NIH HEAL Initiative: Coordinated Approaches to Pain Care in Health Care Systems (UG3/UH3 - Clinical Trial Optional)

This Funding Opportunity Announcement solicits research applications that propose implementation science methodology to embed existing evidence-based coordinated pain care models into a variety of public and private health care systems (HCS) where this type of care does not exist. Applications that combine comparative effectiveness studies of innovative coordinated care models with strong implementation science methodology to embed effective approaches into HCSs also are encouraged. This NOFO requires that the coordinated care model under study be embedded into the health care delivery system of the applicant institutions. Coordinated pain care approaches proposed for study should include interventions from multiple disciplines as described below and should aim to improve pain management based on the biopsychosocial model of pain. Emphasis should be on populations of patients with greatest need. This NOFO solicits applications from HCS who have resources and infrastructure to support research and implementation of study approaches in partnership with those HCS who lack research resources or experience and would benefit most from implementation of cost-effective coordinated pain care. HCS partners who serve populations that are under-represented in research are encouraged to apply. Models of coordinated care proposed by the study team should be aligned with health care resources of the participating HCS and should be informed through engagement of stakeholders including patients, providers, healthcare system executives, policy makers, and payors. The study teams must include health care providers from multiple disciplines and implementation scientists.