U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
What is the NIH HEAL Initiative?
The Helping to End Addiction Long-termSM Initiative, or NIH HEAL InitiativeSM, is an aggressive, trans-agency effort to speed scientific solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis. Almost every NIH Institute and Center is accelerating research to address this public health emergency from all angles.
The initiative is funding hundreds of projects nationwide. Researchers are taking a variety of approaches to tackle the opioid epidemic through:
- Understanding, managing, and treating pain
- Improving treatment for opioid misuse and addiction
Featured News
New Research Builds on Progress toward Helping to End Addiction Long-Term
September 29, 2021
Read NIH HEAL InitiativeSM Director Dr. Rebecca Baker’s message about new HEAL-funded research projects that are focused on finding new ways to treat pain, manage chronic pain and opioid use disorder, better care for infants and children affected by the opioid crisis, and support patient-centered treatment for pain and addiction. The new awards aim to build on progress, strengthen existing partnerships, and create new links to ensure that scientific solutions for managing pain and opioid misuse get to those who need help now.
Read the Director's MessageLatest Research Spotlight
Latest Research Spotlight
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Read the SpotlightResearch Priorities
In 2018, NIH, in consultation with a broad range of stakeholders, identified a set of research priorities reflecting urgent unmet needs across the lifespan, areas of promising scientific opportunity, and concrete strategies capable of providing rapid and durable solutions to the opioid crisis.
Through evidence-based scientific research, the NIH HEAL Initiative will provide lasting, scientific solutions to the opioid crisis.
Funded Research Focus Areas
Funded Research Focus Areas
Through the initiative, NIH supports research to enhance pain management and improve treatment for opioid misuse and addiction. The initiative includes research focus areas led by 12 NIH ICs supporting hundreds of projects that reflect the full spectrum of research from basic science to implementation research.
Find information on funding for the initiative