RFA-NS-25-031: HEAL Initiative: Pain Management Effectiveness Research Network: Clinical Trial Planning and Implementation Cooperative Agreement (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required)
Forecast
This forecast is out of date. Its expected dates have passed and the agency has not posted the opportunity on Grants.gov. It may be delayed or cancelled; check the program's other opportunities below.
National Institutes of Health plans to offer grants to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. It is a forecast: the notice is expected around October 15, 2025, with applications due around January 5, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed August 28, 2025. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award amountsNot given on Grants.gov
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
About this NIH notice
- UG3, Exploratory/Developmental Phase I Cooperative Agreement. The first phase of a phased cooperative agreement. Moving on to the UH3 phase depends on meeting agreed milestones. Other open UG3 notices.
- UH3, Exploratory/Developmental Cooperative Agreement Phase II. The second phase of a phased cooperative agreement, usually following a UG3 or UH2 phase. Other open UH3 notices.
Application due dates, page limits and budget limits are set in the notice. Read RFA-NS-25-031 in the NIH Guide.
Key dates
| Forecast posted | August 28, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Expected posting | October 15, 2025 |
| Expected deadline | January 5, 2026 |
| Expected award date | August 31, 2026 |
Add the deadline to your calendar or it to My grants.
Who can apply
This opportunity is open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.
All 15 applicant types the notice lists
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions).
Is this a realistic fit?
- Most of the program's money (76% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), with the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for the conduct of large-scale, multisite clinical trials (CTs) that will inform clinicians about the efficacy or effectiveness of interventions or management strategies that reduce opioid use, improve functional outcomes and reduce pain across the continuum of acute to chronic pain associated with many types of diseases, conditions, or pain presenting as a disease itself. This NOFO will be a continuation of the HEAL Initiative Pain Management Effectiveness Research Network (ERN). The goal of this NOFO will be to expand the suite of evidence-based effective therapeutics to alleviate pain for multiple pain conditions to benefit patients and their families. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO will utilize the UG3/UH3 activity code. Investigators with expertise and insights into this area of performing effectiveness trials for pain management interventions are encouraged to begin to consider applying for this new NOFO. In addition, collaborative investigations combining expertise in testing existing pharmaceutical, repurposed therapeutics and/or existing devices will be encouraged, and these investigators should also begin considering applying for this application.
Who has won Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (93.853) awarded $9.1 billion across 8,641 grant awards, an average of $1.0 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The General Hospital Corporation | Massachusetts | 203 | $288 million |
| The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco | California | 248 | $277 million |
| The Johns Hopkins University | Maryland | 230 | $276 million |
| The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York | New York | 188 | $226 million |
| Regents of the University of Michigan | Michigan | 179 | $221 million |
How to apply
- Read the full notice and attachments on Grants.gov. The notice is the official source for deadlines and requirements.
- Make sure your organization has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID; registration can take several weeks.
- Register on Grants.gov and submit through Workspace before the deadline and time given in the notice. Our application guide walks through each step.
Questions go to Yolanda F. Vallejo, PhD, 301-451-1751.
Questions people ask
Is RFA-NS-25-031 still open?
Not yet. It is a forecast: expected deadline January 5, 2026.
Who can apply for HEAL Initiative: Pain Management Effectiveness Research Network: Clinical Trial Planning and Implementation Cooperative Agreement (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required)?
National Institutes of Health accepts applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for HEAL Initiative: Pain Management Effectiveness Research Network: Clinical Trial Planning and Implementation Cooperative Agreement (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required)?
Expected deadline January 5, 2026. Confirm the date and time in the official notice on Grants.gov.
Who has won Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were The General Hospital Corporation, The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco, The Johns Hopkins University. The program made 8,641 awards worth $9.1 billion in that time.
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