Optimizing Behavioral Sleep Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers conducting pilot studies on behavioral sleep interventions for adolescents and young adults. Eligible applicants include academic institutions, research centers, and organizations with research capacity and institutional oversight. The grant supports R34 pilot clinical trials testing intervention feasibility and acceptability in real-world settings. Applications from interdisciplinary teams (mental health, sleep medicine, developmental science, clinical trials research) are strongly encouraged. Geographic scope is national, with no state restrictions.
Key dates
- May 28, 2025 Applications open
- Oct 8, 2025 Application deadline
- Jul 1, 2026 Award announced
- Jul 1, 2026 Project start
Program description
The National Institute of Mental Health intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for pilot research to adapt, optimize, and test behavioral interventions that address common sleep problems in adolescents and young adults with or at risk for a mental health disorder. This NOFO supports pilot clinical trials designed to evaluate the feasibility, tolerability, acceptability, safety, and potential effectiveness of the approach in real world settings. Applications should also aim to conduct a preliminary test of the intervention’s impact on sleep and mental health outcomes, as well as an examination of the mechanisms that underlie the intervention’s effectiveness, and to obtain preliminary data needed as a prerequisite for larger-scale effectiveness trials. 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 R34 activity code. Investigators with expertise and insights in research of common sleep problems in adolescents and young adults are encouraged to consider applying for this NOFO. In addition, interdisciplinary, collaborative teams of investigators from the fields of mental health, sleep medicine, developmental science, clinical trials research methods, behavioral economics, implementation science, data science, and human computer interaction are encouraged, and these investigators should also consider applying for this NOFO.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- Community Health Center
- County Government
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NIH R34 application form (SF-424 or eRA Commons submission)
- Project Narrative (specific page limits set by NIH)
- Budget and budget justification
- Biographical sketches of key personnel
- Institutional support letter
- IRB approval or plans for IRB submission
Program contact
- 👤 Mary Rooney, Ph.D. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
- 📧 mary.rooney@nih.gov
- 📞 301-827-1325
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
-
$75,056,208
-
$74,756,329
-
$72,845,834
-
$64,705,159
-
$63,991,707
-
$54,214,022
-
$38,895,082
-
$38,475,557
-
$34,635,977
-
$34,475,710
Top States by Funding
- CA 15 awards $408.1M
- MA 9 awards $230.4M
- NY 6 awards $184.2M
- WA 4 awards $174.9M
- CT 3 awards $138.9M
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 can apply for this grant?
Research institutions with IRB oversight and investigators conducting pilot clinical trials. Interdisciplinary teams from mental health, sleep medicine, and clinical research fields are strongly encouraged.
What types of activities are supported?
Pilot studies adapting and optimizing behavioral sleep interventions. Feasibility testing, safety evaluation, and preliminary effectiveness data are core activities.
What is the deadline?
October 8, 2025. This is a fixed funding opportunity, not rolling.
Can I include salaries in my budget?
Yes, personnel costs are typically allowable under NIH grants, including investigator and staff salaries.
How competitive is this funding?
NIH R34 awards are moderately competitive. Strong preliminary data, clear research design, and interdisciplinary collaboration strengthen competitiveness.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Build a strong interdisciplinary team early. Include sleep medicine, mental health, and clinical trials expertise.
- Focus on real-world applicability. Demonstrate how your intervention addresses practical barriers adolescents and young adults face.
- Define clear feasibility and safety measures upfront. These are primary R34 outcomes, not just secondary considerations.
- Use your pilot phase strategically. Collect preliminary data on mechanisms and patient acceptability to support future larger trials.
- Address health equity. Consider how your intervention works across different demographic and socioeconomic groups.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Vague definitions of feasibility metrics or acceptability outcomes. Lack of interdisciplinary collaboration or insufficient sleep medicine expertise. Proposing a fully developed intervention instead of a pilot to test and refine approaches.
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