Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Emergency Awards: HEAL Initiative: Coordinating Center for National Pain Scientists Career Development (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Notice Number:
NOT-NS-22-094

Key Dates

Release Date:
April 13, 2022
Estimated Publication Date of Funding Opportunity Announcement:
May 13, 2022
First Estimated Application Due Date:
July 15, 2022
Earliest Estimated Award Date:
July 23, 2022
Earliest Estimated Start Date:
March 29, 2022
Related Announcements

RFA-NS-22-045 - HEAL Initiative: National K12 Clinical Pain Career Development Program (K12 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Issued by

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Purpose

HEAL is issuing this FOA in response to the declared public health emergency issued by the Secretary, HHS. Please see Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists Nationwide as the Result of the Opioid Crisis as renewed in Renewal of the Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists Nationwide as the Result of the Continued Consequences of the Opioid Crisis.

The NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term Initiative (NIH HEAL Initiative) intends to publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications to develop a Coordinating Center for National Pain Scientists (CCNPS) that will support HEAL's goal of supporting new investigators, promoting multidisciplinary collaborations among pain researchers, and identifing innovative treatments to manage pain.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects.

The FOA is expected to be published in May 2022 with an expected application due date in July 2022.

This FOA will utilize the R24 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise and insights into the area of managing a pain coordinating center to begin to consider applying for this new FOA.

This program would serve as a central facilitator that would integrate training and mentoring across a network of all early-stage pain investigators funded by NIH (e.g., NIH trainees, NIH fellows, and career development recipients) and pain mentors funded by NIH institutes. The goal is to enhance the experience of all newly funded NIH pain researchers across the spectrum of basic, translational, and clinical research and to promote multidisciplinary research that is meaningful for those living with pain. The CCNPS should ultimately be an engaging network where: 1) all NIH funded early-stage pain investigators can connect and learn from NIH funded pain mentors across the U.S.; 2) early-stage NIH funded investigators can learn from and collaborate with each other; and 3) collaboration along the continuum of pain research is facilitated. Additionally, the CCNPS would be required to organize and host an annual meeting that should be widely attended by NIH-funded pain researchers across the entire research continuum (i.e., basic, clinical and translational researchers) and across career levels. Attendance at this meeting will be mandatory for the scholars funded under an accompanying K12 (RFA-NS-22-045). Attendance at this meeting will be recommended for all NIH-funded pain early-stage investigators (researchers on K grants, T grants, F grants, etc.). The CCNPS will be responsible for promoting this meeting and networking opportunities to NIH-funded early-stage investigators and mentors.

Key components of the program:

  • Create a governing body composed of multidisciplinary pain researchers (e.g., anesthesiologists, internists, neurologists, rheumatologists, OBs/OB-GYNss, psychologists, dentists, physical therapists, and nurses) and pain patients from across the United States.
  • Create a networking system to connect pain researchers across the continuum of pain research, from all disciplines, and at all career levels.
  • Create a medium that facilitates communication between basic, translational, and clinical researchers.
  • Plan and host an annual meeting for all NIH-funded pain trainees and mentors.
  • Disseminate information about the annual meeting, collaboration and education events, successes of trainees, etc.
  • Regular hosting of collaboration and educational events to connect early-stage investigators among themselves and with more experienced investigators on a regular basis.
  • Assess educational courses offered for trainees and mentors, and then develop and offer courses that would help enhance the field of pain management, if necessary.
  • Conduct an external evaluation of the accompanying K12 program’s effectiveness in its last year (RFA-NS-22-045).
  • Create and utilize objective criteria to 1) measure success of the network (e.g. participation, engagements, publications with multiple network participants); and 2) evaluate the impact of the network on career success and development (e.g. correlate network participation with traditional criteria for success such as publications or promotions).
Funding Information

TBD

Estimated Total Funding

HEAL intends to commit $1,893,240 direct costs in FY 2022. Future year amounts will depend on annual appropriations.

HEAL intends to commit approximately $2,499,120 (direct cost) in FY23, $1,893,240 (direct cost) in FY24, $1,893,240 (direct cost) in FY25, and $1,893,240 (direct cost) in FY26.

Expected Number of Awards

1

Estimated Award Ceiling
Primary Assistance Listing Number(s)

TBD

Anticipated Eligible Organizations
Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education
Private Institution of Higher Education
Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
Small Business
For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business)
State Government
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)
County governments
Independent school districts
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization (Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
U.S. Territory or Possession
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized)
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entity (Foreign Organization)
Regional Organization
Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government

Applications are not being solicited at this time. 

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Laura D Wandner, PhD

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

301-318-8070