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

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has announced a forecasted funding opportunity under the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative. This program, titled “HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of Chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR) – Building Engagement, Assistance, Capacity, Outreach, and Networks (BEACON) Center,” aims to address the pressing public health challenge of co-occurring chronic pain (CP) and opioid use disorder (OUD). The opportunity is expected to be posted on January 12, 2026, with an estimated application due date of November 2, 2026, and a project start date of April 1, 2027. The IMPOWR initiative was initially launched in Fiscal Year 2021 to test novel interventions for the co-management of CP and OUD at the patient level. This new opportunity expands that mission to focus on scaling and sustaining evidence-based practices at the health system level. Research under this program will implement hybrid II/III effectiveness-implementation trials to test collaborative care models and strategies to integrate CP and OUD care in diverse healthcare settings. By addressing organizational, cultural, and systemic barriers, the initiative seeks to ensure that effective treatment approaches are scalable, sustainable, and capable of reaching broader populations. The BEACON Center, supported through this funding opportunity, will play a central role in coordinating networks, supporting capacity building, and providing resources at the intersection of chronic pain, opioid use disorder, and implementation science. Its responsibilities will include conducting annual surveys and qualitative studies to understand barriers to integrated care, developing stakeholder-informed resources, and supporting health systems in implementing sustainable models. The initiative emphasizes engagement with key decision-makers, including clinicians, health system leaders, peer specialists, and payers, to ensure adoption and long-term sustainability. Funding is expected to total $1,750,000 for Fiscal Year 2027, with one award anticipated. The opportunity is discretionary, utilizing the U2C activity code, and will support the coordination and resource-building activities of the BEACON Center. While the precise award ceiling and floor amounts are not specified, the total funding amount indicates significant federal investment in advancing system-wide solutions to address CP and OUD. Cost-sharing or matching is not required. Eligibility for this program is broad, encompassing state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, public housing authorities, Native American tribal governments (both federally recognized and non-federally recognized), nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), institutions of higher education (public, private, and controlled), independent school districts, regional organizations, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), U.S. territories, faith-based or community-based organizations, and non-domestic (foreign) entities. This wide eligibility scope ensures that a diverse range of organizations may participate in advancing integrated models of care. Applications are not currently being solicited, as this is a forecasted opportunity. Interested applicants are encouraged to use the forecast period to develop collaborations and responsive proposals. Key contacts for further information include Dr. Shelley Su, reachable at 301-402-3869 or IMPOWR@nih.gov. The estimated award date is April 1, 2027, aligning with the project start date. Prospective applicants should closely monitor Grants.gov and NIH announcements for the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) in January 2026, which will provide the final details for application submission and requirements.