Improving Linkage to Care for People with Opioid Use Disorder (U01)

The Improving Linkage to Care for People with Opioid Use Disorder (U01) opportunity is a forecasted federal funding initiative issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically administered through the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, this program reflects the federal government’s ongoing commitment to addressing the opioid overdose crisis through evidence-based public health interventions. The CDC Injury Center focuses on reducing injury and violence, including substance use-related harms, and this funding opportunity aligns with its mission to translate research into practical strategies that improve health outcomes at the population level. The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to support investigator-initiated research that develops, implements, and rigorously evaluates strategies to improve linkage to care for individuals with opioid use disorder or those at high risk of overdose. The emphasis is on overcoming barriers within healthcare settings that prevent individuals from successfully accessing treatment and support services. Applicants are expected to propose actionable, real-world solutions that can be adopted by clinicians and health systems, ensuring that comprehensive overdose prevention services are accessible and effectively delivered. Funding under this opportunity is intended to support research activities, including the design and testing of interventions, evaluation of outcomes, and collaboration with public health and clinical partners. Projects must include partnerships with at least one public health entity or bona fide agent and demonstrate how such partnerships were established or strengthened. Additionally, applicants are required to collaborate with a local champion within a healthcare setting to facilitate improved linkage to care services. These requirements highlight the program’s focus on practical implementation and stakeholder engagement rather than purely theoretical research. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes a wide range of entity types such as nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status, state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, institutions of higher education, school districts, public housing authorities, special district governments, and for-profit entities including small businesses. This inclusive eligibility structure is designed to encourage diverse applicants capable of addressing opioid use disorder from multiple perspectives and within different community contexts. The application process will require electronic submission through standard federal systems, with a forecasted application due date of December 1, 2026, by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. While detailed application components will be outlined in the full Notice of Funding Opportunity, applicants should anticipate requirements typical of federal research grants, including project narratives, evaluation plans, partnership documentation, and budget justifications. Outcomes must include at least two required measures as defined in the forthcoming NOFO, emphasizing accountability and measurable impact. The estimated total program funding is $11,250,000, with approximately five awards expected. Individual awards may reach up to $550,000, although no formal minimum funding level is specified. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, reducing financial barriers for applicants. Awards are expected to be announced around August 29, 2027, with project start dates anticipated for September 30, 2027, indicating a structured federal funding cycle. As a forecasted opportunity, this funding has not yet opened for applications, with an estimated posting date of October 1, 2026. The program is part of the fiscal year 2027 funding cycle and may be part of a recurring federal research initiative, although recurrence is not explicitly confirmed. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor updates and prepare early by establishing partnerships and refining research concepts aligned with CDC priorities. For inquiries, the CDC provides a program contact email to support applicant questions during the pre-application phase.

Focus on demonstrating strong partnerships with public health entities and healthcare providers and propose actionable real world solutions that improve linkage to care outcomes