HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR) - Building Engagement, Assistance, Capacity, Outreach, and Networks (BEACON) Center

The HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR) - Building Engagement, Assistance, Capacity, Outreach, and Networks (BEACON) Center is a grant forecast issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). This funding opportunity reflects a concerted federal effort under the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative to address the interconnected crises of chronic pain and opioid use disorder by supporting the development of scalable and sustainable healthcare models. The BEACON Center is being envisioned as a coordinating and capacity-building hub within a broader IMPOWR research infrastructure established to address the dual burden of CP and OUD. The rationale for this opportunity stems from the high co-occurrence of chronic pain in individuals diagnosed with OUD—affecting 40% to 75% of this population—and the failure of existing siloed medical systems to manage these overlapping conditions effectively. IMPOWR was initially funded in FY21 to test patient-level interventions, but the BEACON Center now aims to address system-level strategies. The purpose of the BEACON Center is to enable the integration of chronic pain and OUD care across healthcare systems through collaborative care models and implementation science. The Center will not only coordinate across research sites but also support capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination of scalable, evidence-based practices. The Center will support implementation-effectiveness hybrid trials (specifically hybrid II/III models), engaging a variety of stakeholders such as peer specialists, clinicians, health system leaders, and payers. These studies are expected to explore operational, policy, and behavioral barriers to implementing integrated services in diverse health settings. A major focus will be placed on how to promote sustainability and real-world scalability of models that integrate CP and OUD care. The BEACON Center will develop resources and conduct annual qualitative assessments to understand how patients and providers navigate these services, which will inform its support functions. Applicants will be required to form meaningful collaborations across disciplines and sectors and are encouraged to incorporate community-based participatory research, implementation science, and other frameworks to ensure relevance, equity, and uptake. While the full NOFO is not yet available, this early forecast allows prospective applicants time to assemble research teams and design proposals that respond to these complex goals. The funding mechanism for this opportunity will be the U2C activity code, which supports cooperative agreements for specialized centers. The estimated total program funding for this opportunity is $1,750,000, with one award expected. There are no stated cost-sharing or matching requirements. Eligible applicants include a wide array of entities: state, local, and tribal governments (both federally recognized and non-federally recognized), public and private institutions of higher education, for-profit and nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), and foreign entities, among others. This indicates a broadly inclusive eligibility scope, in line with NIH's interest in diverse implementation contexts. The forecast indicates an estimated posting date of April 20, 2026, with a final application due date of November 2, 2026. Awards are expected to be made by April 1, 2027, with projects starting on the same date. The opportunity does not include any pre-application gating steps such as letters of intent or concept papers. Key contact for the opportunity is Shelley Su, PhD, reachable at [email protected] or via phone at 301-402-3869.