Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (NIMH BRAINS) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for early-career researchers conducting innovative biobehavioral mental health research with clinical trial components. Applicants must be within 10 years of their PhD, MD, or equivalent research degree, with no previous R01 awards. Supported institutions include universities, medical schools, and nonprofit research organizations.
Activities include designing, testing, and implementing novel interventions for mental health conditions. Behavioral research, clinical trials, and implementation science are priority areas. Projects must address significant public health challenges in mental illness.
Award scope includes support for salary, research staff, equipment, and direct project costs. Funding typically covers three to five year project periods. Domestic and some international collaborations are eligible.
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Key dates
- May 28, 2025 Applications open
- Oct 20, 2025 Application deadline
- Jul 1, 2026 Award announced
- Jul 1, 2026 Project start
Program description
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support the research and research career advancement of outstanding, exceptionally productive scientists who are in the early, formative stages of their careers and who plan to make a long-term career commitment to research in specific mission areas of the NIMH. This award seeks to assist these individuals in launching innovative clinical, translational, or basic research programs that hold the potential to profoundly transform the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of mental health disorders. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO will utilize the R01 activity code. Research projects proposed in response to this NOFO will be expected to have a defined impact on our understanding of the pathophysiology, trajectories, effective treatment, and/or prevention of mental illness.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 R&R Cover Page and Project Summary
- Project Narrative (12-15 pages typically)
- Specific Aims, Research Design and Methods, Significance
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (NIH format)
- Institutional Review Board approval documentation
- Letters of Support from collaborators
- Data Management Plan
Program contact
- 👤 Eric R. Murphy, Ph.D. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- 📧 eric.murphy@nih.gov
- 📞 301-443-9230
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.242 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$78,262,050
-
$75,056,208
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$74,756,329
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$64,705,159
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$63,991,707
-
$54,214,022
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$48,653,752
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$38,895,082
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$38,475,557
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$35,940,675
Top States by Funding
- CA 15 awards $408.1M
- MA 9 awards $230.5M
- NY 6 awards $184.2M
- CT 4 awards $183.5M
- WA 4 awards $174.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.242). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,722,300,004 | |
| 2025 | $1,726,864,191 | |
| 2026 est. | $99,221,272 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
Early-career researchers within 10 years of terminal degree completion, with no prior R01 awards. Postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty qualify.
What types of institutions can submit applications?
Universities, medical schools, research hospitals, and nonprofit research institutions with active NIH institutional agreements.
What research activities are supported?
Biobehavioral studies, clinical trials, implementation research, and intervention development for mental health conditions.
How competitive is this program?
Very competitive. Success rates for NIH R01s typically range 18-22%. Strong preliminary data and innovation are essential.
What is the typical funding range?
Direct costs typically $250,000–$500,000 per year depending on project scope and complexity.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish preliminary data early. Reviewers expect pilot studies demonstrating feasibility and merit.
- Focus on innovation and significance. Clearly articulate why your approach is novel and addresses a public health gap.
- Build a strong team. Include co-investigators with complementary expertise in behavior, clinical work, and statistics.
- Align with NIH priorities. Review recent NIMH strategic plan and competing continuation awards to understand current emphasis areas.
- Submit early. Aim to meet the deadline with time for institutional review and revision cycles before submission closes.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Insufficient preliminary data or weak feasibility demonstration. Lack of clear innovation or incremental rather than transformative research design. Unclear or overly ambitious scope that exceeds funding and timeline realism.
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