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HCN Grants Est. 2026
No. PAR-25-284 · National Institutes of Health
Open

Innovative Pilot Mental Health Services Research Not Involving Clinical Trials (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Dealbreakers No cost share required Audit: not stated Reimbursement-only: not stated

At a glance

This program funds pilot mental health services research that is not a clinical trial, including studies using natural experiments, surveys, mixed methods, clinical epidemiology, and methods or measures development. It is open to a wide range of organizations, including nonprofits, colleges and universities, governments, small businesses, faith-based and community-based organizations, and foreign organizations. Awards are grants with up to $450,000 in direct costs over three years, and no more than $225,000 in direct costs in any one year. No cost sharing is required.

AI-generated summary — verify against the announcement

What it funds

  • Health
  • Research & Discovery
  • Researchers & Scholars
  • Mental & Behavioral Health
Official description from grants.gov

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Announcement (NOFO) is to encourage pilot research that is not an immediate precursor to testing a service intervention but is consistent with NIMH priorities for services research. While NIMH now requires use of an experimental therapeutics model for all intervention studies, there is recognition that some mission-relevant areas of services research do not involve clinical trials.

Who can apply

  • City or township governments
  • County governments
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • Independent school districts
  • Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
  • Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized)
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than higher education)
  • Others
  • Private institutions of higher education
  • Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
  • Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
  • Small businesses
  • Special district governments
  • State governments
Geographic restriction None found in the announcement — likely nationwide