Related Announcements

RFA-AT-22-003 - HEAL Initiative: Developing Quantitative Imaging and Other Relevant Biomarkers of Myofascial Tissues for Clinical Pain Management (R61/R33, Clinical Trial Required)

RFA-AT-22-005 - HEAL Initiative: Sickle Cell Disease Pain Management Trials Utilizing the Pain Management Effectiveness Research Network Cooperative Agreement (UG3/UH3, Clinical Trial Required)

RFA-NS-22-002 - HEAL Initiative: Advancing Health Equity in Pain Management (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)

RFA-NS-21-029 - HEAL Initiative: Planning Studies for Initial Analgesic Development [Small Molecules and Biologics] (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

RFA-NS-21-015 - HEAL Initiative: Team Research for Initial Translational Efforts in Non-addictive Analgesic Therapeutics Development (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

RFA-NS-21-016 - HEAL Initiative: Planning Studies for Initial Analgesic Development Initial Translational Efforts [Small Molecules and Biologics] (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

RFA-NS-21-010 - HEAL Initiative: Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Required)

Issued by

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)

Purpose

The purpose of this notice is to inform potential applicants to the National Institute on Aging (NIA); National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS); National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH); National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR); National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK); and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of areas of pain research that are of special interest to these Institutes. The Institutes are interested in receiving applications for FY’22 funding that will provide new knowledge of the mechanistic complexity of pain that may lead to more effective, non-addictive treatments for pain conditions within the mission of these Institutes. This notice also is to inform investigators of the special research opportunities from the multi-Institute and Center program, the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative.

Background

Alleviation of pain is at the core of health care and remains a public health problem in need of innovative research to provide solutions. Everybody experiences episodes of pain and occasionally requires analgesics to function. Chronic pain, defined as persistent pain on most days for over 3 months, is estimated to affect 19-43% of Americans. High impact chronic pain, defined as pain that interferes with life activities, is estimated from the National Health Interview Survey to affect 4.8% of the US population (Pitcher et. al. 2018). The use of opioids to treat pain has contributed to the epidemic of opioid use disorder and overdose deaths in the US. Nearly all NIH Institutes and Centers take part in the trans-NIH Pain Consortium and fund research on the underlying biology and treatment of pain conditions that fall within the mission of each Institute. In 2018 the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee developed the Federal Pain Research Strategy to provide a valuable roadmap for the scientific community. In addition, the Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative has launched an ambitious set of programs to improve the treatment of pain and reduce the risk of addiction.

Research Objectives

The National Institute on Aging (NIA); National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS); National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH); National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR); National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK); and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) are planning a number of programs to advance pain research in FY’22 should funds be available.

Specific topics of research interest for the Institutes and Centers include, but are not limited to the following:

• Basic research on pain circuits, molecular and cellular mechanisms that contribute to the sensation of pain and its associated suffering.
• Research to understand the biologic basis of the multiple pain disorders that fall within the mission of the above Institutes and Centers.
• Research that will identify risk factors for chronic pain, means to improve equity in pain care, tools and instruments that will advance pain science, treatments of overlapping pain conditions, treatments of pain when it is accompanied by clinically significant comorbidities, more effective non-pharmacologic or non-addictive pharmacologic treatments for pain, and implementation of these treatments into various health care settings.
• Training programs to build a more effective, integrated workforce in pain research.

The NIH HEAL Initiative research applications should be responsive to the following RFAs:

• RFA-AT-22-003 - HEAL Initiative: Developing Quantitative Imaging and Other Relevant Biomarkers of Myofascial Tissues for Clinical Pain Management (R61/R33, Clinical Trial Required)
• RFA-AT-22-005 - HEAL Initiative: Sickle Cell Disease Pain Management Trials Utilizing the Pain Management Effectiveness Research Network Cooperative Agreement (UG3/UH3, Clinical Trial Required)
• RFA-NS-22-002 - HEAL Initiative: Advancing Health Equity in Pain Management (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)
• RFA-NS-21-029 - HEAL Initiative: Planning Studies for Initial Analgesic Development [Small Molecules and Biologics] (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• RFA-NS-21-015 - HEAL Initiative: Team Research for Initial Translational Efforts in Non-addictive Analgesic Therapeutics Development (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• RFA-NS-21-016 - HEAL Initiative: Planning Studies for Initial Analgesic Development Initial Translational Efforts [Small Molecules and Biologics] (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• RFA-NS-21-010 - HEAL Initiative: Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Required)

Application and Submission Information

Applications in response to this Notice may be submitted through Notices of Special Interest or Requests for Applications that are currently public or will be made public shortly. All instructions for the selected Funding Opportunity Announcement must be followed.

Investigators planning to submit an application are strongly encouraged to discuss their proposed research with the scientific contact listed below well in advance of the application due date.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Michael L. Oshinsky, PhD
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Telephone: 301-496-9964
Email: [email protected]