Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 23 054
The HEAL Initiative: Translating Research to Practice to End the Overdose Crisis (R33 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-DA-23-054) is an NIH grant designed to move proven research into real-world settings where it can reduce overdose deaths and improve care at the intersection of pain management and opioid use disorder (OUD). The emphasis is on translational dissemination and implementation (D&I) research, meaning projects should focus less on discovering entirely new treatments and more on figuring out how to adopt, scale, sustain, and improve evidence-based practices in clinics, health systems, community programs, and other service settings. This opportunity sits under the broader Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative and is meant to support the HEAL Translation to Practice Team, which is focused on closing the gap between what is known to work and what is actually used in everyday practice.
A key feature of this announcement is that it serves as a "parent" RFA that runs alongside more targeted NIH Notices of Special Interest (NOSIs) that highlight specific priority areas. For fiscal year 2023, the opportunity specifically points to two focus areas that were previously their own RFAs: one centered on workforce needs (the Workforce NOSI) and another centered on the role of violence and trauma (the Violence and Trauma NOSI). In practice, that means applicants can propose broader translation-to-practice projects under the parent RFA while also aligning with the more specific directions NIH releases through these NOSIs. The RFA is also described as operating in tandem with a companion R61/R33 opportunity, signaling that NIH is supporting both phased, milestone-driven projects (R61/R33) and projects that fit the R33 mechanism described here.
The mechanism is R33, and clinical trials are optional, which gives applicants flexibility. Projects may be entirely implementation-focused without a clinical trial, or they may include a trial component when a rigorous evaluation of implementation strategies or health outcomes is appropriate. Regardless of whether a clinical trial is included, the core expectation is that the work is practical and impact-oriented: identifying barriers to uptake, testing strategies to increase adoption and fidelity, improving delivery in diverse settings, strengthening sustainability over time, and ultimately contributing to reduced overdose risk and better outcomes for people experiencing pain, OUD, or both. The overall activity aligns with NIH priorities across education, health, income security, and social services, reflecting the reality that overdose prevention and OUD care often require coordinated approaches that go beyond traditional healthcare alone.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governments. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it clarifies limits related to foreign involvement: non-U.S. organizations and non-U.S. institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. However, "foreign components" (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, which typically means a U.S. applicant can include certain types of foreign collaborations or activities when justified and approved under NIH policy.
Administratively, the opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health under a discretionary grant funding instrument, with CFDA numbers listed as 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, and 93.865. The funding opportunity was created on 2022-08-03, and it was expected to run across two fiscal years (FY23 and FY24). The listed application due date in the provided data is 2024-03-20. The award ceiling is stated as $750,000, which gives a sense of the maximum budget level NIH is willing to consider under this announcement (applicants would still need to follow the specific budget and project period rules in the full RFA). The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided summary, which is common for NIH opportunities when final award counts depend on available appropriations and the quality of the application pool.
In plain terms, this grant is aimed at teams that already know what interventions, care models, or service approaches are evidence-based for overdose prevention, OUD treatment, and pain/OUD overlap, and now want to solve the hard part: making those approaches work reliably in the real world, across different communities, systems, and populations. Competitive applications are likely to be those that are tightly grounded in implementation science, are built with strong practice partners, and show a clear pathway from research findings to measurable improvements in service delivery and overdose-related outcomes.Apply for RFA DA 23 054
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HEAL Initiative: Translating Research to Practice to End the Overdose Crisis (R33 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, 93.865.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-08-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-20. (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 $750,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: HEAL Initiative - Translating Research to Practice to End the Overdose Crisis (R33 Clinical Trial Optional) (RFA-DA-23-054)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is an NIH funding opportunity under the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative titled "Translating Research to Practice to End the Overdose Crisis (R33 Clinical Trial Optional)" (RFA-DA-23-054). It supports projects that move proven research into real-world settings to reduce overdose deaths and improve care, especially where pain management and opioid use disorder (OUD) intersect.
What is the main goal of the program?
