Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 15 850
Apply for RFA MH 15 850
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Gut Microbiome Brain Interactions and Mental Health (R21/R33)" 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 Sep 11, 2014 and posted on Sep 10, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 25, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Independent school districts Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses City or township governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) State governments Small businesses County governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Special district governments.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Gut Microbiome Brain Interactions and Mental Health (R21/R33) funding opportunity (RFA-MH-15-850) was issued by the National Institutes of Health to support research that digs into how gut microbes can shape the brain and behavior in ways that matter for mental health. The focus is explicitly mechanistic: projects are expected to move beyond simple correlations and instead test hypotheses about how the gut microbiome influences the development and function of brain circuits that underlie behaviors relevant to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) mission. A key theme is brain circuit biology tied to behavior, with the microbiome treated as a modulator whose effects should be explained through identifiable biological pathways and circuit-level changes.
A major emphasis of the announcement is development across the lifespan, especially early life. Because initial microbial colonization of the gut happens very early and may alter how the central nervous system develops and remains modifiable later on, the FOA signals strong interest in developmental studies. In practical terms, this means studies that examine sensitive periods, long-term consequences of early microbial exposures, or how changes in the microbiome at different developmental stages might influence neural maturation, circuit refinement, or behavioral outcomes that are relevant to psychiatric risk and resilience.
The FOA also highlights experimental approaches and model systems that allow microbiome variables to be controlled with precision. Applicants are encouraged to use wild-type animals as well as gnotobiotic organisms (including germ-free animals or those colonized with defined microbial communities) and/or specific pathogen free models. This is important because these systems can separate the effects of particular microbial communities or microbial-derived products from other confounding environmental factors. The announcement encourages investigator teams to use these kinds of tools to generate strong causal evidence and to identify “promising mechanistic leads” that can become the foundation for later basic research or translational work aligned with NIMH priorities.
Structurally, the opportunity uses the NIH R21/R33 mechanism. That paired structure is typically intended to support projects that begin with an exploratory, high-impact phase (R21) and, if predefined milestones are met, transition into a second phase (R33) that allows more extensive development of the most promising mechanistic findings. In effect, the FOA is aimed at jump-starting cross-cutting, hypothesis-driven collaborations in an emerging area, with the expectation that early results will de-risk the most compelling directions for larger follow-on studies.
From an administrative and eligibility standpoint, the program was categorized as discretionary grant funding in the health area, tied to CFDA 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants). The total estimated funding listed was $1,000,000, with no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility was broad and included public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and a wide range of government entities (state, county, city/township, special district governments, and independent school districts). The FOA also explicitly included a variety of mission-relevant institutional types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions, among others. Importantly, non-U.S. entities and foreign institutions were eligible to apply, and foreign components were allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Timeline details indicate the FOA was posted on September 10, 2014, with an original and current closing date of November 25, 2014, and it was archived on December 26, 2014. The listing provided a link to the full announcement on the NIH grants site and included contact information through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster for access or technical linking problems. Overall, the opportunity was designed to catalyze rigorous, mechanistically grounded microbiome-to-brain research that directly informs how brain circuits develop and function in relation to mental health-relevant behaviors, while building a pipeline of leads for subsequent basic and translational advances.
FAQs: Gut Microbiome Brain Interactions and Mental Health (R21/R33) - RFA-MH-15-850
What is the name and ID of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Gut Microbiome Brain Interactions and Mental Health (R21/R33) and is identified as RFA-MH-15-850.
Which federal agency issued this FOA?
This FOA was issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with a focus aligned to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) mission.
What is the main purpose of the funding opportunity?
The goal is to support research that investigates how gut microbes can shape the brain and behavior in ways that matter for mental health, with an explicit focus on mechanisms rather than simple associations.
What kind of research approach does the FOA prioritize?
The FOA prioritizes mechanistic, hypothesis-driven studies designed to move beyond correlations and test how the gut microbiome influences brain circuit development and function, and how those circuit-level changes relate to mental health-relevant behaviors.
Does the FOA accept correlation-only microbiome studies?
The FOA emphasizes that projects are expected to move beyond simple correlations and instead provide causal and mechanistic evidence linking microbiome factors to identifiable biological pathways, brain circuit changes, and behavior.
What is meant by "brain circuit biology tied to behavior" in this FOA?
The FOA highlights a theme of connecting microbiome-related effects to brain circuits that underlie behaviors relevant to the NIMH mission. The microbiome is treated as a modulator whose impact should be explained through biological pathways and circuit-level changes.
Is developmental timing across the lifespan important for this FOA?
Yes. A major emphasis is development across the lifespan, with especially strong interest in early life, when initial gut colonization occurs and may influence how the central nervous system develops and remains modifiable later.
What types of developmental questions are encouraged?
The FOA signals interest in studies examining sensitive periods, long-term consequences of early microbial exposures, and how microbiome changes at different developmental stages might affect neural maturation, circuit refinement, and behavioral outcomes relevant to psychiatric risk and resilience.
What model systems or experimental tools does the FOA encourage?
The FOA encourages experimental approaches that allow microbiome variables to be controlled precisely, including wild-type animals, gnotobiotic organisms (such as germ-free animals or those colonized with defined microbial communities), and/or specific pathogen free models.
Why does the FOA emphasize gnotobiotic or controlled models?
These systems help separate the effects of specific microbial communities or microbial-derived products from confounding environmental factors, making it easier to generate strong causal evidence and identify promising mechanistic leads.
What is the NIH R21/R33 mechanism and how does it work here?
This FOA uses the paired R21/R33 mechanism. It is structured to support a first, exploratory phase (R21) focused on high-impact, early work, and then (if predefined milestones are met) a transition to a second phase (R33) to further develop the most promising mechanistic findings.
What is the intended outcome or longer-term impact of projects funded under this FOA?
The FOA aims to catalyze rigorous microbiome-to-brain research that produces mechanistic leads that can serve as the foundation for later basic research or translational work aligned with NIMH priorities.
How much total funding was estimated for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding listed for the opportunity was $1,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What CFDA program is this associated with?
This opportunity is tied to CFDA 93.242, listed as Mental Health Research Grants.
What type of grant funding is this categorized as?
It was categorized as discretionary grant funding in the health area.
Which organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad and included: public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and multiple categories of government entities (including state, county, city/township, special district governments, and independent school districts).
Were minority-serving and mission-relevant institution types explicitly included?
Yes. The FOA explicitly included a variety of institutional types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions, among others.
Can non-U.S. organizations apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities and foreign institutions were eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed?
Yes. Foreign components were allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
When was the FOA posted and when did it close?
The FOA was posted on September 10, 2014. The original and current closing date was November 25, 2014.
Is this funding opportunity still active?
No. The listing indicates the FOA was archived on December 26, 2014.
Where could applicants find the full announcement?
The listing referenced a link to the full announcement on the NIH grants site.
Who was listed as a contact for access or technical linking problems?
The listing included contact information through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster for access or technical linking problems.
What kinds of research teams or collaborations does the FOA aim to stimulate?
The FOA is aimed at jump-starting cross-cutting, hypothesis-driven collaborations in an emerging area of microbiome-to-brain research, using the phased R21/R33 structure to de-risk and advance the most compelling mechanistic directions.
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