Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 27 016
The HEAL Initiative funding opportunity titled "Translating Addiction Epidemiology, Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Research into Practice (R61/R33 - Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-27-016) is an NIH grant program designed to push addiction research beyond discovery and into routine, real-world use. Its central aim is to help address the opioid crisis and overdose events by supporting action-oriented studies that speed up the adoption of what already works in prevention, treatment, and recovery services. Rather than focusing only on generating new knowledge in controlled settings, this opportunity emphasizes practical research that can be implemented in everyday clinical, public health, and community systems, with an eye toward measurable impact.
A key theme of the NOFO is translation into practice. NIH is looking for projects that actively reduce the gap between evidence and implementation, meaning proposals should be geared toward making evidence-based interventions and services more consistently used by the people and systems that need them. Studies can be designed at multiple levels, including the individual level (for example, patient-facing prevention or treatment support), the provider level (such as clinician behavior change or training approaches), the organizational level (clinic workflows, staffing models, payment structures, or referral systems), the community level (service coordination, outreach, harm reduction access points), or the broader system level (health system integration, public health infrastructure, or policy implementation). The initiative prioritizes approaches that are replicable and scalable, so reviewers are likely to favor models that can be reproduced in different settings and expanded beyond a single site or niche program.
The NOFO also highlights priority areas and methodological flexibility. One priority is research that directly supports the translation of addiction science into real-world practice, including implementation-focused work that identifies and addresses barriers to uptake. Another explicit priority is research relevant to chronic pain when it co-occurs with substance use, recognizing how often pain management and addiction risk intersect in clinical and community settings. The opportunity allows a wide range of research methods and strategies. Examples include identifying and characterizing malleable factors (changeable drivers of risk, treatment engagement, or recovery outcomes), developing and testing interventions and implementation strategies, and using collaborative data science approaches that bring together multiple partners or data sources to improve decision-making and service delivery. The NOFO also encourages projects that are built around genuine collaboration between researchers and decision-makers, which could include clinicians, health system leaders, public health officials, payers, community organizations, or policymakers. The idea is to design studies that are not only scientifically sound, but also aligned with real operational constraints and the priorities of the people responsible for implementing change.
This opportunity uses the NIH R61/R33 funding mechanism and is listed as "clinical trial optional." The R61/R33 structure is typically designed to support a phased approach, where an initial stage (R61) supports early, milestone-driven development or feasibility work, and a later stage (R33) supports expanded testing or broader implementation once predefined milestones are met. In practice, that means applicants should be prepared to propose clear, measurable go/no-go milestones that justify progression from the initial phase to the later phase, reflecting NIHs focus on accelerating progress and limiting long delays between planning and real-world evaluation. Because clinical trials are optional, proposals may include clinical trials when appropriate, but they are not required; implementation, systems, services, and data-focused studies can also be responsive if they fit the action-oriented translation purpose.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based entities and includes state, county, city or township governments; 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education where applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible applicants as defined in the NOFO. However, foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. At the same time, foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, which typically means a U.S. applicant can include certain international elements in the project when well-justified and compliant with NIH policy, even though the applicant organization itself must be domestic.
Administratively, the opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health, categorized as a discretionary grant in the health area, and references CFDA numbers 93.213, 93.273, 93.279, and 93.866. The original closing date listed is 2029-02-09, and the opportunity record shows a creation date of 2026-06-04. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided listing, which usually means applicants need to consult the full NOFO text for budget limits, project period expectations, milestone requirements, and any institute-specific preferences or review criteria.
Overall, this HEAL Initiative NOFO is aimed at projects that can credibly show how they will move effective addiction-related prevention, treatment, and recovery approaches into standard practice quickly and in a way that can be repeated and scaled. Competitive applications will typically align strong implementation and services research design with real-world partnerships, practical outcomes, and a clear path from initial milestone-driven development to broader deployment or testing.Apply for RFA DA 27 016
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HEAL Initiative: Translating Addiction Epidemiology, Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Research into Practice (R61/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, 93.273, 93.279, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2029-02-09.
- 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 this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the NIH HEAL Initiative funding opportunity titled "Translating Addiction Epidemiology, Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Research into Practice (R61/R33 - Clinical Trial Optional)" with Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-27-016. It supports action-oriented research designed to move evidence-based addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery approaches into routine, real-world use.
What is the main goal of RFA-DA-27-016?
The central goal is to reduce the gap between evidence and implementation by speeding up the adoption of interventions and services that already work, especially in ways that can measurably help address the opioid crisis and overdose events in real-world settings.
How is this opportunity different from traditional research grants?
Rather than emphasizing discovery or highly controlled studies, this opportunity emphasizes translation into practice. Projects are expected to be designed for everyday clinical, public health, and community systems and to aim for practical, measurable impact.
What kinds of research topics are responsive to this NOFO?
