NIH HEAL Initiative

NIH HEAL Initiative — Open NOFOs

Supports opioid, pain, and substance use disorder research in the NIH HEAL portfolio.

The NIH HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative is a trans-NIH research portfolio addressing the national opioid overdose and pain management crisis, administered across multiple NIH Institutes and Centers rather than by a single IC. As of May 2026, HEAL has more than 20 active NOFOs with deadlines spanning July 2026 through August 2028, plus approximately 10 forecasted opportunities announced but not yet open. Active solicitations include PAR-25-154 (R03 preclinical pain target discovery, deadline July 16, 2026), PAR-25-051 (UG3/UH3 Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network small-molecule discovery, August 18, 2026), RFA-AR-27-002 (U24 INTERACT data coordination, October 2, 2026), RFA-AT-25-003 (R15 Pain Research Enhancement Program, November 23, 2026), RFA-NS-25-023 (R61/R33 analgesic discovery, January 15, 2027), and PAR-25-100 (R34 pilot SUD health services research, May 8, 2027).

Research areas funded across the HEAL portfolio span opioid overdose prevention, non-addictive pain management, analgesic drug discovery targeting the understudied druggable proteome, substance use disorder treatment, behavioral health services, and health systems implementation. Individual HEAL NOFOs vary substantially in eligible applicant types: some are open to any domestic research organization including for-profits, nonprofits, and universities, while others are restricted to specific entity classes. Small businesses seeking HEAL funding should focus on NOFOs with SBIR/STTR activity codes or mechanisms compatible with commercial development.

HEAL funding flows through the administering IC for each NOFO (including NINDS, NIDA, NIAMS, NCATS, and others), meaning application review, paylines, and program officer contacts differ by opportunity. Applications are submitted through Grants.gov and reviewed by the relevant IC's study section or advisory council. The HEAL initiative contact for portfolio-level inquiries is healquestion@od.nih.gov. Applicants should subscribe to the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts for new HEAL NOFO postings and check simpler.grants.gov for forecasted opportunities that will open in the 2026–2028 window.