Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 22 185
The NIMH Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (NIMH BRAINS) funding opportunity (RFA-MH-22-185) is an NIH grant program that uses the R01 mechanism and allows clinical trials but does not require them (clinical trial optional). It is a reissue of an earlier announcement (RFA-MH-20-525) and is designed specifically to accelerate the research trajectory and long-term career development of outstanding investigators who are still in the early, formative stage of their independent careers. The central idea is to give exceptionally productive new scientists enough support and runway to launch an innovative research program that can meaningfully reshape how the field understands, diagnoses, treats, or prevents mental disorders, rather than simply producing incremental advances.
The program is explicitly aligned with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) mission and is meant to concentrate effort on the research priorities and gap areas laid out in the NIMH Strategic Plan. In practice, that means the strongest applications are likely to be those that clearly connect a bold scientific vision to an identified need in the NIMH portfolio, whether the work is basic, translational, clinical, or services-focused. The opportunity emphasizes innovation and transformative potential, supporting projects that can open up new directions, create new frameworks for understanding mental illness, develop or test new interventions or care models, or substantially improve prevention strategies and public health impact.
The award is offered as a discretionary federal grant under the health funding category (CFDA 93.242) through the National Institutes of Health. While the content focus is mental health and mental disorders, the opportunity is broad in the types of research it can support, spanning biobehavioral science and related approaches. The key eligibility theme is organizational breadth paired with restrictions on foreign involvement. A wide range of U.S.-based applicant organizations may apply, including public and private institutions of higher education, state, county, and local governments (including special district governments), independent school districts, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, as well as other eligible entities.
In addition to these standard applicant types, the announcement highlights several categories of institutions and organizations that are explicitly considered eligible applicants, reflecting an interest in broad participation across different community and institutional settings. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, the opportunity draws a firm line on non-U.S. participation: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply; non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible; and foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. In short, the applicant and the work supported under the award must remain domestic under NIH rules.
From a funding standpoint, the listing notes an award ceiling of $500,000, indicating the maximum amount shown for this opportunity in the provided source data. The original closing date is listed as June 20, 2025, which is the key deadline reference point in the data you provided. The opportunity is positioned as a high-impact launchpad for early-career investigators who already show strong productivity and are ready to establish an ambitious, independent program tightly matched to NIMH priority areas, with the flexibility to include clinical trials if they are scientifically appropriate to the aims.Apply for RFA MH 22 185
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIMH Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (NIMH BRAINS) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-07-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-06-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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FAQs: NIMH Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (NIMH BRAINS) - RFA-MH-22-185
What is the NIMH BRAINS funding opportunity (RFA-MH-22-185)?
NIMH BRAINS (Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists) is a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funding opportunity under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It uses the R01 grant mechanism and is designed to accelerate the research trajectory and long-term career development of outstanding investigators who are still in the early, formative stage of their independent careers.
What is the main goal of this program?
The central goal is to provide exceptionally productive new scientists with enough support and runway to launch an innovative research program that can meaningfully reshape how the field understands, diagnoses, treats, or prevents mental disorders, rather than producing incremental advances.
What kind of research does NIMH BRAINS aim to support?
The opportunity emphasizes innovation and transformative potential. It supports projects that open new directions, create new frameworks for understanding mental illness, develop or test new interventions or care models, or substantially improve prevention strategies and public health impact. The scope is broad and can include basic, translational, clinical, or services-focused research, as long as it aligns with the NIMH mission and priorities.
How important is alignment with the NIMH Strategic Plan?
Alignment is a key theme of the announcement. The program is explicitly tied to NIMH mission priorities and the research priorities and gap areas laid out in the NIMH Strategic Plan. Strong applications are likely to clearly connect a bold scientific vision to an identified need in the NIMH portfolio.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism.
Are clinical trials required?
No. Clinical trials are allowed but not required. The opportunity is described as "clinical trial optional."
Is this a new announcement or a reissue?
It is a reissue of an earlier announcement, RFA-MH-20-525.
Which federal agency is offering this award?
The award is offered through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically through the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
What is the funding category and CFDA number listed?
The listing describes this as a discretionary federal grant under the health funding category, with CFDA 93.242.
What is the maximum award amount shown in the provided information?
The provided listing notes an award ceiling of $500,000, meaning this is the maximum amount shown for this opportunity in the source data provided.
What is the deadline listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed in the provided information is June 20, 2025.
Who is this program designed for?
This program is designed specifically for outstanding investigators who are still in the early, formative stage of their independent careers, and who already demonstrate exceptional productivity and readiness to establish an ambitious, independent research program.
What types of applicant organizations are eligible to apply?
A wide range of U.S.-based organizations may apply, including:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- State, county, and local governments (including special district governments)
- Independent school districts
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Tribal organizations that are not federally recognized
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those categories)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- Other eligible entities
Are certain institution types specifically called out as eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly highlights eligibility for several categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); eligible federal agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; regional organizations; tribal governments that are not federally recognized; and U.S. territories or possessions.
Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply under the rules described in the provided information.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-domestic component?
No. The opportunity states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are foreign components allowed in any form?
No. Foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. The applicant and the work supported under the award must remain domestic under NIH rules, based on the information provided.
What research areas does the opportunity focus on?
The content focus is mental health and mental disorders, and the opportunity spans biobehavioral science and related approaches. Within that broad scope, the emphasis is on high-innovation projects with transformative potential and a clear connection to NIMH priorities.
What makes an application a strong fit for this opportunity?
Based on the description provided, strong applications are likely to (1) present a bold, innovative scientific vision; (2) show clear potential to transform how mental disorders are understood, diagnosed, treated, or prevented; and (3) directly align the proposed work with NIMH mission priorities and gap areas described in the NIMH Strategic Plan.
Is this opportunity intended for incremental or exploratory work?
The opportunity is framed as supporting transformative, field-shaping work rather than incremental advances. It is intended as a high-impact launchpad for early-career investigators ready to establish an ambitious independent program.
Does the opportunity limit the type of research setting or community context?
The eligibility language and highlighted applicant categories suggest the program is open to a wide range of U.S. institutional and community settings, including community-based and faith-based organizations, regional organizations, and a variety of higher education and tribal-serving institutions, as long as eligibility and domestic participation rules are met.
What is the official identifier for this opportunity?
The funding opportunity is identified as RFA-MH-22-185, and it is referred to as NIMH Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (NIMH BRAINS).
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