The NIH Helping to End Addiction Long-term® (HEAL) Initiative is releasing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support a phased mechanistic clinical research program focusing on understudied biological mechanisms that drive joint pain. The phased projects supported by this program (of up to five years total in duration) will first identify and validate multi-tissue mechanisms underlying joint pain, then test non-pharmacologic or multimodal interventions that directly target these mechanisms. The initiative responds to priorities identified in the 2023 HEAL Whole Joint Pain Workshop and supports the broader goals of the NIH HEAL Initiative and the Make America Healthy Again vision by advancing safe, non-addictive, and prevention-oriented approaches to chronic pain.
HEAL Initiative: Whole Joint Health Program (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)
National Institutes of Health · Opportunity number PAR-27-045
Details summarized from the official notice as of Oct 15, 2026. Always confirm eligibility, deadlines and requirements in the official notice before applying.
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Key facts
| Opportunity number | PAR-27-045 |
|---|---|
| Agency | National Institutes of Health Department of Health and Human Services |
| Assistance listing (ALN, formerly CFDA) | 93.473, 93.273, 93.866, 93.846, 93.853, 93.121, 93.213, 93.286 |
| Posted | Sep 28, 2026 |
| Deadline | Oct 30, 2026 |
| Cost sharing or matching required | No |
| Funding type | Grant |
| Category | Health |
| Last updated here | Oct 15, 2026 |
Summary from the notice
Who can apply
The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible:
- Federally recognized tribal governments
- Others named in the notice (see the eligibility text)
- City or township governments
- Small businesses
- County governments
- Special district governments
- Public and state colleges and universities
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Other Native American tribal organizations
- Public and Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than colleges)
- State governments
- Private colleges and universities
- Independent school districts
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than colleges)
Who should take a closer look
- Small businesses
- Nonprofits
- Colleges and universities
- State governments
- Local governments
- Tribal governments and organizations
- Larger for-profit companies
Not listed as eligible
- Individuals
Unless the eligibility text in the notice names you, this opportunity is probably not for you.
Eligibility details from the notice
Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International CollaborationsNon-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed.
Registrations you will likely need
Most applications submitted through Grants.gov need the following. Registration can take several weeks, so start early. The notice lists the exact requirements.
- SAM.gov registration for your organization, which also gives you a Unique Entity ID (UEI). Registration is free.
- A Login.gov account, which Grants.gov uses for sign-in.
- A Grants.gov applicant registration linked to your organization's UEI.
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