Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 09 100
Apply for RFA MH 09 100
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (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 Mental Health Research Grants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 30, 2008 and posted on Oct 30, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 3, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (BRAINS) (R01) is a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity designed to help exceptional early-career investigators establish independent research programs in areas central to the NIMH mission. The core idea is to pair research support with research career development at a pivotal stage when a scientist is building their long-term trajectory. BRAINS is aimed at investigators who are still in the formative phase of their careers, are making a clear commitment to a sustained research career, and are positioned to launch a bold, original line of work that could meaningfully change how mental disorders are understood, diagnosed, treated, or prevented. The program is explicitly framed around high-impact science: proposals are expected to be innovative and capable of pushing the field forward in ways that could eventually contribute to transformative advances, including paving the way toward cures.
A defining feature of the BRAINS program is that its scientific emphasis is not static. Instead, NIMH intends to use BRAINS as a targeted mechanism that can shift year to year depending on where the institute sees major opportunity or need, both scientifically and in terms of developing the next generation of researchers. In the inaugural year described in this announcement, the focus area is neurodevelopment. That focus signals an interest in research that investigates developmental processes relevant to mental health and mental illness, including foundational mechanisms, trajectories, risk and resilience factors, and opportunities for early detection and intervention, spanning basic, translational, and clinical approaches.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the award uses the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) mechanism. Importantly, it is intended for first-time R01 investigators, meaning it is geared toward researchers who have not previously served as the principal investigator on an NIH R01. This is consistent with the program goal of helping new scientists cross the threshold into R01-supported independence, while also encouraging them to pursue ambitious, potentially field-shaping ideas rather than incremental extensions of prior work.
The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-MH-09-100) falls under the federal assistance listing for Mental Health Research Grants (CFDA 93.242) and is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health funding activity area. For fiscal year (FY) 2009, NIMH indicated an intent to commit up to $5,000,000 in total costs to support up to 6 new awards. The listed award ceiling is $400,000, which provides a sense of the maximum budget level anticipated per grant under this announcement. No cost sharing or matching is required, which reduces barriers for applicants and keeps the focus on scientific and career-development merit rather than institutional ability to contribute additional funds.
Eligibility is broad across higher education and nonprofit research settings, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (with additional eligibility details referenced in the full text). The announcement also highlights eligibility for institutions that serve specific populations, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, indicating an openness to applications from diverse institutional environments and, potentially, an interest in strengthening the research pipeline across a wide range of settings.
Key dates show the announcement was posted on October 30, 2008, with an application closing date of February 3, 2009, and an archive date of March 6, 2009, reflecting that this was a time-limited solicitation for that funding cycle. The official full announcement and requirements were provided through the NIH grants guide, and technical assistance for accessing or linking to the announcement was routed through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact listed in the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BRAINS (R01) funding opportunity?
The Biobehavioral Research Awards for Innovative New Scientists (BRAINS) (R01) is a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity designed to help exceptional early-career investigators establish independent research programs aligned with the NIMH mission. It pairs research support with research career development at a pivotal stage when investigators are building their long-term research trajectory.
What is the purpose of the BRAINS program?
The program is intended to help formative-stage investigators launch a bold, original line of work and move into R01-supported independence. The emphasis is on high-impact, innovative science that can push the field forward and potentially change how mental disorders are understood, diagnosed, treated, or prevented, including paving the way toward transformative advances.
Which NIH Institute sponsors this opportunity?
This opportunity is sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What grant mechanism is used?
The award uses the NIH Research Project Grant (R01) mechanism.
Who is this opportunity intended for (career stage)?
It is aimed at exceptional early-career investigators who are still in the formative phase of their careers, are making a clear commitment to a sustained research career, and are positioned to establish an independent research program.
Is this opportunity limited to first-time R01 investigators?
Yes. It is intended for first-time R01 investigators, meaning it is geared toward researchers who have not previously served as the principal investigator on an NIH R01.
What kind of research does BRAINS prioritize?
Proposals are expected to be innovative and high-impact, with the potential to meaningfully advance the field in ways that could eventually contribute to transformative advances in mental health research.
Does the scientific focus of BRAINS stay the same each year?
No. A defining feature is that NIMH intends to use BRAINS as a targeted mechanism that can shift year to year depending on where the institute sees major opportunity or need, both scientifically and in terms of developing the next generation of researchers.
What is the focus area for the inaugural year described in this announcement?
For the inaugural year described in this announcement, the focus area is neurodevelopment.
What does the neurodevelopment focus suggest about the types of projects NIMH is seeking?
The neurodevelopment focus signals interest in research investigating developmental processes relevant to mental health and mental illness. This includes foundational mechanisms, trajectories, risk and resilience factors, and opportunities for early detection and intervention.
What research stages or approaches are included under the neurodevelopment focus?
The focus spans basic, translational, and clinical approaches.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-MH-09-100.
What federal assistance listing (CFDA) is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the federal assistance listing for Mental Health Research Grants (CFDA 93.242).
What type of grant is this (funding category)?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health funding activity area.
How much funding did NIMH plan to commit for FY 2009?
For fiscal year (FY) 2009, NIMH indicated an intent to commit up to $5,000,000 in total costs.
How many awards were expected to be made?
NIMH indicated support for up to 6 new awards under this announcement.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) listed?
The listed award ceiling is $400,000, which indicates the maximum budget level anticipated per grant under this announcement.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. No cost sharing or matching is required.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across higher education and nonprofit research settings, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including both with and without 501(c)(3) status), with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement text.
Are minority-serving institutions highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The announcement highlights eligibility for institutions that serve specific populations, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions.
When was the announcement posted?
The announcement was posted on October 30, 2008.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date was February 3, 2009.
What does the archive date indicate?
The archive date (March 6, 2009) reflects that this was a time-limited solicitation for that funding cycle.
Where were the official full announcement and requirements provided?
The official full announcement and requirements were provided through the NIH grants guide.
Who was listed for technical assistance related to accessing or linking to the announcement?
Technical assistance for accessing or linking to the announcement was routed through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contact listed in the notice.
How does BRAINS differ from a typical research-only grant opportunity?
Based on the description provided, BRAINS is explicitly framed as pairing research support with research career development at a crucial career stage, with an emphasis on helping early-career scientists establish independent R01-supported programs while pursuing ambitious, potentially field-shaping ideas.
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| Informing Systems Biology through Genetic VariationThe Genes, Environment and Health Initiative (R21) Apply for RFA MH 09 120 Funding Number: RFA MH 09 120 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
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| Service Expansion in Mental Health/Substance Abuse (SEXPMHSA) Apply for HRSA 09 155 Funding Number: HRSA 09 155 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Exploratory Studies of Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cells from Healthy and Mental Health Patient Populations (R21/R33) Apply for RFA MH 09 130 Funding Number: RFA MH 09 130 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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| Part C EIS CATEGORICAL GRANT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE OUTPATIENT EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES WITH RESPECT TO HIV DISEASE Apply for HRSA 09 100 Funding Number: HRSA 09 100 Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NINDS Institutional Center Core Grants to Support Neuroscience Research (P30) Apply for PAR 08 116 Funding Number: PAR 08 116 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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