HEAL Initiative: INTERACT INTEgRAtive Back Pain Longitudinal Cohort Teams (UC2 Clinical Trial Optional)

Background
The HEAL Initiative: INTERACT INTEgRAtive Back Pain Longitudinal Cohort Teams (UC2 Clinical Trial Optional) is a funding opportunity from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically through the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and other related institutes.

The initiative aims to enhance longitudinal data collection and analysis with existing large-scale chronic low back pain (cLBP) cohort studies. This effort is part of the broader HEAL Initiative, which seeks to address the opioid crisis by improving pain management and treatment options for chronic pain conditions.

Grant Details
The grant requires interdisciplinary teams to enhance data collection and analysis related to chronic low back pain. Key tasks include:
- Collection and analysis of longitudinal follow-up data from well-phenotyped cLBP cohorts, utilizing emerging technologies developed in previous initiatives.
- Incorporation of additional measures to study whole-person health, including comorbidities and social determinants of health.
- Validation of patient-based algorithms for personalized pain therapy strategies.
- Engagement in collaborative arrangements across existing HEAL projects, contributing to a network aimed at advancing understanding of chronic pain mechanisms.
- Development of integrated models for analyzing multidimensional data across various musculoskeletal conditions.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, local governments, state governments, tribal governments, and other entities. Special encouragement is given to institutions serving underrepresented groups in biomedical research. Applicants must demonstrate the necessary skills and resources to carry out the proposed research.

Period of Performance
The maximum project period is five years. The anticipated start date for funded projects is October 11, 2024.

Grant Value
The NIH HEAL Initiative intends to commit an estimated total of $5 million in FY 2025 and $11 million in each subsequent fiscal year from FY 2026 to FY 2029. Awards are expected to be between $1 million in direct costs for the first year, with future budgets reflecting actual project needs.