Multisite Clinical Center Common Fund Acute to Chronic Pain Signatures Program: Acute Pain from Musculoskeletal Trauma (UM1 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA RM 18 033

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 18 033

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) posted this funding opportunity, RFA-RM-18-033, titled "Multisite Clinical Center Common Fund Acute to Chronic Pain Signatures Program: Acute Pain from Musculoskeletal Trauma (UM1 Clinical Trial Optional)." It is a discretionary federal grant mechanism using a cooperative agreement (UM1), which means the awardee would carry out the work in close coordination with NIH program staff rather than operating entirely independently. The overall aim is to support a single Multisite Clinical Center (MCC) that can recruit and follow a large group of patients who have acute pain due to musculoskeletal trauma, then conduct multimodal and longitudinal assessments to identify biological signatures (biosignatures) linked either to resilience (recovering without developing long-term pain) or to the transition from acute pain to chronic pain.

In practical terms, the opportunity is focused on building a well-characterized cohort soon after an injury and tracking participants over time with multiple types of measurements. "Multimodal longitudinal assessment" signals that the MCC would not rely on one data stream (like surveys alone), but would likely integrate several categories of information collected at multiple timepoints, such as clinical evaluations, patient-reported outcomes, functional measures, and biological or other objective data types intended to support biosignature discovery. The end goal is to understand why some people recover while others go on to develop persistent pain after musculoskeletal trauma, and to generate evidence that can support better prediction, prevention, or targeted intervention strategies down the line. The "Clinical Trial Optional" note indicates that the project may include a clinical trial component if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required to be responsive.

Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizational types that could plausibly operate a multisite clinical research effort. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township 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; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The notice also highlights additional eligible applicant categories 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, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities applying as primary applicants) are not eligible to apply, but non-domestic components of U.S. organizations may participate, and foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which typically means specific international elements can be included when they add unique expertise or resources and are well-justified.

Administratively, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, the activity category is health, and the CFDA number provided is 93.310. The FOA was created on August 24, 2018, and the original closing date was October 24, 2018. The listing indicates that only one MCC award is intended ("support one Multisite Clinical Center"), emphasizing that NIH was looking for a single lead center capable of coordinating multisite enrollment and harmonized data collection at scale. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided text, but the structural design of the FOA strongly suggests a large, centrally coordinated effort with significant operational responsibility for participant recruitment, standardized follow-up, and integrated data capture suited for identifying acute-to-chronic pain biosignatures after musculoskeletal trauma.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Multisite Clinical Center Common Fund Acute to Chronic Pain Signatures Program: Acute Pain from Musculoskeletal Trauma (UM1 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 2018-08-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-10-24. (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.

Apply for RFA RM 18 033

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: