HEAL Initiative: Translating Research to Practice to End the Overdose Crisis (R33 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA DA 25 077

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 25 077

The HEAL Initiative: Translating Research to Practice to End the Overdose Crisis (R33 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-DA-25-077) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant designed to move evidence-based strategies into real-world use to help reduce overdose deaths. It sits under the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative and is positioned as a "parent" RFA for the HEAL Translation to Practice Team, meaning it provides a broad umbrella for projects that translate, disseminate, and implement research findings in community, health care, and other applied settings. The central emphasis is on practical, translational dissemination and implementation (D and I) research that can make measurable progress against the overdose crisis, including work that addresses the intersection between pain and opioid use disorder (OUD). Clinical trials are optional under this R33 mechanism, so applicants may propose trial or non-trial implementation research depending on what best fits their aims.

A key feature of this opportunity is that it is meant to operate alongside targeted NIH Notices of Special Interest (NOSIs) that define more specific priority areas. For fiscal year 2025, the currently named NOSIs include a Workforce NOSI (supporting implementation approaches that strengthen and expand the workforce needed to deliver effective pain and OUD-related care), an Exposure to Violence NOSI (recognizing the strong links between violence exposure, trauma, substance use, and overdose risk), and a Leveraging Inpatient Hospitalizations NOSI (focusing on how hospital-based touchpoints and transitions of care can be used to identify risk and connect people to effective services). In practice, this means applicants can align their proposals with the broader parent RFA goals while also tailoring their projects to one of these highlighted lanes when appropriate. The RFA also notes that there is a companion R61/R33 opportunity, signaling that NIH is supporting both staged early-development-to-expansion pathways (R61/R33) and more directly implementation-focused R33 projects under the Translation to Practice portfolio.

The expected scope is reflected in the award parameters. The listed award ceiling is $750,000, and NIH anticipates making around 12 awards. The opportunity is categorized under "Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services" and is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.865, 93.866), which indicates the funding aligns with several NIH program authorities relevant to substance use, mental health, health services, and related translational work. The posting was created on 2024-12-17, and the original closing date is 2025-03-20, which effectively sets the timeline for applicants to prepare implementation-oriented proposals that are ready to operate in real settings and generate actionable results.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive of the kinds of partners needed to implement overdose and OUD-related solutions at scale. 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 other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The RFA further highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), 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, there are clear restrictions: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible.

Overall, the opportunity is aimed at bridging the gap between what research has shown to work and what is actually delivered in clinics, hospitals, community programs, and other frontline systems that touch people at risk of overdose or living with OUD and pain. Competitive projects under this RFA would be expected to focus on real-world adoption, integration, and sustainability of evidence-based practices; measure implementation outcomes and, where relevant, health outcomes; and address barriers that prevent effective interventions from reaching the people and settings where they are most needed.

• 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, 93.273, 93.279, 93.865, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-03-20. (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.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
• 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 25 077

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