Overview

Through the Helping to End Addiction Long-term® Initiative, or NIH HEAL Initiative®, NIH supports research to enhance pain management and improve treatment for opioid misuse and addiction. The NIH HEAL Initiative includes research focus areas led by most NIH Institutes and Centers supporting hundreds of projects that reflect the full spectrum of research from basic science to implementation research.

HEAL Policy for the Enrollment of Participants in Clinical Trials

Clinical trials to identify and test new safe and effective treatment approaches for opioid use disorder and chronic pain are an essential component of HEAL research. To ensure that such clinical trials are conducted as safely and efficiently as possible, researchers must meet certain requirements when recruiting study participants. These requirements are specified in the HEAL Policy for the Enrollment of Participants in Clinical Trials, which also outlines the responsibilities of Principal Investigators and relevant NIH staff.

Read CT Enrollment Policy

Funded Projects

2022
Total-Body PET for Assessing Myofascial Pain
Summary
Summary
Oct 01, 2022
2022
Phase 1 and 2 Studies of Sublingual Dexmedetomidine, an Alpha 2 Adrenergic Agonist, for Treating Opioid Withdrawal
Summary
Summary
Oct 01, 2022
2022
The Effects of Hydrocodone Rescheduling on Pain Management of Older Lung Cancer Patients
Summary
Summary
Oct 01, 2022
2022
Development and Evaluation of Computerized Chemosensory-Based Orbitofrontal Networks Training for Treatment of Pain (CBOT-P)
Summary
Summary
Oct 01, 2022
2022
Fibromyalgia TENS in Physical Therapy Study (TIPS): An Embedded Pragmatic Clinical Trial
Summary
Summary
Oct 01, 2022

Open Funding Opportunities

2023
HEAL Initiative: Understanding Individual Differences in Human Pain Conditions (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Link
Aug 11, 2023
NOFO Link
2023
Notice of Intent to Publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the HEAL Initiative: HEAL KIDS (Knowledge, Innovation and Discovery Studies) Pain Program Resource and Data Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
NOFO Link
Jul 01, 2023
NOFO Link
2023
Notice of Intent to Publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the HEAL Initiative: KIDS Acute Pain Clinical Trials (APCT) Program (U01 Clinical Trial Required)
NOFO Link
Jul 01, 2023
NOFO Link
2023
HEAL Initiative: Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) Program - Addressing Overdose, Substance Use, Mental Health, and Pain Native Research Resource Network (OT2)
NOFO Link
Jun 23, 2023
NOFO Link
2023
HEAL Initiative: Native Collective Research Effort to Enhance Wellness (N CREW) Program - Addressing Overdose, Substance Use, Mental Health, and Pain (OT2)
NOFO Link
Jun 23, 2023
NOFO Link

Closed Funding Opportunities

2022
HEAL Initiative: EPPIC-Net Pain Research Asset Application – Dossier (OT1) [ROLLING SUBMISSION ACCEPTED: BY INVITATION ONLY]
NOFO Link
Jun 03, 2022
NOFO Link
2022
HEAL Initiative: EPPIC-Net Pain Research - Application for Clinical Trial and Related Activities (OT2) [ROLLING SUBMISSION ACCEPTED: BY INVITATION ONLY]
NOFO Link
Jun 03, 2022
NOFO Link
2022
HEAL Initiative: Multilevel Interventions to Reduce Harm and Improve Quality of Life for Patients on Long Term Opioid Therapy (MIRHIQL) (R01 Clinical Trial Required)
NOFO Link
Jul 11, 2022
NOFO Link
2022
HEAL Initiative: Multilevel Interventions to Reduce Harm and Improve Quality of Life for Patients on Long Term Opioid Therapy (MIRHIQL): Resource Center (U24- Clinical Trial Optional)
NOFO Link
Jul 11, 2022
NOFO Link
2020
HEAL Initiative: Pragmatic and Implementation Studies for the Management of Pain to Reduce Opioid Prescribing (PRISM) (UG3/UH3, Clinical Trials Optional)
NOFO Link
Jan 23, 2020
NOFO Link