Mind and Body Interventions to Restore Whole Person Health via Emotional Well-Being Mechanisms (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers investigating mind and body interventions that improve overall health through emotional well-being mechanisms. Eligible applicants include research institutions, universities, and nonprofit organizations with research capacity. The grant requires a clinical trial component and supports both exploratory (R61) and expanded (R33) phases. Applicants must have institutional affiliation, IRB approval for human research, and demonstrated expertise in clinical trial design or behavioral health research.
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Program description
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) announces this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for research on how mind and body interventions through psychological and/or physical inputs (e.g., mindfulness meditation, yoga, acupuncture, massage, and other brain and/or body based interventions) impact mechanisms of emotional well-being (EWB) and their associations with whole person health (WPH), consistent with the NIH priority to address the health needs of the American people and improve their well-being.
The NOFO will support rigorous and well-powered mechanistic research studies that are supported by strong preliminary data. The studies should examine the effects of mind and body interventions on innovative mechanisms of EWB (as the primary outcome), as well as the associated relationship with the Whole Person Health Index (WPHI, as a secondary outcome). To enhance research safety, rigor, and efficiency of NIH-funded mechanistic clinical trials, this initiative will use a two-phased award funding mechanism (R61/R33). The funding will support an initial phase (R61) to establish feasibility benchmarks for the proposed mechanistic clinical trial(s), followed by a second phase (R33) to complete the full-scale trials, which will be contingent upon successful completion of R61 milestones. Applications should provide preliminary data that are comparable in quality and quantity to those expected for an R01 proposal.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form
- Project Narrative (Research Strategy)
- Preliminary Data section
- Budget Justification
- Biosketches of key personnel
- Letters of Support (clinical sites, institutions)
- Human Subjects Protocol/IRB approval documentation
- Research Design and Methods section with statistical analysis plan
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.213 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$22,367,527
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$21,646,919
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$19,236,131
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$17,730,528
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$15,036,701
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$14,473,882
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$12,748,932
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$11,956,053
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$11,225,697
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$10,919,780
Top States by Funding
- CA 13 awards $83.5M
- MA 13 awards $80.2M
- WA 8 awards $69.9M
- NC 7 awards $53.8M
- NY 6 awards $40.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.213). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $240,178,154 | |
| 2025 | $232,899,116 | |
| 2026 est. | $2,655,626 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Research institutions, universities, and nonprofit organizations with institutional affiliation and research infrastructure. Individual researchers must have a fiscal sponsor.
What type of research does this grant fund?
Mind-body interventions (like meditation, yoga, tai chi) studied through clinical trials. Research must examine emotional well-being as a mechanism for health improvement.
Is prior research required?
Yes, applicants typically need preliminary data supporting their intervention and feasibility of the proposed clinical trial.
What is the R61/R33 structure?
R61 is an exploratory phase (shorter, lower budget). R33 is for expanded research if R61 milestones are met. Not all R61s transition to R33.
How competitive is this program?
Very competitive. NIH success rates are typically 20-25%. Strong preliminary data, rigorous trial design, and experienced teams are essential.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Lead with clear preliminary data showing your intervention affects emotional well-being and health outcomes.
- Design a rigorous clinical trial protocol with realistic milestones and go/no-go decision points for the R61 phase.
- Include a multidisciplinary team with experts in behavioral health, clinical trial design, and your specific intervention.
- Address mechanistic pathways explicitly: show how emotional well-being leads to the health outcomes you're measuring.
- Plan for participant recruitment and retention challenges; include diversity and equity strategies in your trial design.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak preliminary data or unclear mechanism linking emotional well-being to health outcomes. Overly ambitious scope or unrealistic timelines for clinical trial phases. Insufficient detail on trial design, statistical power, or participant retention strategies.
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