HEAL Initiative: Research to Increase Implementation of Substance Use Preventive Services (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its HEAL Initiative, has announced the funding opportunity RFA-DA-24-066 to support research aimed at increasing the implementation and sustainability of substance use preventive services. This opportunity is designed to address the existing gap between research and practical application of substance misuse prevention programs. Administered by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), with participation from the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), and potential co-funding from several NIH offices, this initiative aligns with broader efforts to mitigate the opioid crisis by building a robust prevention infrastructure. The primary objective of this funding opportunity is to support projects that do not yet have pilot or feasibility data but aim to explore systematic strategies for implementing evidence-based prevention services. These services should be embedded in systems like healthcare, education, justice, or community services, or be part of an independent prevention workforce structure. Projects should focus on selective or indicated prevention targeting individuals at risk or already misusing substances, rather than developing new interventions or treating substance use disorders. This funding uses the R61/R33 Exploratory/Developmental Phased Award mechanism. The R61 phase provides up to two years of support for foundational work like stakeholder engagement, feasibility testing, or infrastructure development. If milestones are met, projects may transition to the R33 phase for up to five years of support for broader study implementation. The total project period may span up to six years. Projects with pilot data should instead apply to the companion NOFO, RFA-DA-24-067. Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S.-based entities such as public and private higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, local and state governments, tribal governments, housing authorities, and school districts. Foreign institutions are not eligible, but foreign components of U.S. organizations may participate. Applicants must complete several registrations (SAM, eRA Commons, Grants.gov) prior to submission and include a Milestone Plan and strategies for engaging end users and addressing health disparities. Applications must adhere to NIH's submission procedures via ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution. Letters of Intent are recommended 30 days prior to each due date. Key due dates include January 17, 2024; October 17, 2024; June 17, 2025; and January 16, 2026. The updated expiration date for this opportunity is May 24, 2025. Applicants must also comply with data management and sharing policies under the HEAL Initiative, including use of HEAL-compliant repositories and open access to resulting publications. Evaluation criteria include scientific significance, innovation, approach, investigator qualifications, and environment. Reviewers will assess sustainability, generalizability, engagement strategies, and the quality of the proposed service delivery model. All awarded projects are required to participate in annual HEAL Investigators meetings and coordinate with NIH program staff. Applicants are encouraged to consult with NIH staff early in the development process to ensure alignment with program goals.