In April 2018, NIH launched the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative, an aggressive, trans-agency effort to speed scientific solutions to stem the national opioid public health crisis. This Initiative will build on extensive, well-established NIH research, including basic science of the complex neurological pathways involved in pain and addiction, implementation science to develop and test treatment models, and research to integrate behavioral interventions with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). Successes from this research include the development of the nasal form of naloxone, the most commonly used nasal spray for reversing opioid overdose, the development of buprenorphine for the treatment of OUD, and evidence for the use of nondrug and mind/body techniques such as yoga, tai chi, acupuncture, and mindfulness meditation to help patients control and manage pain.

Listed below are HEAL funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) that NLM is participating in. A more extensive list of HEAL FOAs is at https://www.nih.gov/research-training/medical-research-initiatives/heal-initiative/funding-announcements-opportunities

Discovery of Biomarkers, Biomarker Signatures, and Endpoints for Pain (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-NS-18-041)
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NS-18-041.html

Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Pain Treatment (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-NS-18-042)
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NS-18-042.html

Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Pain Treatment (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-NS-18-043)
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NS-18-043.html

Analytical and/or Clinical Validation of a Candidate Biomarker for Pain (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-NS-18-046)
https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NS-18-046.html