunity is specifically targeted at small businesses that can propose innovative therapeutic agents, with a requirement for applicants to present a therapeutic candidate backed by substantial preliminary data demonstrating its viability for clinical application. The initiative is crucial for advancing potential treatments closer to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, with the NOFO expected to be published on January 16, 2025, and applications due by April 5, 2025. The estimated award date is September 30, 2025, and projects may begin as early as December 1, 2025, with encouragement for women-owned and socially or economically disadvantaged businesses to apply.