HEAL Initiative: Pain Research Enhancement Program (PREP) (R15 Clinical Trial Optional)
Funding program supports R15-eligible PIs in conducting basic pain research, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and engaging students.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: September 28, 2025 (Letter of Intent) | October 28, 2025 (Application) | November 24, 2025 (AIDS Application) | September 27, 2026 (Letter of Intent) | October 27, 2026 (Application) | November 23, 2026 (AIDS Application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $375,000 direct costs per project (max 3 years); no more than 1/3 to non-R15-eligible institutions.
Summary: Supports R15-eligible PIs to conduct basic/mechanistic pain research, foster interdisciplinary partnerships, and engage students in research.
Key Information: Requires a U.S. research partnership (subaward), strong student engagement, and strict eligibility; non-compliant applications will be withdrawn.
Description
This NIH funding opportunity supports basic and mechanistic pain research at R15-eligible institutions, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and student engagement. The program aims to:
- Advance rigorous pain research projects led by R15-eligible principal investigators (PIs).
- Foster integrated, interdisciplinary research partnerships between R15-eligible PIs and investigators from other U.S. institutions.
- Enhance the research environment for health professional trainees, undergraduates, and graduate students by actively involving them in pain research.
Projects may include preclinical, mechanistic, or basic experimental studies involving humans (BESH), but not clinical trials focused on safety, tolerability, or efficacy of interventions.
