Limited Competition: HEAL Initiative Resource Centers for the Pain Management Effectiveness Network (ERN) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), in collaboration with several NIH institutes and centers, is forecasting a limited competition funding opportunity to renew the HEAL Initiative Pain Management Effectiveness Research Network (ERN) Resource Centers. This program is a continuation of NIH’s broader Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative, which was launched to address the national opioid crisis through the development and testing of evidence-based pain management strategies. The Resource Centers (RCs) play a critical role in providing the infrastructure, coordination, and expertise needed for multi-site clinical trials, ensuring rigor, safety, and scientific validity. The primary objective of this funding opportunity is to support RCs in advancing clinical trials that address acute to chronic pain across a wide range of diseases and conditions. These RCs will continue to serve as hubs of operational expertise by managing trial logistics, safety monitoring, data coordination, statistical support, and recruitment strategies. They will also provide access to additional clinical recruitment sites, leveraging the NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) network to implement complex studies. The focus remains on building a comprehensive suite of effective, evidence-based interventions for pain management, addressing an area where unmet clinical needs are significant. This forecasted opportunity is strictly limited to existing awardees funded under RFA-TR-22-012. By narrowing eligibility, NIH ensures that only organizations with established capacity and proven performance within the ERN structure can apply. The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, underscoring the active role of NIH program staff in guiding and monitoring funded projects. No clinical trials will be initiated by this funding itself; instead, the RCs are expected to enable and coordinate the execution of trials funded through companion mechanisms. Applicants are not required to provide cost sharing or matching funds for this opportunity. The notice does not list specific award ceilings, floors, or total program funding amounts, leaving those details to be defined in the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) when released. Applicants should anticipate that awards will be made following peer review, with funding only provided to meritorious proposals. The program’s statutory authority is derived from Title 42 of the U.S. Code, granting NIH authority to advance biomedical research. The timeline provided indicates that the NOFO is forecasted for posting in January 2026, with an application due date of May 25, 2026. Awards are expected in August 2027, with funded projects beginning in September 2027. This suggests a structured review and negotiation period between application and award. The current notice is forecasted as of September 2025, signaling NIH’s intent to provide applicants with ample time for planning. No pre-application requirements such as Letters of Intent are listed at this stage, though such requirements could be specified in the final NOFO. Applications will be reviewed through NIH’s peer review system, and successful applicants will receive cooperative agreement awards. Key contact information for this program is provided: Yolanda F. Vallejo, PhD, who can be reached by phone at 301-451-1751 or by email at yolanda.vallejo@nih.gov. Interested institutions should monitor Grants.gov and NIH notices for updates, including the official release of the NOFO and any additional eligibility clarifications or application instructions.