Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Yale University received a $752,580 Project Grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) under the Alcohol Research Programs (CFDA 93.273), awarded June 1, 2026, with completion targeted for May 31, 2031. This experimental medicine research project will conduct a controlled clinical trial examining dose-dependent effects of semaglutide (a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist) at 1mg and 2mg doses versus placebo in individuals with comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD) and obesity (AUD+OB). The research combines laboratory assessments and clinical outcome measurements over a 20-week treatment period plus 8-week follow-up to evaluate metabolic and stress hormone regulation, glucose control, craving responses, and alcohol consumption outcomes.

The deliverables include comprehensive evaluation of semaglutide's dose-dependent effects on stress- and cue-provoked glucose, cortisol, insulin, and alcohol/food craving metrics, along with preliminary efficacy comparisons of the treatment doses against placebo. By investigating the mechanistic pathways through which semaglutide may reduce alcohol use outcomes—specifically through normalization of dysregulated glucose and stress hormones—this research addresses a critical gap in treatment development for the frequently co-occurring conditions of AUD and obesity, with potential to inform improved intervention strategies that reduce alcohol use and associated medical morbidities.