The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to invite applications for the Specialized Clinical Centers (“hubs”) of the Early Phase Pain Investigation Clinical Network (EPPIC-Net). EPPIC-Net will serve as the cornerstone of the NIH’s Helping to End Addiction Long-term (HEAL) Initiative. EPPIC-Net will provide a robust and readily accessible infrastructure for carrying out in depth phenotyping and biomarker studies in patients with specific pain conditions, and the rapid design and performance of high-quality Phase 2 clinical trials to test promising novel therapeutics for pain from partners in academia or industry. Studies will bring intense focus to patients with well-defined pain conditions and high unmet therapeutic needs.
EPPIC-Net will consist of one Clinical Coordinating Center (CCC), one Data Coordinating Center (DCC) and approximately 10 specialized clinical centers (“hubs”). The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to invite applications for the hubs within EPPIC-Net. A hub will typically be a regional medical center that will actively enroll subjects into clinical trials and studies performed in EPPIC-Net. Each hub should have ready access to patient populations with specific pain conditions and have expertise in characterization of that pain condition. A hub will additionally provide scientific leadership and administrative oversight to its multiple (2-10) satellite sites (“spokes”).
This FOA solicits applications EPPIC-Net Specialized Clinical Centers. Separate FOAs have been issued to solicit applications for the Clinical Coordinating Center (RFA-NS-19-023) and Data Coordinating Center (RFA-NS-19-024). Clinical trials conducted through EPPIC-Net may come from a variety of sources including the HEAL Partnership, as described above, or from separate NIH funding announcements.
Awards for a hub and a Clinical Coordinating Center (CCC, RFA-NS-19-023 ) or Data Coordinating Center (DCC, RFA NS-19-024) may be made to the same institution. There must be different PDs/PIs leading the hub and the CCC or DCC to ensure that each activity receives full attention.
For More Information: See RFA attached.
If you are interested in submitting a proposal, click on the submit application on the right side of page and follow the required prompts to give us your contact information. If interest exceeds the sponsor's institutional limit, the Office of the Vice President for Research will hold an internal Limited Submissions competition after the Call of Intent deadline.