Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 23 300
Apply for RFA MH 23 300
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Developing Measures to Advance Access and Quality in Global Mental Health Services (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2023-03-31.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-10-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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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Opportunity Summary:
The funding opportunity "Developing Measures to Advance Access and Quality in Global Mental Health Services (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (RFA-MH-23-300) is a National Institutes of Health grant led by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) focused on strengthening how mental health services are measured, understood, and improved in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The central aim is to close major knowledge gaps about what data are needed, what obstacles and enabling factors shape service delivery, and which practical strategies can help countries move toward universal mental health coverage. In plain terms, the opportunity is about building the measurement and evidence base that makes it possible to adopt, implement, and scale evidence-based mental health interventions in real-world global settings, especially where resources are limited and service systems may be fragmented.
This initiative recognizes that NIMH and the broader global mental health field have invested heavily in developing, adapting, and testing mental health interventions around the world, but that scaling those interventions often stalls because systems do not have the right tools to track access, quality, utilization, and implementation conditions. As a result, the announcement supports research that sharpens the ability to measure and understand both supply-side factors (for example, workforce capacity, training, supervision, service availability, referral pathways, financing, facility readiness, medication supply, and integration into primary care) and demand-side factors (for example, stigma, cultural acceptability, perceived need, affordability, geographic access, trust in providers, awareness of services, and family or community support). The intent is not simply to describe problems, but to generate actionable knowledge and measurement approaches that can guide decision-making, program improvement, and scale-up.
The FOA allows for innovative experimental and non-experimental studies, as long as they are aimed at improving understanding of the elements that increase access to and use of mental health services and that advance quality in LMIC service systems. Because it is an R34 mechanism, projects are generally expected to be oriented toward early-stage or preparatory research that strengthens the foundation for later, larger-scale effectiveness, implementation, or systems studies. At the same time, the "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation makes clear that applicants should not propose NIH-defined clinical trials (for example, trials that prospectively assign people to interventions to evaluate health-related outcomes). In practice, this steers applicants toward measurement development, validation work, observational studies, natural experiments, implementation-focused analyses that are not clinical trials, and other designs that build the infrastructure of knowledge needed for adoption and scaling without testing a clinical intervention in a trial format.
Eligible applicants are broad and include many types of U.S.-based and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible entities listed include state, county, city/township, and 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 that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and other organizations. The opportunity also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than federally recognized); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations can apply. This wide eligibility is consistent with the global scope of the work and the need for strong local and regional partners in LMIC contexts.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health area (CFDA 93.242) offered through NIH. The original closing date listed is October 18, 2023, and while the provided source text does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the overarching emphasis is clearly on developing and improving measures and strategies that can accelerate progress toward universal mental health coverage in LMICs. Overall, the announcement is best understood as an effort to make mental health scale-up more feasible by improving the tools and evidence used to identify barriers, leverage facilitators, track quality and access, and guide systems-level decisions in resource-constrained settings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and identifier of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Developing Measures to Advance Access and Quality in Global Mental Health Services (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and it is identified as RFA-MH-23-300.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity led by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
What is the main goal of this grant?
The main goal is to strengthen how mental health services are measured, understood, and improved in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The focus is on building better measurement and evidence so countries can more effectively adopt, implement, and scale evidence-based mental health interventions in real-world service systems.
What problem is NIMH trying to address through this opportunity?
The announcement recognizes that many mental health interventions have been developed, adapted, and tested globally, but scaling often stalls because systems lack practical tools and data to track access, quality, utilization, and the conditions that affect implementation. This grant supports research that closes those measurement and knowledge gaps.
What kinds of research does the FOA support?
The FOA supports innovative experimental and non-experimental studies that improve understanding of what increases access to and use of mental health services and what advances quality in LMIC service systems. The emphasis is on actionable measurement approaches and evidence that can guide decision-making, program improvement, and scale-up.
Is this opportunity focused on delivering or scaling a specific mental health intervention?
The focus is not on testing a clinical intervention in a trial format. Instead, the emphasis is on developing the measurement and evidence base that makes scale-up feasible, such as tools and methods to track access and quality and to understand barriers and facilitators in real-world systems.
What does the R34 mechanism imply about the expected project stage?
As an R34 mechanism, projects are generally expected to be early-stage or preparatory research. The intent is to strengthen the foundation for later, larger-scale effectiveness, implementation, or systems studies.
What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean for applicants?
"Clinical Trial Not Allowed" means applicants should not propose NIH-defined clinical trials, such as studies that prospectively assign people to interventions to evaluate health-related outcomes. The FOA steers applicants toward measurement development, validation work, observational studies, natural experiments, and implementation-focused analyses that are not clinical trials.
What are examples of acceptable study types under this FOA (based on the description provided)?
Based on the provided description, acceptable approaches can include measurement development, measurement validation, observational studies, natural experiments, and other experimental or non-experimental designs aimed at understanding and improving measurement of access and quality and the conditions shaping service delivery, as long as they are not NIH-defined clinical trials.
What types of factors is the FOA interested in measuring or understanding?
The FOA is interested in both supply-side and demand-side factors that shape service delivery, access, utilization, and quality in LMICs.
What are examples of supply-side factors mentioned in the opportunity?
Examples include workforce capacity, training, supervision, service availability, referral pathways, financing, facility readiness, medication supply, and integration into primary care.
What are examples of demand-side factors mentioned in the opportunity?
Examples include stigma, cultural acceptability, perceived need, affordability, geographic access, trust in providers, awareness of services, and family or community support.
Is the intent only to describe barriers in LMIC mental health systems?
No. The intent is not simply to describe problems, but to generate actionable knowledge and measurement approaches that can guide decisions, improve programs, and support scale-up toward universal mental health coverage.
What geographic or setting focus does this opportunity emphasize?
The opportunity emphasizes low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and global mental health service systems, especially settings where resources are limited and systems may be fragmented.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based and non-U.S. organizations. The description lists government entities, educational institutions, tribal entities, housing authorities, nonprofits, for-profits (including small businesses), and other organizations.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are eligible, meaning foreign organizations can apply.
Are state, local, or special district governments eligible?
Yes. The listed eligible entities include state, county, city/township, and special district governments.
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and also tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. It also highlights Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than federally recognized) and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are minority-serving institutions specifically highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity highlights eligibility for categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly highlighted as eligible applicant categories.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible even if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are listed as eligible entities.
Are U.S. territories or possessions included in eligible applicant categories?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly highlighted among eligible applicant categories.
What is the assistance listing/CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.242.
What type of grant is this administratively?
It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity in the health area offered through NIH.
What is the application closing date listed in the provided information?
The original closing date listed is October 18, 2023.
Does the provided information specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided source text does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
How does this opportunity relate to universal mental health coverage?
The opportunity aims to help countries move toward universal mental health coverage by improving the measures, data, and practical strategies needed to identify barriers, leverage facilitators, track access and quality, and guide systems-level decisions in LMIC settings.
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