HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) for Whole Recovery: Health Systems

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is forecasting a funding opportunity titled “HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of Chronic Pain and Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) for Whole Recovery: Health Systems.” This opportunity stems from ongoing efforts to address the complex intersection of chronic pain and opioid use disorder, conditions that often co-occur in affected individuals. Approximately 40% to 60% of individuals diagnosed with OUD also experience chronic pain, making it essential for healthcare systems to develop integrative approaches to treatment. The forecasted Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), RFA-DA-27-001, builds upon the 2021 HEAL IMPOWR initiative, which supported 11 clinical trials to evaluate novel patient-level interventions. The new NOFO aims to extend that work by targeting the system-level implementation of effective integrative care strategies identified in those trials. The focus of this upcoming grant program is on enhancing the ability of health systems to deliver sustainable and effective integrative care models that address both chronic pain and OUD. Specifically, it calls for research into strategies that dismantle traditional silos within healthcare delivery, promoting cohesive models that align patient care with system-level policies and procedures. The anticipated research will explore how to incorporate various stakeholders—such as peer support specialists, clinicians, administrators, and system leaders—into care pathways to enhance patient outcomes. The NOFO emphasizes the need to identify and refine collaborative care models and innovative implementation strategies that can be scaled across health systems. Applicants are encouraged to consider systems-level interventions and leverage expertise from a variety of fields, including implementation science, community-based participatory research, and health services research. Proposals should focus on identifying barriers and solutions to adopting integrated care practices and demonstrate how such models can be optimized across diverse healthcare environments. Additionally, the research should characterize the types of settings where integrative OUD and chronic pain care can be most effectively delivered. The NOFO will utilize the RM1 activity code and is part of a collaborative initiative led by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in partnership with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). These institutes aim to support research that promotes scalable and sustainable solutions to the intertwined challenges of chronic pain and opioid use, underscoring a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, and while the number of anticipated awards has not been specified, it is funded under Assistance Listing 93.279—Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs. The grant opportunity is expected to be officially posted by April 20, 2026, with an application due date of November 2, 2026. Awards are anticipated by April 1, 2027, and project start dates will align with this timeline. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities, such as nonprofits, higher education institutions, tribal organizations, for-profit organizations, state and county governments, school districts, and public housing authorities. As this opportunity is currently in the forecast stage, the NIH encourages prospective applicants to begin developing proposals and building collaborations that will align with the program’s goals. Investigators are advised to monitor for updates and to use the forecast period to refine ideas and partnerships. Contact for the grant is Dr. Shelley Su at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, reachable via email at [email protected] or by phone at 301-402-3869.