Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 14 080
Apply for RFA MH 14 080
- 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 Oct 18, 2013 and posted on Mar 8, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 1, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Independent school districts Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than 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 City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) For profit organizations other than small businesses Special district governments Small businesses State governments Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) County governments Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities.
- 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Gut Microbiome Brain Interactions and Mental Health (R21/R33) funding opportunity (RFA-MH-14-080) is a National Institutes of Health grant announcement from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) focused on uncovering how the gut microbiome influences the brain systems that support behavior. The core aim is mechanistic: applicants are expected to move beyond simply showing correlations between microbiome changes and behavior, and instead test clear hypotheses about how microbes, microbial communities, or microbe-derived signals shape the development and function of neural circuits that are relevant to mental health. In other words, the opportunity is meant to support projects that can explain how microbiome-related biological processes translate into measurable changes in brain circuitry and behavioral functions that matter to NIMH's mission.
A major emphasis of the announcement is development. Because gut colonization begins early in life, the FOA highlights the possibility that microbiota may have lasting effects on how the central nervous system develops, how plastic or modifiable it remains over time, and how vulnerability or resilience to mental health problems might emerge. As a result, studies that examine early-life windows, developmental trajectories, and the timing of microbiome influences on brain and behavior are described as particularly interesting. This does not exclude adult-focused projects, but it signals that proposals engaging developmental mechanisms, sensitive periods, or longitudinal designs are especially aligned with the intent of the FOA.
The FOA is intentionally cross-cutting and encourages multidisciplinary, team-based science that connects microbiology, neuroscience, development, and behavior. Applicants may use a wide range of experimental platforms, including wild-type model organisms, gnotobiotic animals (where microbial exposure is fully controlled), and specific pathogen free organisms, as well as human cohorts. This flexibility is meant to let investigators choose the most appropriate system for causally probing microbiome-to-brain pathways, whether that involves tightly controlled experimental manipulation in animals, translationally oriented work linking biological measures to brain and behavioral endpoints, or carefully designed human studies that can support mechanistic inference.
Mechanistic leads are a key deliverable. The announcement is positioned to help investigator teams launch hypothesis-driven projects that can generate strong, testable mechanistic insights and point toward future basic and translational research directions that advance mental health science. The R21/R33 structure signals an expectation of a staged project path, where early exploratory work can set up a more advanced phase that builds on promising initial results, with the overall goal of accelerating progress in a rapidly developing research area.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health category (CFDA 93.242, Mental Health Research Grants) with an estimated total funding amount of $2,000,000 and no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted March 8, 2013, created October 18, 2013, with an original closing date of October 10, 2013, later reflected with a current closing date of November 1, 2013, and an archive date of December 1, 2013. Although those dates place the announcement in an archived timeframe, the summary still captures the scientific priorities and the type of work NIMH sought to stimulate through this mechanism.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of domestic and non-domestic organizations. Eligible applicants listed include state and local governments (such as city or township governments, county governments, special district governments, and state governments), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and a range of nonprofit and for-profit entities (including nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status and for-profit organizations other than small businesses). Small businesses are also eligible, as are Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized governments). The eligibility notes further expand the list to include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, foreign organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. The practical implication is that the FOA was designed to draw applications from a wide scientific and institutional base, supporting diverse teams that can tackle microbiome-brain questions from different angles.
For applicants or institutions seeking details beyond the summary, the FOA provides an additional information link to the NIH Grants Guide posting (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-14-080.html). For access or technical issues, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and ID of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Gut Microbiome Brain Interactions and Mental Health (R21/R33)" and the announcement number is RFA-MH-14-080.
Which agency is offering this grant?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant announcement from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
What is the main scientific focus of the FOA?
The FOA focuses on uncovering how the gut microbiome influences brain systems that support behavior, with an emphasis on mental health-relevant neural circuits and behavioral functions aligned with NIMH's mission.
What does the FOA mean by "mechanistic" research?
