HEAL Initiative: Pain Research Enhancement Program (PREP) (R15 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA AT 25 003

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AT 25 003

The HEAL Initiative: Pain Research Enhancement Program (PREP) (R15 Clinical Trial Optional) is an NIH funding opportunity designed to strengthen pain research capacity at institutions that qualify for the NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award mechanism (R15). In practical terms, it aims to help eligible investigators run high-quality basic and/or mechanistic pain research projects while also building a more durable pain research environment at their home institutions. The program is explicitly tied to the broader HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative, reflecting NIH's emphasis on advancing better scientific understanding of pain and ultimately improving approaches to pain management.

The opportunity has three closely linked goals. First, it supports R15-eligible principal investigators in conducting rigorous, hypothesis-driven pain research that focuses on basic biology and mechanisms, such as how pain is generated, maintained, and potentially modulated at molecular, cellular, circuit, or systems levels. Second, it encourages integrated, interdisciplinary partnerships by pairing or connecting the R15-eligible investigator with additional investigators from U.S. domestic institutions, which can bring complementary expertise, methods, technologies, or patient-oriented perspectives to strengthen the science. Third, it prioritizes hands-on research engagement for trainees, specifically health professional trainees and undergraduate and/or graduate students, by involving them directly in the proposed projects. That training component is not just an add-on; it is part of the central rationale of the R15 mechanism, which is to enhance the research environment and provide meaningful research experiences at institutions that may have fewer NIH research resources than major research-intensive universities.

The grant uses the NIH R15 mechanism and is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that do or do not include a clinical trial, depending on what best fits the research question and design. The funding instrument is a grant, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding under NIH's health-related research mission. Multiple CFDA numbers are associated with the announcement (93.121, 93.213, 93.273, 93.846, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866), which signals that more than one NIH institute or center may be participating or that awards may be supported through several related NIH program authorities.

Eligibility is centered on U.S. higher education institutions that meet R15 requirements, including both public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education. The announcement also highlights eligibility for a range of Minority Serving Institutions and other designated organizations, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. However, "foreign components" as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed, which generally means a U.S. applicant institution can include certain project elements conducted outside the U.S. when they are well-justified, add unique scientific value, and comply with NIH policy and approvals.

Administratively, this opportunity is run by the National Institutes of Health. The funding opportunity number is RFA-AT-25-003, and the title is HEAL Initiative: Pain Research Enhancement Program (PREP) (R15 Clinical Trial Optional). The opportunity was created on January 8, 2025, and the listed original application due date/closing date is November 23, 2026. The award ceiling shown in the source information is $375,000, indicating the maximum award amount allowed under this announcement as presented in the summary data. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided source excerpt, which usually means applicants should consult the full FOA for the NIH's most current estimate (if provided) and for details such as project period limits, allowable costs, and any required set-asides or HEAL-specific expectations.

Overall, PREP is best understood as a capacity-building pain science opportunity: it funds solid mechanistic pain research led by R15-eligible investigators, pushes for meaningful cross-institution collaboration within the U.S., and requires a strong trainee-engagement plan that expands research exposure and infrastructure at the applicant institution.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HEAL Initiative: Pain Research Enhancement Program (PREP) (R15 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.213, 93.273, 93.846, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-01-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-23. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $375,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for RFA AT 25 003

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