Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 20 010
The HEAL Initiative: Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Required) funding opportunity (RFA-NS-20-010) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant program designed to accelerate practical, science-based solutions to the opioid public health crisis by improving how pain is treated and measured. The central idea is to help small businesses move promising pain-related innovations from development into clinical testing, with an explicit emphasis on projects that require a clinical trial. In other words, this announcement is geared toward translational work where there is a clear path toward real-world use, including evidence generation in humans.
The scope focuses on technologies and therapies that can strengthen pain management while reducing reliance on addictive opioids. NIH is looking for new non-addictive pain medications, novel therapeutic approaches, and device-based solutions that can alleviate pain with lower risk of misuse and dependence. Alongside treatments, the FOA highlights a strong interest in objective pain measurement, reflecting the long-standing clinical challenge that pain is often assessed primarily through subjective self-report. Technologies that can provide more reliable, quantifiable indicators of pain or pain relief can improve diagnosis, treatment selection, and monitoring, and may also support better clinical trial endpoints.
Another priority area is the development of new screening tools and experimental models that are specifically optimized for pain research and pain-therapy development. This includes platforms that can help identify or validate new therapeutic targets, predict efficacy, or better translate preclinical findings into human outcomes. By encouraging improved models and screening methods, NIH is signaling that advances in pain treatment may depend not only on new drug candidates or devices, but also on better ways to test and de-risk them earlier in the pipeline.
This is a discretionary grant mechanism under the SBIR program and uses the NIH R43/R44 structure, which generally aligns with phased small business development (commonly understood as an early feasibility/development phase followed by a later stage that supports further R and D toward commercialization). The specific designation "Clinical Trial Required" indicates that the proposed work is expected to involve a clinical trial component, so applicants need to be prepared for clinical study planning, regulatory and human-subjects requirements, and a development strategy that supports execution in clinical settings.
Eligibility is limited to small businesses. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components may be allowable in certain circumstances as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning a U.S. small business applicant might be able to include specific foreign activities or collaborations if NIH policy permits and the application clearly justifies the need. The announcement emphasizes checking the full funding notice for the exact eligibility rules and how NIH defines allowable foreign components.
Key administrative details from the provided record include the agency (National Institutes of Health), the funding instrument (grant), and the broad activity category coverage that includes health-related areas. The opportunity title is tied to the NIH HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative, which is NIH's multi-pronged effort to address opioid misuse and improve pain management. The original closing date listed is September 8, 2022, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of October 4, 2019. The CFDA/assistance listing numbers associated with the announcement span multiple NIH institutes and programs, reflecting how HEAL-related pain research can cut across different NIH components.
In practical terms, a strong application under this FOA would typically present a clear pain-related unmet need, a solution that meaningfully improves pain care or assessment, and a credible plan for clinical evaluation. That includes a well-defined target population, a defensible clinical endpoint strategy (especially relevant for objective pain measurement tools), safety considerations, and a path toward adoption in healthcare, such as regulatory planning and commercialization milestones consistent with SBIR goals.Apply for RFA NS 20 010
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HEAL INITIATIVE: Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.213, 93.233, 93.273, 93.286, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, 93.853, 93.859, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-10-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-09-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: Notice of Intent - Assessing the Impacts of Rapid Shifts between Droughts and Floods on Water Resource Management Decisions in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Previous opportunity: Summer Research Training in Aging for Medical Students (T35 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA NS 20 010
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA NS 20 010) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Developmental Centers for AIDS Research (P30 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 107 Funding Number: PAR 20 107 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Centers for AIDS Research (P30 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 20 106 Funding Number: PAR 20 106 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Non-addictive Analgesic Therapeutics Development [Small Molecules and Biologics] to Treat Pain (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NS 21 010 Funding Number: RFA NS 21 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Time-Sensitive Obesity Policy and Program Evaluation (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 21 305 Funding Number: PAR 21 305 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Discovery and Validation of Novel Targets for Safe and Effective Pain Treatment (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 034 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 034 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Emergency Awards: HEAL Initiative- New Innovator Award (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA TR 22 013 Funding Number: RFA TR 22 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Discovery and Functional Evaluation of Human Pain-associated Genes and Cells (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 018 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Interdisciplinary Team Science to Uncover the Mechanisms of Pain Relief by Medical Devices (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NS 23 003 Funding Number: RFA NS 23 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Development and Validation of Non-Rodent Mammalian Models of Pain(R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 070 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 070 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Catalyst Award for Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs) Pursuing Research on HIV Comorbidities, Coinfections, and Complications (DP1- Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 23 024 Funding Number: PAR 23 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Advanced Training in Artificial Intelligence for Precision Nutrition Science Research (AIPrN) Institutional Research Training Programs (T32) Apply for RFA OD 22 027 Funding Number: RFA OD 22 027 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Short Courses on Innovative Methodologies and Approaches in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 23 003 Funding Number: RFA OD 23 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Enhancing the Use of the All of Us Research Programs Data (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA PM 23 001 Funding Number: RFA PM 23 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Grants to Enhance the Use of the All of Us Research Programs Data (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA PM 23 002 Funding Number: RFA PM 23 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) (R25 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 137 Funding Number: PAR 23 137 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Emergency Awards: HEAL Initiative- New Innovator Award (DP2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA TR 23 011 Funding Number: RFA TR 23 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Interdisciplinary Team Science to Uncover the Mechanisms of Pain Relief by Medical Devices (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NS 23 028 Funding Number: RFA NS 23 028 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: HEAL KIDS (Knowledge, Innovation and Discovery Studies) Pain: Acute Pain Clinical Trials Program (U01 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA HD 24 011 Funding Number: RFA HD 24 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Non-addictive Analgesic Therapeutics Development [Small Molecules and Biologics] to Treat Pain (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NS 24 019 Funding Number: RFA NS 24 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 24 075 Funding Number: PAR 24 075 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Food and Nutrition, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA NS 20 010", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.