Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 22 070
The HEAL Initiative funding opportunity titled "Development and Validation of Non-Rodent Mammalian Models of Pain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NS-22-070) supports research aimed at improving how pain is studied and translated into better treatments. The core purpose is to fund the development, detailed characterization, and rigorous validation of pain models in non-rodent mammals, along with the creation or refinement of outcome measures and endpoints that can be used reliably in translational research. The emphasis on non-rodent species reflects a desire to strengthen the bridge between basic discovery and clinical reality, since certain biological, anatomical, behavioral, and cognitive features relevant to pain may be better represented in non-rodent systems than in traditional rodent models.
Projects under this FOA are expected to produce models that meaningfully resemble real human pain conditions. That includes recapitulating key features across multiple levels of analysis, such as molecular and cellular mechanisms, tissue and pathological changes, as well as behavioral and cognitive components of pain. In practical terms, the NIH is looking for models that do more than generate a pain-like signal; they should mirror important aspects of specific pain disorders or pain states in humans and come with validated ways to measure pain-related outcomes. These measures might include behavioral readouts, physiological markers, imaging or electrophysiological endpoints, biochemical signatures, or other quantifiable indicators that can be standardized and reproduced across labs and studies.
A major translational driver of the announcement is the HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative focus on accelerating non-opioid pain therapeutics. Research supported by this grant is expected to yield tools and systems that make it easier to test and develop non-opioid analgesic interventions that have little or no addiction liability. In other words, the deliverables are not only new animal models, but also validated measurement frameworks that help determine whether potential treatments truly reduce pain in a way that is predictive of human benefit, without leaning on opioid mechanisms and without increasing risk for misuse or dependence.
The funding mechanism is an NIH R01 grant, and the FOA explicitly states that clinical trials are not allowed, meaning the work must stay in the preclinical or non-clinical translational domain rather than enrolling human participants in an interventional study. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program within health-related activity areas, and it is administered by the National Institutes of Health. The original closing date listed for the opportunity is March 6, 2024. The award ceiling is $750,000, indicating a cap on funding per award (as presented in the source data). Several CFDA numbers are associated with the opportunity (93.121, 93.213, 93.273, 93.279, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866), reflecting the NIH programs and institutes that may be involved in funding or administratively aligning the initiative.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can contribute to model development and validation. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, along with public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal entities are eligible as well, including federally recognized Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. Nonprofits are eligible whether or not they hold 501(c)(3) status, and both for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses may apply. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant categories 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, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations. This wide eligibility aligns with the technically demanding and resource-intensive nature of non-rodent model research, where specialized facilities, veterinary expertise, and cross-sector partnerships are often necessary.
Overall, the grant opportunity is designed to fill a specific gap in the pain research pipeline by pushing for well-validated, non-rodent mammalian pain models and robust, standardized endpoints that can be used with confidence to evaluate non-opioid pain treatments. The intended impact is to improve the predictive power of preclinical pain research, reduce failures in translation to human conditions, and accelerate the development of safer pain management approaches that do not carry the addiction risks associated with opioids.Apply for RFA NS 22 070
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HEAL Initiative: Development and Validation of Non-Rodent Mammalian Models of Pain(R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.213, 93.273, 93.279, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-08-09.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-06. (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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Development and Validation of Non-Rodent Mammalian Models of Pain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-NS-22-070.
What program or initiative is this opportunity part of?
This funding opportunity is part of the NIH HEAL (Helping to End Addiction Long-term) Initiative, with an emphasis on accelerating non-opioid pain therapeutics.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The main purpose is to support the development, detailed characterization, and rigorous validation of pain models in non-rodent mammals, along with the creation or refinement of reliable outcome measures and endpoints that can be used in translational pain research.
Why does the FOA emphasize non-rodent mammalian models?
The FOA emphasizes non-rodent species to strengthen translation from basic research to clinical reality, since certain biological, anatomical, behavioral, and cognitive features relevant to pain may be better represented in non-rodent systems than in traditional rodent models.
What kinds of research activities are expected under this FOA?
Projects are expected to produce non-rodent mammalian pain models that meaningfully resemble real human pain conditions and to validate standardized outcome measures and endpoints that can be used reliably across studies and labs.
What does it mean for a model to "meaningfully resemble" a human pain condition in this FOA?
It means the model should recapitulate key features of human pain conditions across multiple levels of analysis. Examples described in the opportunity include molecular and cellular mechanisms, tissue and pathological changes, and behavioral and cognitive components associated with pain.
Does this FOA support work on measuring pain outcomes, not just building animal models?
Yes. A core deliverable is the creation or refinement of outcome measures and endpoints that can be standardized and reproduced, supporting reliable translational research.
What types of endpoints or outcome measures are mentioned as relevant?
The opportunity notes that outcomes may include behavioral readouts, physiological markers, imaging or electrophysiological endpoints, biochemical signatures, or other quantifiable indicators that can be standardized and reproduced across labs and studies.
How does this FOA connect to developing new pain treatments?
The FOA is positioned as a translational driver for non-opioid analgesic development. The expected outputs (validated non-rodent models and robust measurement frameworks) are intended to make it easier to evaluate whether potential non-opioid interventions truly reduce pain in ways that are predictive of human benefit and have little or no addiction liability.
Is the focus limited to opioid-based pain treatments?
No. The emphasis is on accelerating non-opioid pain therapeutics and on tools that help reduce reliance on opioid mechanisms while avoiding increased risk for misuse or dependence.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
The funding mechanism is an NIH R01 grant.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The FOA explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the work must remain in the preclinical or non-clinical translational domain rather than enrolling human participants in an interventional study.
Which federal agency administers this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What type of grant program is this categorized as?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant program within health-related activity areas.
What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is March 6, 2024.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is listed as $750,000, indicating a cap on funding per award as presented in the source data.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity lists multiple CFDA numbers: 93.121, 93.213, 93.273, 93.279, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.846, 93.847, 93.853, 93.865, and 93.866.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include various government entities (state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, tribal entities (including federally recognized tribal governments and non-federally recognized tribal organizations), nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other categories specifically highlighted in the opportunity.
Are U.S. tribal entities eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and also tribal organizations that are not federally recognized.
Are nonprofits eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The eligibility description includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are both listed as eligible.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically called out as eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, and other similar categories.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are included among the additional eligible applicant categories highlighted.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are listed among the eligible applicant categories.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included among the eligible applicant categories.
Are non-U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities/foreign organizations are eligible.
What is the intended impact of the research funded by this FOA?
The intended impact is to improve the predictive power of preclinical pain research, reduce failures in translation to human conditions, and accelerate development of safer pain management approaches that do not carry addiction risks associated with opioids.
What are the expected deliverables from funded projects?
The FOA emphasizes deliverables that include (1) new or improved non-rodent mammalian pain models that reflect key features of human pain states and (2) validated, standardized measurement frameworks and endpoints that can be reproduced across studies and used to evaluate non-opioid analgesic interventions.
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