Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 22 176
This NIH funding opportunity, released under the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative, supports research projects aimed at improving how services are delivered to people with opioid use disorder (OUD) who also face other serious clinical challenges, including co-occurring mental and physical health conditions and suicide risk. The central focus is on multi-component service delivery interventions, meaning real-world care packages that bundle several supports together (for example, medication treatment plus care coordination, behavioral health services, peer support, recovery navigation, suicide-risk screening, housing or employment linkages, and other wraparound elements). NIH is looking for studies that do not just ask whether a bundled program works, but that also determine which parts of the bundle are actually responsible for better outcomes. The practical goal is to streamline and optimize service packages so patients and systems are not burdened with components that add cost and complexity without clearly improving access, continuity, quality, value, or clinical outcomes.
The research objectives are twofold. First, applicants are expected to test the overall effectiveness of multi-component interventions for OUD and co-occurring conditions (explicitly including suicide risk). Second, the studies must examine the relative contribution of the individual components that make up the intervention, so the field can identify the active ingredients. In other words, NIH is not only funding "does this program help?" but also "what within the program is doing the work?" This emphasis on component-level evidence is meant to speed translation into practice by enabling health systems and community providers to implement leaner, more scalable service models while maintaining or improving clinical impact.
The announcement describes two main types of projects it wants to fund. One category focuses on service delivery packages that have already shown effectiveness when delivered as a bundle; in those cases, the study should identify which constituent components are driving improvements in key care metrics and patient outcomes. The other category targets popular or widely implemented service delivery packages that are already in use but do not yet have strong evidence that the full bundle is effective; here, applicants are expected to simultaneously test the overall effectiveness of the package while also evaluating its subcomponents. Across both categories, the expectation is that the work will produce actionable guidance on how to redesign or refine service delivery approaches for complex, high-risk patients, rather than simply publishing explanatory findings without a clear path to adoption.
A major theme is that studies must be highly pragmatic and practice-relevant. NIH signals a preference for research designs that preserve scientific rigor while recognizing the urgency of getting effective solutions into routine care quickly. That generally implies real-world settings (such as community addiction treatment programs, primary care, emergency departments, behavioral health clinics, criminal-legal touchpoints, or other service systems), outcomes that matter to patients and providers, and methods that can operate within the constraints of typical practice environments. The funding mechanism is an R01 (clinical trials optional), which gives applicants flexibility to propose a clinical trial if appropriate, but does not require one if a different rigorous design better fits the research question and implementation context.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations: state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also highlights additional eligible applicants 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, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it places strict limits on foreign involvement: non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
From the opportunity details provided, the sponsor is the National Institutes of Health, and the program is identified as RFA-MH-22-176. The funding instrument is a grant under the discretionary category, aligned with public priorities in health and social services. The listed award ceiling is $500,000 (as provided in the source data). The original closing date shown is March 18, 2022, indicating this was time-limited and tied to the HEAL Initiative's rapid-response posture. The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity span several NIH program areas, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of OUD, co-occurring conditions, and suicide risk across institutes and centers.
Overall, this opportunity is designed to produce clear, practice-ready evidence about how to construct and deliver effective, efficient care packages for people with OUD who often have layered clinical and social needs. NIH is explicitly pushing applicants to move beyond evaluating whole programs as black boxes and instead generate decision-relevant evidence about which components should be kept, strengthened, modified, or removed to maximize impact in real-world service settings.Apply for RFA MH 22 176
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Emergency Award HEAL Initiative: Developing and Optimizing Multi-Component Service Delivery Interventions for People with Opioid Use Disorder, Co-Occurring Conditions, and/or Suicide Risk (R01 Clinical Trials Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.846, 93.865, 93.866.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-01-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-03-18. (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 $500,000.00 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 this NIH funding opportunity about?
This NIH opportunity (released under the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative) supports research to improve how services are delivered to people with opioid use disorder (OUD) who also have other serious clinical challenges, including co-occurring mental and physical health conditions and suicide risk. The focus is on real-world, multi-component service delivery interventions (bundled care packages) and generating practical evidence that can be used to optimize those packages in routine practice.
