HEAL Initiative: Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC): Anatomical and Functional Mapping of Pain-Related Visceral Organ Neural Circuitry (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA RM 19 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 19 001

The NIH funding opportunity titled "HEAL Initiative: Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC): Anatomical and Functional Mapping of Pain-Related Visceral Organ Neural Circuitry (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-RM-19-001) supports research aimed at building detailed anatomical and functional maps of the nerve circuits that drive pain signals coming from visceral organs. In plain terms, the goal is to identify which peripheral sensory pathways and connected neural networks are responsible for pain that originates in internal organs, and to describe those pathways in a rigorous, map-like way so the field can use the information to guide new treatments.

This announcement sits within the SPARC program, which is an NIH Common Fund effort focused on understanding how peripheral nerves control organ function and how that knowledge can be used to develop targeted neuromodulation therapies. It is also coordinated with the NIH HEAL Initiative, specifically the Translational Devices to Treat Pain (TDTP) efforts. The reason that coordination matters is that the mapping work funded here is intended to be directly useful for accelerating non-addictive pain interventions, including device-based or neuromodulation approaches that could reduce reliance on opioid medications. By clarifying the circuitry of visceral pain at a fine level of detail, the research supported under this FOA is meant to provide a foundational reference that technology developers and translational teams can use when designing and refining peripheral stimulation strategies.

The mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement, meaning NIH staff are expected to have substantial scientific involvement during the project rather than functioning only as a passive funder. The "clinical trial optional" label indicates applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required for all applications. The activity category is health, and the CFDA number listed is 93.310. The award ceiling is $500,000, signaling the maximum anticipated funding level per award under the announcement, while the "expected awards" field is not specified in the provided source data.

A key emphasis of the opportunity is comprehensive mapping of pain-mediating circuitry that originates from visceral organ afferents, which are the sensory nerve fibers carrying information from organs toward the central nervous system. The work implied by the FOA typically involves identifying relevant afferent pathways, tracing their anatomical routes, characterizing how those circuits behave functionally, and linking circuit features to pain-related signaling. The ultimate deliverable concept is a set of high-quality maps and associated knowledge products that can be used by the broader SPARC and HEAL ecosystems to speed up development of safer, non-addictive pain treatments.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also allows nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (so long as they are not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. In addition, the announcement explicitly calls out other eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions.

On the foreign eligibility side, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply as the applicant organization. However, the FOA notes that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations may participate, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed. Practically, this means the lead applicant must be an eligible U.S. organization, but certain project elements may be carried out in collaboration with foreign sites or partners under NIH policy, when justified and properly structured.

Administrative details included in the source data indicate the opportunity was created on 2018-12-10 and had an original closing date of 2019-02-08. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement instrument. Overall, the FOA is designed to generate actionable, high-resolution knowledge about visceral pain circuits that can serve as a shared resource and a translational springboard for next-generation, non-addictive approaches to pain management.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HEAL Initiative: Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC): Anatomical and Functional Mapping of Pain-Related Visceral Organ Neural Circuitry (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.310.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-12-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-02-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• 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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