HEAL Initiative-Early-Stage Discovery of New Pain Targets Within the Understudied Druggable Proteome (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-06-08. Official notice and agency instructions control.
Up to $100K to rapidly validate overlooked pain protein targets and generate preliminary data that positions you for larger NIH grants.
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What this is
This NIH HEAL Initiative grant supports pilot projects generating preliminary data on understudied druggable proteins for pain therapeutics. Awards up to $100,000 fund basic biochemical and biological work to characterize candidate proteins and establish their potential as pain drug targets. The program explicitly excludes clinical trials and targets the opioid crisis by accelerating discovery of novel pain medications. Applicants must focus on proteins designated as understudied within the NIH druggable proteome list.
Who can apply
All nonprofit and for-profit entities are eligible, including small businesses, universities, government agencies, and tribal organizations. Solo researchers must be affiliated with an eligible institution; applications are submitted by institutions, not individuals. No geographic restrictions.
Eligible applicant types
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- County governments
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- State governments
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- City or township governments
- Small businesses
- Independent school districts
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- Special district governments
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Full description — from the agency
The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to solicit applications for pilot projects to identify new druggable targets for pain within the understudied druggable proteome. Awards will support generation of preliminary data and/or tools around eligible understudied protein(s) listed in this NOFO. This NOFO is intended to jumpstart research on understudied proteins within the context of pain and pain management and provide applicants with sufficient funding to perform basic biochemical and/or biological work to further the characterization of understudied proteins to identify new druggable targets for pain. This NOFO is part of the NIH Helping to End Addiction Long Term (HEAL) initiative to accelerate the development of novel medications to treat all aspects of the opioid addiction cycle, including progression to chronic use, withdrawal symptoms, craving, relapse, and overdose.
Topics: pain research · drug discovery · protein targets · understudied druggable proteome · opioid alternatives · HEAL initiative · pilot research · NIH funding
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.