The FOA is aimed at studies that go beyond correlations between microbiome changes and behavior. Applicants are expected to test clear hypotheses about how microbes, microbial communities, or microbe-derived signals shape the development and function of neural circuits relevant to mental health.
Are purely correlational studies responsive to this opportunity?
Based on the FOA summary, the intent is to move beyond simply showing correlations. Proposed work is expected to generate mechanistic explanations that connect microbiome-related biological processes to measurable changes in brain circuitry and behavior.
Why is development emphasized in this announcement?
The FOA highlights development because gut colonization begins early in life, and microbiota may have lasting effects on central nervous system development, plasticity over time, and how vulnerability or resilience to mental health problems emerges.
Are early-life and developmental studies required?
No. Adult-focused projects are not excluded, but the FOA signals that proposals engaging developmental mechanisms, sensitive periods, early-life windows, developmental trajectories, or longitudinal designs are particularly aligned with the intent of the announcement.
What kinds of study designs are described as especially interesting?
The summary specifically highlights studies examining early-life windows, developmental trajectories, timing of microbiome influences on brain and behavior, sensitive periods, and longitudinal approaches as especially interesting.
Does the FOA encourage multidisciplinary or team-based research?
Yes. The FOA is described as cross-cutting and encourages multidisciplinary, team-based science that connects microbiology, neuroscience, development, and behavior.
What research platforms or systems are allowed?
The FOA allows a wide range of experimental platforms, including wild-type model organisms, gnotobiotic animals (with fully controlled microbial exposure), specific pathogen free organisms, and human cohorts.
What are gnotobiotic animals in the context of this FOA?
Gnotobiotic animals are described as animals where microbial exposure is fully controlled, which can support causal probing of microbiome-to-brain pathways.
Are human studies allowed under this opportunity?
Yes. The FOA explicitly mentions the use of human cohorts as an eligible experimental platform, alongside animal and controlled microbial exposure models.
What is meant by "mechanistic leads" as a deliverable?
The announcement is positioned to help teams launch hypothesis-driven projects that generate strong, testable mechanistic insights and point toward future basic and translational research directions that advance mental health science.
What does the R21/R33 structure suggest about the project?
The R21/R33 structure signals a staged project path, where early exploratory work can set up a more advanced phase that builds on promising initial results, with the overall goal of accelerating progress in a rapidly developing research area.
What is the CFDA number and program category?
The opportunity is in the health category under CFDA 93.242, described as Mental Health Research Grants.
How much total funding was estimated for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount listed in the summary is $2,000,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The summary states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was the opportunity posted and created?
The opportunity was posted on March 8, 2013, and created on October 18, 2013.
What were the closing and archive dates?
The summary notes an original closing date of October 10, 2013, later reflected with a current closing date of November 1, 2013, and an archive date of December 1, 2013.
Is this funding opportunity currently open?
Based on the dates provided (closing in 2013 and an archive date of December 1, 2013), the announcement is in an archived timeframe, even though the summary still describes the scientific priorities NIMH sought to stimulate.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad, including many domestic and non-domestic organizations. The summary lists government entities, higher education institutions (public and private), independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit and for-profit entities (including those without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses, tribal governments and tribal organizations, and additional categories such as certain minority-serving institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, foreign organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility notes explicitly include foreign organizations.
Are small businesses eligible to apply?
Yes. Small businesses are specifically listed as eligible applicants.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The summary includes for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and also separately indicates small businesses are eligible.
Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?
Yes. The summary includes nonprofit organizations with and without 501(c)(3) status.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The summary lists Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and tribal organizations, including those other than federally recognized governments.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The eligibility notes include U.S. territories or possessions.
Are minority-serving institutions mentioned as eligible?
Yes. The eligibility notes include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Where can applicants find the full FOA details?
The FOA provides an additional information link to the NIH Grants Guide posting: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-14-080.html
Who should be contacted for access or technical issues?
The contact listed for access or technical issues is the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) Webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
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