Skip to main content

Dear Investigator:

The NIH has initiated an ‘all hands on deck’ approach to addressing opioid misuse and addiction. They have earmarked a significant amount of funding for this purpose through the HEAL initiative (Helping to end addiction long-term). Roughly $500 million dollars has been earmarked to 1) improve treatments for opioid misuse and addiction and to 2) enhance pain management. These funds are to be allocated by September 30, 2019. This will be an annual allocation over and above the NIH base budget. The work will include setting up clinical trial networks for phase 2 trials as well as community based and pragmatic/CER trials.

NC TraCS and the UNC Office of Research Development are working to gather the names and contact information for UNC investigators who have expertise in the following areas:

  • Pain research, including pain clinical trials
  • New mechanisms and targets for chronic pain
  • Opioid research, including clinical trials
  • Opioid addiction, overdose prevention and reversal
  • Efforts to advance new non-addictive pain treatments (clinical and pre-clinical)
  • Other relevant areas of expertise

We want to be poised to take advantage of what is likely to be a rapid succession of funding opportunities for research by making investigators aware of the opportunities that are relevant to their expertise as soon as the opportunities are released. The deadlines are likely to be short as the project officer has indicated that funding decisions are slated to start in spring 2019.

Help us to identify capable researchers by sharing email, areas of expertise, etc. (Be sure to add your own information if you want us to contact you as well.) Alternatively, this message can be sent directly to your colleagues for them to provide the information. Click HERE to open a survey which will allow you to do either or both.

You can access additional information on the HEAL Initiative HERE if you wish.

If you want additional information about or have problems accessing the Qualtrics survey, contact Dr. Karen Demby at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Best,
Tim Carey, MD, MPH
Sarah Graham Kenan Professor of Medicine
Co-Director, NC TraCS