What is the main goal of the funded research?
The central goal is to produce practice-ready evidence on how to construct and deliver effective and efficient service packages for people with OUD and complex needs. NIH is specifically looking for studies that can identify which parts of a bundled intervention actually drive improvements, so programs can be streamlined to reduce unnecessary cost and complexity while maintaining or improving outcomes.
What does NIH mean by a "multi-component service delivery intervention"?
A multi-component intervention is a bundled package of supports delivered together in real-world care settings. Examples mentioned include medication treatment plus additional components such as care coordination, behavioral health services, peer support, recovery navigation, suicide-risk screening, and linkages to housing or employment supports, along with other wraparound elements.
What makes this opportunity different from studies that just test whether a program works?
NIH is not only interested in whether the full bundle improves outcomes. The research is also expected to determine the relative contribution of the individual components within the bundle (the "active ingredients"). The intent is to avoid treating service packages as black boxes and instead generate evidence that helps providers and systems decide which components to keep, strengthen, modify, or remove.
What are the two main research objectives NIH expects applicants to address?
The objectives are: (1) test the overall effectiveness of multi-component interventions for OUD and co-occurring conditions (explicitly including suicide risk), and (2) evaluate the relative contribution of the individual components that make up the intervention so it is clear what within the package is responsible for improved outcomes.
What types of projects does NIH want to fund under this announcement?
The announcement describes two main categories: (1) studies of service delivery packages that have already shown effectiveness when delivered as a bundle, where the project should identify which components are driving improvements; and (2) studies of widely implemented or popular service packages that are already in use but do not yet have strong evidence for the full bundle, where the project should test overall effectiveness while also evaluating subcomponents.
Does the opportunity prioritize real-world or pragmatic research?
Yes. A major theme is that projects should be highly pragmatic and practice-relevant. NIH signals a preference for designs that maintain scientific rigor while producing evidence that can be translated into routine care quickly, using outcomes and methods that fit within typical practice constraints.
What kinds of settings are considered relevant for these studies?
The announcement emphasizes real-world settings such as community addiction treatment programs, primary care, emergency departments, behavioral health clinics, criminal-legal touchpoints, and other service systems where people with OUD and co-occurring needs receive services.
Are suicide risk and co-occurring conditions within scope?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes co-occurring mental and physical health conditions and suicide risk as part of the serious clinical challenges facing the population of interest.
What kinds of outcomes is NIH interested in improving through these interventions?
The goal is to improve metrics and outcomes that matter in practice, including access, continuity, quality, value, and clinical outcomes. The announcement also emphasizes reducing unnecessary cost and complexity by identifying components that do not clearly contribute to better outcomes.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
The funding mechanism is an NIH R01. Clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose a clinical trial if it fits the question and context, but a trial is not required if another rigorous, practice-suitable design is more appropriate.
Is a clinical trial required?
No. The R01 mechanism is listed as "clinical trials optional." The opportunity allows flexibility to use a clinical trial design or another rigorous approach that fits the service delivery and implementation context.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations, including state/county/city/township/special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
Are specific institution types highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The announcement highlights additional eligible applicants 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, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign organizations allowed to apply?
No. Non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-domestic component?
No. The opportunity states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are foreign components allowed under NIH policy for this announcement?
No. The announcement indicates that foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
Who is the sponsor and what is the program identifier?
The sponsor is the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The program identifier provided is RFA-MH-22-176.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling in the provided details is $500,000.
What was the closing date shown for this opportunity?
The original closing date shown is March 18, 2022, indicating it was time-limited.
How does this opportunity relate to the HEAL Initiative?
It is released under the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative and is aligned with HEAL's emphasis on accelerating solutions to address opioid-related harms by improving the effectiveness and scalability of service delivery approaches.
What does NIH expect applicants to produce at the end of the project?
