Initiative: Program to Reveal and Evaluate Cells-to-gene Information that Specify Intricacies, Origins and the Nature of (PRECISION) Human Pain Network
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions and collaborative teams conducting large-scale 'omics and physiology research on human pain. Applicants must have expertise in comprehensive dataset generation using primary human tissue across pain-related neurological systems. Teams should include neurobiologists, pain researchers, human pain scientists, physicians, surgeons, and specialists in statistics, physics, engineering, and bioinformatics.
Eligible recipients typically include universities, research hospitals, and research institutes capable of conducting NIH-funded biomedical research. Applicants must demonstrate ability to generate and disseminate high-throughput multimodal datasets. Projects must align with the NIH HEAL Initiative's mission to advance pain research and therapeutics development.
This is a cooperative agreement mechanism. Awardees will work as a network to develop best practices, validate findings, and build an integrated knowledgebase. Collaboration across institutions and disciplines is expected and essential.
Key dates
- Feb 20, 2026 Applications open
- Oct 12, 2026 Application deadline in 133 days
- Jul 1, 2027 Award announced
- Aug 1, 2027 Project start
This grant is for research institutions and collaborative teams conducting large-scale 'omics and physiology research on human pain. Applicants must have expertise in comprehensive dataset generation using primary human tissue across pain-related neurological systems. Teams should include neurobiologists, pain researchers, human pain scientists, physicians, surgeons, and specialists in statistics, physics, engineering, and bioinformatics.
Eligible recipients typically include universities, research hospitals, and research institutes capable of conducting NIH-funded biomedical research. Applicants must demonstrate ability to generate and disseminate high-throughput multimodal datasets. Projects must align with the NIH HEAL Initiative's mission to advance pain research and therapeutics development.
This is a cooperative agreement mechanism. Awardees will work as a network to develop best practices, validate findings, and build an integrated knowledgebase. Collaboration across institutions and disciplines is expected and essential.
Program description
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, in conjunction with other NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) as a part of the congressionally mandated NIH Helping to End Addiction Long Term (HEAL) initiative intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for comprehensive ‘omics and physiology dataset generation using primary human tissue across the pain neuraxis. Applications should focus on large-scale, high-throughput data generation and analysis of human genes, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and phenotyping of neuronal and non-neuronal cells at the single-cell and tissue levels. This NOFO is intended as a continuation of the NIH HEAL Initiative’s Program to Reveal and Evaluate Cells-to-gene Information that Specify Intricacies, Origins and the Nature of (PRECISION) Human Pain Network. The goal of this research will be to expand the generation and dissemination of comprehensive datasets using primary pain-associated human tissues, incorporate cutting-edge technologies, enhance coverage across multiple pain conditions, and extend integration and harmonization of multimodal outputs. This NOFO will utilize a milestone-driven, cooperative agreement mechanism, in which awarded centers will work collaboratively as a network to develop best practices, optimize protocols, replicate and cross-validate research findings, and collectively build an integrated knowledgebase, with digital resources for the entire pain research and therapeutics development communities. NIH program staff involvement is expected to coordinate alignment with the broader HEAL Data Sharing Ecosystem and account for evolving priorities to ensure program objectives are achieved.
Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful multidisciplinary collaborations and responsive projects. Investigators with expertise and insights into comprehensive ‘omics and physiology dataset generation in primary human tissue are encouraged to consider applying for this NOFO. In addition, applications from collaborating, multidisciplinary teams of neurobiologists, pain biologists, human pain scientists and/or physicians, surgeons, and scientists with expertise in statistics, physics, engineering, and bioinformatics should consider applying to this funding opportunity.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Hospital
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Details
This grant is for research institutions and collaborative teams conducting large-scale 'omics and physiology research on human pain. Applicants must have expertise in comprehensive dataset generation using primary human tissue across pain-related neurological systems. Teams should include neurobiologists, pain researchers, human pain scientists, physicians, surgeons, and specialists in statistics, physics, engineering, and bioinformatics.
Eligible recipients typically include universities, research hospitals, and research institutes capable of conducting NIH-funded biomedical research. Applicants must demonstrate ability to generate and disseminate high-throughput multimodal datasets. Projects must align with the NIH HEAL Initiative's mission to advance pain research and therapeutics development.
This is a cooperative agreement mechanism. Awardees will work as a network to develop best practices, validate findings, and build an integrated knowledgebase. Collaboration across institutions and disciplines is expected and essential.
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NIH SF-424 Application Form
- Project Narrative/Research Strategy
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biosketch(es) for Key Personnel
- Letters of Institutional Support
- Data Management and Sharing Plan
- Biosafety Certification (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 HEAL Precision Pain
- 📧 HEALPrecisionPain@ninds.nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail.
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.853 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$82,511,281
-
$67,362,785
-
$62,646,087
-
$56,144,651
-
$45,268,737
-
$40,959,789
-
$35,655,349
-
$35,655,116
-
$35,335,145
-
$34,183,297
Top States by Funding
- MA 6 awards $186.5M
- CA 4 awards $129.9M
- OH 4 awards $112.5M
- FL 3 awards $100.3M
- MN 2 awards $99.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.853). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $2,362,835,459 | |
| 2025 | $2,345,500,401 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Research institutions, universities, hospitals, and research centers with expertise in large-scale 'omics and physiology research. Multidisciplinary teams with neurobiologists, pain researchers, and specialists in bioinformatics, statistics, and engineering are encouraged.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is October 12, 2026. Applications are not being solicited at this time, but interested researchers should prepare collaborative proposals now.
What types of research does this fund?
Large-scale, high-throughput dataset generation from primary human tissue. Work includes genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and phenotyping at single-cell and tissue levels across the pain neuraxis.
Is cost-sharing required?
No cost-sharing is required. This is fully funded through the NIH HEAL Initiative.
What makes an application competitive?
Strong multidisciplinary teams, feasibility of large-scale dataset generation, alignment with HEAL Initiative priorities, and commitment to data sharing and integration within the research network.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Assemble a multidisciplinary team early. Include expertise in neurophysiology, pain biology, biostatistics, bioinformatics, and engineering for stronger applications.
- Focus on primary human tissue datasets. Emphasize high-throughput methods and your ability to generate comprehensive, replicable 'omics data at scale.
- Plan for network collaboration. Design your project to work alongside other centers in sharing protocols, cross-validating findings, and contributing to an integrated knowledgebase.
- Address data sharing and integration. Show how your datasets will align with the HEAL Data Sharing Ecosystem and benefit the broader pain research community.
- Demonstrate feasibility and resources. Clearly detail your laboratory infrastructure, access to pain-associated human tissues, and capacity for large-scale data generation and management.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lack sufficient multidisciplinary expertise or realistic plans for data sharing. Projects focusing on hypothesis-driven studies rather than comprehensive, large-scale dataset generation may not align with program goals. Failure to address integration with the broader HEAL Data Sharing Ecosystem and network collaboration framework weakens competitiveness.
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