Projects that translate addiction epidemiology, prevention, treatment, and recovery research into real-world practice are responsive. The NOFO prioritizes studies that actively reduce barriers to uptake and improve consistent use of evidence-based interventions and services in the settings where people receive care and support.
Does the NOFO focus only on opioid use disorder?
The opportunity is positioned within the HEAL Initiative and is explicitly framed around addressing the opioid crisis and overdose events, but the provided description emphasizes translating addiction-related prevention, treatment, and recovery services more broadly into routine practice.
What does "translation into practice" mean in this context?
It means designing studies that help ensure evidence-based interventions and services are actually used consistently in the real world. The focus is on narrowing the evidence-to-implementation gap by addressing barriers, aligning with operational realities, and enabling adoption across systems that deliver prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
At what levels can projects be designed?
Studies can be designed at multiple levels, including:
- Individual level (for example, patient-facing prevention or treatment support)
- Provider level (for example, clinician behavior change or training approaches)
- Organizational level (for example, clinic workflows, staffing models, payment structures, or referral systems)
- Community level (for example, service coordination, outreach, harm reduction access points)
- System level (for example, health system integration, public health infrastructure, or policy implementation)
What types of approaches are likely to be favored?
The NOFO highlights the importance of approaches that are replicable and scalable. Projects that can be reproduced across different settings and expanded beyond a single site or niche program are likely to align well with the stated priorities.
What are the priority areas mentioned in the listing?
The listing emphasizes priorities that include (1) implementation-focused research that supports translation of addiction science into real-world practice, including identifying and addressing barriers to uptake, and (2) research relevant to chronic pain when it co-occurs with substance use.
How does chronic pain fit into this opportunity?
The NOFO explicitly prioritizes research relevant to chronic pain when it co-occurs with substance use, reflecting the intersection of pain management and addiction risk in clinical and community settings.
Are clinical trials required?
No. The opportunity is labeled "clinical trial optional," meaning projects may include clinical trials when appropriate, but clinical trials are not required. Implementation, systems, services, and data-focused studies can also be responsive if they align with the action-oriented translation purpose.
What does the R61/R33 funding mechanism mean?
The R61/R33 mechanism is a phased approach. The first phase (R61) typically supports early, milestone-driven development or feasibility work. The second phase (R33) supports expanded testing or broader implementation after predefined milestones are met.
What are "go/no-go" milestones, and why do they matter here?
Go/no-go milestones are clear, measurable criteria that determine whether a project progresses from the R61 phase to the R33 phase. The opportunity emphasizes milestone-driven progress to accelerate translation and reduce long delays between planning and real-world evaluation.
What research methods are allowed under this NOFO?
The NOFO indicates methodological flexibility. Examples mentioned include identifying and characterizing malleable (changeable) factors that influence risk, engagement, or recovery outcomes; developing and testing interventions and implementation strategies; and using collaborative data science approaches that combine partners or data sources to improve decision-making and service delivery.
What are "malleable factors" in the context of this program?
Malleable factors are changeable drivers that can influence addiction-related risk, treatment engagement, or recovery outcomes. The NOFO notes that identifying and characterizing these factors can be part of responsive research strategies.
What does "collaborative data science" refer to in the listing?
The listing describes collaborative data science approaches as efforts that bring together multiple partners or data sources to improve decision-making and service delivery, aligned with the goal of speeding translation into real-world practice.
How important are partnerships with real-world decision-makers?
The NOFO encourages genuine collaboration between researchers and decision-makers such as clinicians, health system leaders, public health officials, payers, community organizations, or policymakers. Projects are expected to be scientifically sound while also fitting operational constraints and implementation priorities.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based entities. The listing includes (among others): state, county, city or township governments; 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; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education where applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible applicants as defined in the NOFO.
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
No. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply.
Are any international activities allowed?
Yes, the listing states that foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. This typically means a U.S. applicant organization may include certain international elements in the project when well-justified and compliant with NIH policy, even though the applicant organization must be domestic.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the HEAL Initiative.
What type of grant is this categorized as?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health area.
What CFDA numbers are referenced in the listing?
The listing references CFDA numbers 93.213, 93.273, 93.279, and 93.866.
What is the closing date shown in the opportunity record?
The original closing date listed is 2029-02-09.
What is the opportunity record creation date?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of 2026-06-04.
Is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) provided?
No. The provided listing does not specify an award ceiling.
Is the expected number of awards provided?
No. The provided listing does not specify the expected number of awards.
Where should applicants look for budget limits, project period expectations, and review details?
The listing indicates that applicants typically need to consult the full NOFO text for budget limits, project period expectations, milestone requirements, and any institute-specific preferences or review criteria.
What would a competitive application generally emphasize based on the listing?
Based on the listing, competitive applications would typically emphasize strong implementation and services research design, real-world partnerships, practical outcomes, replicability and scalability, and a clear milestone-driven path from initial development or feasibility (R61) to broader deployment or testing (R33).
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