HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of Chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR): Research Centers (RM1 Clinical Trial Required) | RFA DA 28 011

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 28 011

The HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of Chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR): Research Centers (RM1 Clinical Trial Required) funding opportunity (RFA-DA-28-011) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program that aims to renew and expand the IMPOWR research network. This network is designed to generate practical, evidence-based solutions for a high-need population: people living with both chronic pain (CP) and opioid use disorder (OUD). A key emphasis of the opportunity is not only testing better clinical approaches, but also ensuring those approaches translate into meaningful improvements in how health systems organize and deliver integrated care for these co-occurring conditions.

The renewed IMPOWR network will be structured as multiple individual research centers or projects that operate as part of a coordinated, multi-site program. These research centers will be supported by a central Coordination Center, which is intended to help align protocols, measures, operational processes, and cross-site collaboration so the network functions as a unified effort rather than disconnected studies. Because the activity code is RM1 and the solicitation notes "Clinical Trial Required," applicants should expect that the funded research will include clinical trials as a core component, meaning the work must involve prospective assignment to an intervention and the evaluation of health-related outcomes.

The scientific and practical goal is to test new or improved interventions, care models, or service delivery strategies that address chronic pain and OUD together, with an eye toward "whole recovery." In practice, this usually implies approaches that move beyond treating pain and addiction in separate silos and instead integrate pain management, OUD treatment, behavioral health supports, and recovery-oriented services in ways that patients can realistically access and sustain. The opportunity also signals a strong implementation and health systems orientation: the end product should be approaches that can be adopted by real-world health systems and that improve care delivery, not just demonstrate efficacy under ideal conditions.

This program sits under the broader NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative, a major federal research effort focused on accelerating solutions to the opioid crisis. HEAL has two central research thrusts reflected here: improving prevention and treatment of opioid misuse and OUD, and enhancing pain management. IMPOWR specifically targets the intersection of these challenges, where pain can complicate addiction treatment and OUD can complicate pain care, creating a cycle that health systems often struggle to address effectively.

In terms of applicant eligibility, the opportunity is broadly open across many organization types. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); and small businesses. Additional eligible applicant categories explicitly noted include Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and even non-U.S. (foreign) institutions. That breadth suggests NIH is aiming to attract multidisciplinary teams and a variety of settings, including community-based and system-level partners capable of conducting clinical trials and implementing integrated care models.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health category, administered by NIH. The CFDA (Assistance Listing) numbers associated with the opportunity include 93.213, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, and 93.866, reflecting NIH’s multi-institute participation typical of HEAL network efforts. The posted original closing date is January 26, 2027, and the opportunity was created on October 6, 2026. An award ceiling and expected number of awards are not listed in the provided source details, which generally means applicants should rely on the full funding announcement and NIH guidance for budget and award expectations.

Overall, IMPOWR Research Centers funding is aimed at building a coordinated, clinically rigorous, and implementation-relevant research network that can test and refine integrated strategies for chronic pain and OUD, generate actionable evidence for health systems, and contribute directly to HEAL’s national mission of improving pain care while reducing opioid-related harms.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of Chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR): Research Centers (RM1 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, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-10-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-01-26.
• Eligible applicants include: 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.

Apply for RFA DA 28 011

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