NIMH Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (NIMH BRAINS) (R01) | RFA MH 18 200

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 18 200

The NIMH Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (NIMH BRAINS) (R01) is a National Institute of Mental Health funding opportunity designed to help exceptionally productive early-career investigators establish themselves as independent, long-term contributors to NIMH mission-focused research. The central aim is not only to fund a strong project, but also to accelerate the research career development of scientists who are still in the formative stages of independence and are poised to launch a distinct, innovative program of work. The program is meant to give these investigators enough support to move beyond incremental studies and pursue ideas that could meaningfully reshape how mental disorders are understood, identified, treated, prevented, or managed through services and systems.

The scope of research supported under BRAINS is intentionally broad across the mental health research pipeline, covering clinical, translational, basic, and services research, as long as the work aligns with NIMH priorities. A key organizing framework is the NIMH Strategic Plan, with a strong emphasis on addressing priority areas and clear gaps where progress has been limited or where new approaches could be transformative. The opportunity also explicitly points to the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) project, which encourages research that examines mental health through dimensions of behavior and neurobiology (rather than relying only on traditional diagnostic categories), supporting studies that map mechanisms across levels such as genes, circuits, physiology, behavior, and real-world functioning. In practice, the opportunity is intended for investigators proposing bold, well-justified research programs that can open up new directions in mental health science.

This opportunity uses the NIH R01 mechanism, which is the standard research project grant supporting a defined scientific plan. It is listed as a discretionary grant program in the health funding category and is associated with CFDA number 93.242. The specific funding opportunity is identified as RFA-MH-18-200. The posted award ceiling is $400,000, indicating an upper bound on allowable funding under the terms described in the source information. While the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided data, the design of the program suggests a competitive process aimed at selecting a limited number of highly promising early-stage investigators whose trajectories and proposed work indicate unusually high potential impact.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many types of public and private entities that commonly apply for NIH grants. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education where applicable); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other qualifying entities. The opportunity also explicitly highlights additional eligible institution types often associated with broadening participation and serving specific communities, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. It also notes that eligible agencies of the federal government may apply.

At the same time, the opportunity includes clear restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-domestic (non-U.S.) institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. In addition, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed, which effectively means applicants must keep the project work within allowable domestic boundaries and cannot structure the grant around foreign components.

Key timeline information from the source data indicates the opportunity was created on February 17, 2017, with an original application closing date of January 23, 2018. The administering agency is the National Institutes of Health, with the program housed within NIMH. Overall, the BRAINS R01 is best understood as a targeted NIMH initiative to identify and propel outstanding early-career scientists by funding high-impact, innovative research programs tightly aligned with NIMH strategic priorities and the RDoC-informed push toward mechanism-oriented understanding of mental disorders.

• 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)" 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 2017-02-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-23. (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 $400,000.00 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.

Apply for RFA MH 18 200

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