Synopsis

The NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term® (HEAL) Initiative is releasing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support a phased mechanistic clinical research program focusing on understudied biological mechanisms that drive joint pain. The phased projects supported by this program (of up to five years total in duration) will first identify and validate multi-tissue mechanisms underlying joint pain, then test non-pharmacologic or multimodal interventions that directly target these mechanisms. The initiative responds to priorities identified in the 2023 HEAL Whole Joint Pain Workshop and supports the broader goals of the NIH HEAL Initiative and the Make America Healthy Again vision by advancing safe, non-addictive, and prevention-oriented approaches to chronic pain.
Response Date	Oct 30, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT
Posting Date	Sep 28, 2026 12:00:00 AM EDT
Archive Date	Dec 29, 2026 12:00:00 AM EST
Award Ceiling	N/a
Award Floor	N/a
Cost Sharing	No

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

City or township governments, For profit organizations other than small businesses, County governments, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Independent school districts, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Private institutions of higher education, Small businesses, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification), State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Special district governments

Additional Info on Eligibility:

Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International CollaborationsNon-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.

Additional Information

Agency Name	National Institutes of Health
Link to Additional Information:	N/a
Grantor Contact Information:	If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: GrantSolutions Help Desk Phone: 301-402-2541

CFDA Program(s)

• 93.121: Oral Diseases and Disorders Research
• 93.213: Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health
• 93.273: Alcohol Research Programs
• 93.286: Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health
• 93.473: Complementary and Integrative Health - Research Projects
• 93.846: Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research
• 93.853: Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders
• 93.866: Aging Research