The expectation is actionable guidance that can inform how to redesign or refine service delivery approaches for complex, high-risk patients. The emphasis is on producing decision-relevant evidence that supports adoption in health systems and community provider settings, not just explanatory findings without a clear path to implementation.
Why does NIH emphasize identifying which components of a bundle matter?
NIH is trying to speed translation into practice by enabling implementation of leaner, more scalable models. By identifying which components are responsible for improvements, systems can reduce burden on patients and providers and avoid paying for or delivering elements that add cost and complexity without clear benefit.
What is the general policy stance on burden and scalability in this announcement?
The opportunity highlights the need to optimize and streamline multi-component service packages so patients and systems are not burdened with components that do not clearly improve access, continuity, quality, value, or clinical outcomes.
What category of funding instrument is this?
The instrument is a grant, and it is listed under a discretionary category aligned with public priorities in health and social services.
Are CFDA numbers mentioned, and what do they imply?
Yes. The opportunity notes that associated CFDA numbers span several NIH program areas, reflecting the cross-cutting nature of opioid use disorder, co-occurring conditions, and suicide risk across NIH institutes and centers.
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| Emergency Award HEAL Initiative: Optimizing Existing Evidence-Based Multi-Component Service Delivery Interventions for People with Opioid Use Disorder, Co-Occurring Conditions, and/or Suicide Risk (R01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA MH 22 175 Funding Number: RFA MH 22 175 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $12,500,000 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Development of Novel Tools to Probe Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in Human and Non-Human Primate Brain (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA MH 22 115 Funding Number: RFA MH 22 115 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advancing Integrated Models (AIM) of Care to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes among Women Who Experience Persistent Disparities (R01 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA NR 22 002 Funding Number: RFA NR 22 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Advancing Integrated Models (AIM) of Care to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes among Women Who Experience Persistent Disparities (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NR 22 003 Funding Number: RFA NR 22 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Human Pain-associated Genes and Cells Data Coordination and Integration Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 021 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Discovery of Biomarkers and Biomarker Signatures to Facilitate Clinical Trials for Pain Therapeutics (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NS 22 050 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 050 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Projects- TargetedBCP (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 026 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 026 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Planning Projects TargetedBCPP (R34 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 027 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 027 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| BRAIN Initiative Connectivity across Scales (BRAIN CONNECTS): Comprehensive Centers for Mouse Brain (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 048 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 048 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Connectivity across Scales (BRAIN CONNECTS): Specialized Projects for Scalable Technologies (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 049 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 049 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Connectivity across Scales (BRAIN CONNECTS): Comprehensive Centers for Human and Non-Human Primate Brain (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 047 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 047 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Exploratory Team-Research BRAIN Circuit Programs - eTeamBCP (U01 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA NS 22 028 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 028 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Coordinating Center to Support Research on Community Level Interventions for Firearm and Related Violence, Injury and Mortality Prevention (CLIF-VP) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 22 120 Funding Number: PAR 22 120 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Research on Community Level Interventions for Firearm and Related Violence, Injury and Mortality Prevention (CLIF-VP) (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 22 115 Funding Number: PAR 22 115 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Integration and Analysis of BRAIN Initiative Data (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 22 220 Funding Number: RFA MH 22 220 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Clinical Trials Development for Co-Occurring Conditions in Individuals with Down syndrome: Phased Awards for INCLUDE (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA OD 22 010 Funding Number: RFA OD 22 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Transformative Research Award for the INCLUDE (Investigation of Co-occurring Conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndrome) Project (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 22 009 Funding Number: RFA OD 22 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $6,000,000 |
| INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE (INCLUDE) Clinical Trial Readiness (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 22 007 Funding Number: RFA OD 22 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| Small Research Grants for Analysis, Curation, and/or Sharing of Down syndrome-related Research Data for the INCLUDE Project (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 22 008 Funding Number: RFA OD 22 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Team Research for Initial Translational Efforts in Non-addictive Analgesic Therapeutics Development [Small Molecules and Biologics] (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 052 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 052 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
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