HEAL Initiative: Whole Joint Health Program (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, under the National Institutes of Health, is seeking applications for the HEAL Initiative Whole Joint Health Program, solicitation number PAR-27-045. This phased mechanistic clinical research program aims to identify and validate understudied biological mechanisms driving joint pain and subsequently test non-pharmacologic or multimodal interventions. The initiative aligns with the 2023 HEAL Whole Joint Pain Workshop and the Make America Healthy Again vision to develop safe, non-addictive, and prevention-oriented strategies for managing chronic pain. Eligible projects may span up to five years in total duration. Interested parties must submit their responses by the deadline of October 31, 2026. This opportunity is structured as an R61/R33 clinical trial, focusing on advancing the broader goals of the NIH HEAL Initiative through targeted research into multi-tissue mechanisms of joint pain.