The main goal is to close the gap between what research shows works and what actually gets used in everyday practice. The emphasis is on practical, impact-oriented work that improves adoption, scale, sustainment, and quality of evidence-based practices in clinics, health systems, community programs, and other service settings.
What kind of research is NIH looking for under this RFA?
The emphasis is on translational dissemination and implementation (D&I) research. That means proposals should focus less on discovering brand-new treatments and more on figuring out how to implement evidence-based interventions reliably in real-world conditions, including identifying barriers, improving delivery, and supporting long-term sustainability.
Does this grant require proposing a new intervention or treatment?
No. Based on the description provided, the intent is not to invent entirely new treatments. Instead, it is designed for teams working with interventions, care models, or service approaches that are already evidence-based and need to be adopted, scaled, improved, and sustained in routine practice.
What does "Translating Research to Practice" mean in this context?
It means taking approaches that have evidence behind them and making them work in real-world systems and settings. This includes understanding what prevents uptake, designing strategies that improve adoption and fidelity, strengthening coordination across services, and generating results that can be used by practitioners and systems to reduce overdose risk and improve outcomes.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
The mechanism is R33.
Are clinical trials allowed or required?
Clinical trials are optional. Projects can be entirely implementation-focused without a clinical trial, or they can include a trial component when a rigorous evaluation of implementation strategies or health outcomes is appropriate.
If a clinical trial is included, what is it likely evaluating?
Based on the description, a trial could be used to rigorously evaluate implementation strategies and/or relevant health outcomes when that level of evaluation is appropriate for the project. The core expectation remains practical translation into real-world settings.
What outcomes or impacts is NIH ultimately aiming for?
The work is expected to contribute to reduced overdose risk and improved outcomes for people experiencing pain, OUD, or both. It also emphasizes improvements in real-world service delivery, such as increased adoption, better fidelity, and sustained use of evidence-based practices over time.
What settings are appropriate for proposed projects?
The announcement highlights real-world service settings such as clinics, health systems, community programs, and other service environments where evidence-based practices can be delivered and sustained.
Does the opportunity support work outside traditional healthcare?
Yes. The description notes alignment with broader priorities across education, health, income security, and social services, reflecting that overdose prevention and OUD care often require coordinated approaches beyond healthcare alone.
What is the HEAL Translation to Practice Team?
It is a HEAL-focused effort described as working to close the gap between what is known to work and what is used in everyday practice. This funding opportunity is meant to support that translation-to-practice focus.
How do NOSIs relate to this RFA?
This RFA is described as a "parent" opportunity that runs alongside more targeted NIH Notices of Special Interest (NOSIs) that identify specific priority areas. Applicants may propose broader translation-to-practice projects under the parent RFA while also aligning with directions NIH releases through these NOSIs.
What priority areas were specifically pointed to for FY2023?
For FY2023, the opportunity points to two focus areas that were previously their own RFAs: one centered on workforce needs (the Workforce NOSI) and another centered on the role of violence and trauma (the Violence and Trauma NOSI).
Is this opportunity connected to an R61/R33 program?
Yes. The description states that it operates in tandem with a companion R61/R33 opportunity, suggesting NIH is supporting both phased, milestone-driven projects (R61/R33) and projects that fit the R33 mechanism described here.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and governments. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
Are specific types of institutions explicitly encouraged or included?
Yes. The announcement also calls out Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Can a non-U.S. organization apply as the applicant?
No. Non-U.S. organizations and non-U.S. institutions are not eligible to apply, based on the information provided.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. (non-domestic) component?
No. The description states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are any types of foreign involvement allowed at all?
Yes. "Foreign components" are allowed as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. In general terms, that means a U.S. applicant may include certain foreign collaborations or activities when justified and consistent with NIH policy.
What agency is offering this grant?
The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What type of funding instrument is this?
It is described as a discretionary grant.
What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed are 93.213, 93.242, 93.279, and 93.865.
When was this opportunity created?
The provided information states it was created on 2022-08-03.
What fiscal years does this opportunity cover?
It was expected to run across two fiscal years: FY2023 and FY2024.
What is the application due date?
The listed application due date in the provided data is 2024-03-20.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is stated as $750,000.
How many awards will NIH make?
The number of expected awards is not specified in the provided summary.
What kinds of projects might be a strong fit based on the description?
Projects that are grounded in implementation science and designed with strong practice partners appear to be a strong fit. The description emphasizes real-world adoption, barriers to uptake, strategies to increase fidelity and delivery quality, long-term sustainability, and a clear pathway from research findings to measurable improvements in service delivery and overdose-related outcomes.
Is the focus limited only to opioid use disorder treatment?
No. The opportunity highlights overdose prevention and improved care at the intersection of pain management and OUD, indicating interest in projects that address pain, OUD, and the overlap between them.
Does the RFA emphasize dissemination, implementation, or both?
It emphasizes translational dissemination and implementation (D&I) research, with a practical focus on adoption, scale, sustainment, and improvement of evidence-based practices in real-world settings.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: Pilot Projects Enhancing Utility and Usage of Common Fund Data Sets (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Previous opportunity: Biology of Bladder Cancer (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
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 DA 23 054
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA DA 23 054) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| HEAL Initiative: Translating Research to Practice to End the Overdose Crisis (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 23 053 Funding Number: RFA DA 23 053 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Translational Development of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Devices (R18 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA EB 22 002 Funding Number: RFA EB 22 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Opioid Exposure and Effects on Placenta Function, Brain Development, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA HD 23 030 Funding Number: RFA HD 23 030 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Opioid Exposure and Effects on Placenta Function, Brain Development, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for RFA HD 23 033 Funding Number: RFA HD 23 033 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Opioid Exposure and Effects on Placenta Function, Brain Development, and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA HD 23 031 Funding Number: RFA HD 23 031 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Time-Sensitive Opportunities for Health Research (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 22 233 Funding Number: PAR 22 233 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Engineering and optimization of molecular technologies for functional dissection of neural circuits (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 22 245 Funding Number: RFA MH 22 245 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Elucidation and Validation of the role of Transporters in the Placenta, Lactating Mammary Gland, Developing Gut, and Blood Brain Barrier (UC2 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA HD 23 003 Funding Number: RFA HD 23 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Development of Therapies and Technologies Directed at Enhanced Pain Management (R41/R42 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 23 007 Funding Number: RFA NS 23 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Prevention and Management of Chronic Pain in Rural Populations (UG3/UH3, Clinical Trials Required) Apply for RFA NR 23 001 Funding Number: RFA NR 23 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Theories, Models and Methods for Analysis of Complex Data from the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 23 039 Funding Number: RFA DA 23 039 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE (INCLUDE) Clinical Research Short Course (R25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 22 195 Funding Number: PAR 22 195 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN): Coordinating Unit for Biostatistics, Informatics, and Engagement (CUBIE) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 22 291 Funding Number: RFA MH 22 291 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN): Comprehensive Center on Human and Non-human Primate Brain Cell Atlases (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 22 290 Funding Number: RFA MH 22 290 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN): Specialized Collaboratory on Human, Non-human Primate, and Mouse Brain Cell Atlases (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 22 292 Funding Number: RFA MH 22 292 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Brain-Behavior Quantification and Synchronization Transformative and Integrative Models of Behavior at the Organismal Level (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 23 030 Funding Number: RFA DA 23 030 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Down Syndrome Research (R24 Clinical Trials Not-Allowed) Apply for PAR 22 247 Funding Number: PAR 22 247 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative Integrated Basic and Clinical Team-based Research in Pain(RM1 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NS 22 069 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 069 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on Community Level Interventions for Firearm and Related Violence, Injury and Mortality Prevention (CLIF-VP) (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 23 066 Funding Number: PAR 23 066 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| HEAL Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral-to-Independent Career Transition Award in PAIN and SUD Research (Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for RFA NS 22 023 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, 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 DA 23 054", 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.