Mechanisms Underlying the Contribution of Sleep Disturbances to Pain (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PA 19 200

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 19 200

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity announcement PA-19-200, titled "Mechanisms Underlying the Contribution of Sleep Disturbances to Pain (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)," supports research projects that dig into how sleep problems influence pain. The central goal is mechanistic work, meaning studies that move beyond simple associations and instead explain the biological, psychological, and behavioral pathways through which disrupted sleep can change pain perception, increase pain sensitivity, or contribute to the development and persistence of chronic pain. The announcement recognizes that the relationship between sleep and pain is complex and can involve many interacting systems, so it is designed to fund research that can clarify why and how sleep disturbance becomes a driver of pain-related outcomes.

A key theme of the opportunity is that the relevant mechanisms may be broad and multi-layered. Projects can address processes spanning the nervous system and brain circuits, stress and endocrine signaling, immune and inflammatory pathways, genetics and epigenetics, pharmacologic and neurochemical mechanisms, and behavioral or psychosocial contributors that shape both sleep and pain. The FOA explicitly encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, reflecting an expectation that strong applications may bring together expertise from fields such as neuroscience, psychology, endocrinology, immunology, genetics, pharmacology, chemistry, physics, behavioral science, and clinical practice, as well as perspectives from caregivers and other stakeholders when appropriate. The intent is to stimulate integrative research approaches that connect sleep biology with pain biology and translate that knowledge into a clearer understanding of chronic pain risk and maintenance.

The mechanism is an R01 research project grant, and clinical trials are optional. In practice, that means applicants may propose studies that are entirely basic or mechanistic in humans or animals without a clinical trial, or they may include a clinical trial component if it is justified by the science. The emphasis remains on uncovering mechanisms rather than only testing whether an intervention works, so even when clinical trials are proposed, they are expected to be designed in a way that yields mechanistic insight into sleep-pain pathways (for example, identifying mediators, biomarkers, or causal processes).

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many types of public and private entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and other organizations that meet NIH eligibility rules. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign eligibility is restricted in a specific way. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. This typically means a U.S. applicant can include certain foreign collaborations or parts of the research conducted abroad when well-justified and compliant with NIH policy, even though a foreign institution cannot be the primary applicant.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity administered by NIH and categorized under education and health-related funding activities. The CFDA assistance listing numbers associated with the FOA include 93.121, 93.213, 93.233, 93.273, 93.279, 93.313, 93.361, 93.393, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.853, and 93.866. The opportunity record indicates a creation date of February 28, 2019, and an original closing date of May 7, 2022. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided data, which is common when those details vary by NIH institute participation, annual appropriations, and the number and quality of meritorious applications received.

Overall, this FOA is aimed at advancing the science of why sleep disturbances matter for pain, with an emphasis on identifying causal pathways and measurable mechanisms that explain heightened pain sensitivity and chronic pain vulnerability in the context of poor sleep. The expectation is that funded projects will strengthen the mechanistic foundation needed to inform better prevention and treatment strategies for chronic pain by addressing sleep as a key contributing factor.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mechanisms Underlying the Contribution of Sleep Disturbances to Pain (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.213, 93.233, 93.273, 93.279, 93.313, 93.361, 93.393, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.853, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-02-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-05-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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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