HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR) - Building Engagement, Assistance, Capacity, Outreach, and Networks (BEACON) Center (U2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health, under the Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative, is seeking applications for a single Building Engagement, Assistance, Capacity, Outreach, and Networks (BEACON) Center. This center will serve as the coordination hub for the Integrative Management of chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR) Phase II research network. The primary objective is to test and implement scientific solutions and evidence-based treatments for individuals suffering from both chronic pain and opioid use disorder, focusing on factors that influence the wide-scale adoption and sustainability of these integrated services. The BEACON Center will be structured into four functional cores: an Administrative Core for logistics and management, a Research Education Core for capacity building in implementation science, a Survey and Qualitative Data Core to identify service barriers, and an Evidence to Clinical Impact Core to develop scalable resources. Key deliverables include the maintenance of a 508-compliant public website, the execution of network meetings, and the reporting of real-time metrics to NIDA. The NIH intends to commit an estimated total of 2.5 million dollars to fund one award in FY2027, with annual direct cost limits of 1.5 million dollars, though the Research Education Core is specifically limited to 350,000 dollars in annual direct costs. Applications must be submitted as multi-component proposals by January 26, 2027. Evaluation is based on scientific and technical merit via the NIH peer review system, availability of funds, and relevance to program priorities. Awardees must adhere to strict cybersecurity incident reporting requirements, notifying HHS within 48 hours of discovery, and must comply with all federal regulations regarding human subjects protection and informed consent. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations and small businesses, provided they maintain active registrations in SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov.