FOR-MH-26-200: NIMH Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (NIMH BRAINS) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Forecast
This forecast is out of date. Its expected dates have passed and the agency has not posted the opportunity on Grants.gov. It may be delayed or cancelled; check the program's other opportunities below.
National Institutes of Health plans to offer grants to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. It expects to make about 6 awards worth $3.0 million in total. It is a forecast: the notice is expected around September 20, 2025, with applications due around October 20, 2025.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed May 28, 2025. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Total funding$3.0 million
- Expected awards6
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
About this NIH notice
- Activity codeR01
- Clinical trialsOptional
- R01, Research Project Grant. NIH's standard grant for a defined research project led by a named investigator, usually for up to five years. Other open R01 notices.
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| RFA-MH-22-185 | July 26, 2022 | Closed May 23, 2025 | Closed |
Key dates
| Forecast posted | May 28, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Expected posting | September 20, 2025 |
| Expected deadline | October 20, 2025 |
| Expected award date | July 1, 2026 |
Add the deadline to your calendar or it to My grants.
Who can apply
This opportunity is open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.
All 11 applicant types the notice lists
- State governments
- County 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
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
Is this a realistic fit?
- Most of the program's money (69% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
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 has won Mental Health Research Grants grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Mental Health Research Grants (93.242) awarded $8.8 billion across 6,785 grant awards, an average of $1.3 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yale Univ | Connecticut | 185 | $371 million |
| University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education | Pennsylvania | 200 | $297 million |
| University of California, Los Angeles | California | 176 | $234 million |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | New York | 144 | $212 million |
| The Washington University | Missouri | 149 | $211 million |
How to apply
- Read the full notice and attachments on Grants.gov. The notice is the official source for deadlines and requirements.
- Make sure your organization has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID; registration can take several weeks.
- Register on Grants.gov and submit through Workspace before the deadline and time given in the notice. Our application guide walks through each step.
Questions go to Eric R. Murphy, Ph.D., National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), eric.murphy@nih.gov, 301-443-9230.
Questions people ask
Is FOR-MH-26-200 still open?
Not yet. It is a forecast: expected deadline October 20, 2025.
Who can apply for NIMH Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (NIMH BRAINS) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)?
National Institutes of Health accepts applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.
What is the deadline for NIMH Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (NIMH BRAINS) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)?
Expected deadline October 20, 2025. Confirm the date and time in the official notice on Grants.gov.
How much funding is available?
About $3.0 million in total across about 6 awards.
Who has won Mental Health Research Grants grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Yale Univ, University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, University of California, Los Angeles. The program made 6,785 awards worth $8.8 billion in that time.
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