Mental Health Research Grants

CFDA 93.242 Active Grant Cooperative Agreement

Open Opportunities (45)

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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$99.2M FY2026
$1.72B
FY24
$1.73B
FY25
$99.2M
FY26*
* estimated

Who has received this funding

Organizations awarded under CFDA 93.242 (USAspending.gov).

Program Objective

The mission of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.

We fulfill this mission by supporting and conducting research on mental illnesses, health services, and the underlying basic science of the brain and behavior; supporting the training of scientists to carry out basic and clinical mental health research; and communicating with scientists, patients, providers, and the public about mental health research advances and priorities.

In May 2024, NIMH released its Strategic Plan for Research. The Strategic Plan builds on the successes of previous NIMH strategic plans by providing a framework for scientific research and exploration, and addressing new challenges in mental health.

The new Strategic Plan outlines four high-level Goals:
• Goal 1: Define the Brain Mechanisms Underlying Complex Behaviors
• Goal 2: Examine Mental Illness Trajectories Across the Lifespan
• Goal 3: Strive for Prevention and Cures
• Goal 4: Strengthen the Public Health Impact of NIMH-Supported Research

These four Goals form a broad roadmap for the Institute’s research priorities over the next five years, beginning with the fundamental science of the brain and behavior, and extending through evidence-based services that improve public health outcomes.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Local
  • State
  • Territorial
  • Tribal
  • Foreign Nonprofit Organization
  • Foreign Not-for-Profit Organization
  • Foreign For-Profit Organization
  • International Organization
  • Nonprofit Organization
  • Not-for-Profit Organization
  • Small Business Person

Public, private, -profit, or nonprofit agencies (including State and local government agencies), eligible Federal agencies, universities, colleges, hospitals, and academic or research institutions may apply for research grants. SBIR grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses, and STTR grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses which "partner" with a research institution in cooperative research and development.

An applicant for individual predoctoral fellowship support must be enrolled in a research doctoral degree program by the proposed activation date of the fellowship. A postdoctoral applicant must have received a Ph.D., Psy.D., M.D., D.D.S., Sc.D., D.N.S., D.O., D.S.W., or equivalent degree from an accredited institution to be eligible for an individual postdoctoral fellowship.

All research training awards are made to appropriate domestic research centers, medical schools, departments of psychiatry, non-medical academic departments, psychiatric hospitals or hospitals with psychiatric services, community mental health centers, and biomedical research institutes on behalf of individuals who need the opportunity to realize research potential. Except for the NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award (K99/R00), the individuals must be citizens or nationals of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence. The NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award (K99/R00) is open to both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens. Individuals must qualify by scholastic degree and previous training and/or experience.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

All applications are evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate scientific peer review panel. Applications other than fellowships must also be reviewed by the National Advisory Mental Health Council . All competitive applications compete for available funds on the basis of scientific and technical merit, program relevance, and program balance. All SBIR and STTR applications receiving a priority score compete for set-aside funds on the basis of scientific and technical merit and commercial potential of the proposed research, program relevance, and program balance among the areas of research.

Decision Timeline

  • Approval: > 180 Days

Applications: From 180 to 270 days from submission of application.

SBIR/STTR applications: About 7- 12 months;

AIDS-related research is expedited and a determination is made within 180 days.

Program details & compliance

Description

The mission of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure.

Mission Categories

Primary: Mental Health

Other categories:
BiologyResearch and DevelopmentSocial SciencesPrevention and Control (includes Suicide Prevention)

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Research project grants provide support for clearly defined projects by a named investigator in an area representing his/her specific interests and competencies. Exploratory/Development and Clinical Exploratory/Developmental Grants encourage the development of new research activities in categorical program areas. Small Research Grants provide research support specifically limited in time and amount for studies in categorical program areas. Collaborative Clinical Research Grants support evaluations of various methods of therapy and/or prevention. Program Project and Center grants support large-scale, broad-based programs of research, usually interdisciplinary, consisting of several projects with a common focus. Cooperative Agreements support single or a group of related research activities with greater involvement of federal staff.

SBIR and STTR grants are awarded in two stages: Phase I grants are awarded to establish the technical merit and feasibility of a proposed research and development effort; only Phase I awardees are eligible to receive Phase II support.

Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01, MRSDA), Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08, MCSDA), and Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25) provide support for individuals with research potential who need additional mentored development and/or experience in a productive research environment. Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) supports the career development of individuals who have made commitment to focus their research endeavors on patient-oriented research. The NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award (K99/R00) provides up to 2 years of mentored support (K99) for a postdoctoral individual followed by up to 3 years of support after the awardee transitions to research independence (R00). K99/R00 awards are awards for up to 5 years of support. Salary support for all mentored awards may be supplemented by the sponsoring institution from nonfederal funds. The Independent Scientist Award (K02, ISA) is for independent scientists whose careers are developing rapidly; the Mid-career Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) is for outstanding clinical scientists engaged in patient-oriented research. No specialized training costs are available; limited research costs for K24s and K02s in theoretical areas are available.

NRSA awards: Individual fellowships are made to students seeking predoctoral or postdoctoral support for full-time research training or who are enrolled in an formal Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. program. An institutional allowance will be provided to the sponsoring institution for each awardee. In addition, any domestic public or nonprofit institution may apply for an institutional research training grant in a specified area of research from which a number of stipend awards will be made to individuals selected by the training program director at the institution. Support is available for both predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees and will include an amount for institutional expenses. Indirect costs may be requested at 8 percent of total direct costs, exclusive of tuition and related fees and expenditures for equipment, or actual indirect costs, whichever is less. Postdoctoral students receiving fellowships or stipend support under either individual or institutional grants for 12 months or less are obligated to pay back this support through an equivalent period of continued postdoctoral training or a period of health related research and/or teaching activities after the completion of their training. Postdoctoral individuals in their thirteenth and subsequent months of support will incur no further obligation, and such support will be considered acceptable postdoctoral payback service. Research training support may not be used for internships or other clinical training.

Required Documentation

For-profit organizations' costs will be determined in accordance with 48 CFR, Subpart 31.2 of the Federal Acquisition Regulations. For all other grantees, costs will be determined in accordance with HHS Regulations 45 CFR 75. For SBIR and STTR grants, applicant organization (small business concern) must present in a research plan an idea that has potential for commercialization and furnish evidence that scientific competence, experimental methods, facilities, equipment, and funds requested are appropriate to carry out the plan. Instructions for electronic submission may be found with the federal SF424 (R&R) form packages that are found in the SBIR/STTR funding opportunity announcements. Instructions are provided for SBIR Phase I and Phase II awards, respectively; as well as for STTR Phase I and Phase II awards, respectively.

The cost principles for awards under this program are set forth in HHS regulations at 45 CFR 75, Subpart E and Appendix IX (hospitals) to Part 75. Commercial organizations are subject to the cost principles located at 48 CFR 31.2 Federal Acquisition Regulation. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for further guidance on the applicability of cost principals (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/nihgps/index.htm).

Reporting & Compliance

Audit Required
Yes — Annual
Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Elizabeth Church
3014807064
6001 Executive Blvd, Bethesda, MD 20892
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-01-28. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-05-29 05:40:28.

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