Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 10 011
Apply for RFA MH 10 011
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Identification and Characterization of Sensitive Periods for Neurodevelopment in Studies of Mental Illness (R21)" 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 Jun 18, 2009 and posted on Jun 18, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 20, 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 $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses State governments.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions 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 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funding opportunity RFA-MH-10-011, titled "Identification and Characterization of Sensitive Periods for Neurodevelopment in Studies of Mental Illness (R21)," supports exploratory research aimed at pinpointing and understanding "sensitive periods" in brain development that shape later mental health outcomes. In this context, sensitive periods are specific windows in development when the brain is especially responsive to environmental inputs, meaning experiences during these times can have outsized effects that either increase risk for mental illness or build resilience. The overall goal is to encourage studies that connect the timing of developmental experiences with changes in cognitive or emotional functioning and with behaviors that are relevant to psychiatric disorders.
A central theme of the announcement is the idea that when an exposure happens can matter as much as what the exposure is. Applicants are encouraged to investigate sensitive periods in typical development as well as in the emergence of psychopathology, including how these windows may influence trajectories of cognition and affect. The FOA also explicitly invites projects that identify sensitive periods that could be used strategically for intervention, including prevention, pre-emption (acting before full disorder onset), or treatment. Alongside timing and behavior, the announcement emphasizes mechanisms, particularly how genetics, experience, and developmental processes interact to influence the brain and behavior. In practice, this means the FOA is interested not only in observing associations, but also in improving understanding of why certain developmental windows are uniquely influential, potentially through neurodevelopmental, biological, or gene-by-environment frameworks.
This opportunity uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant mechanism (R21), which is typically designed for early-stage, high-impact, or innovative work where investigators are building foundational evidence, developing new approaches, or testing novel hypotheses that may be too preliminary for larger awards. The FOA is described as running in parallel with a companion announcement of identical scientific scope that uses the R01 mechanism (RFA-MH-10-010), giving applicants a pathway for either exploratory projects (R21) or more mature, full-scale research projects (R01), depending on readiness and scope.
From a funding and competition standpoint, NIMH planned to commit about $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2010 to support an estimated 10 to 15 total awards across this FOA and the companion announcement. For the R21 mechanism specifically, the listed award ceiling is $200,000. The opportunity falls under the Health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants). It does not require cost sharing or matching.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations. Eligible applicants listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (with the nonprofit-without-501(c)(3) category explicitly noted as eligible aside from institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, state governments, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments). The eligibility section also specifies additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, with NIMH as the issuing institute for this announcement.
Key administrative details include a posted and creation date of June 18, 2009, with an original and current closing date of October 20, 2009, and an archive date of November 20, 2009. The full announcement was provided via the NIH grants guide at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-10-011.html, and the contact point for technical access or linking issues was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity title and number?
The opportunity is NIMH RFA-MH-10-011, titled "Identification and Characterization of Sensitive Periods for Neurodevelopment in Studies of Mental Illness (R21)."
Which agency is sponsoring and issuing this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The issuing institute for this announcement is the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
What is the main purpose of this FOA?
The FOA supports exploratory research to identify and characterize "sensitive periods" in neurodevelopment that influence later mental health outcomes. It aims to link the timing of developmental experiences with changes in cognitive or emotional functioning and with behaviors relevant to psychiatric disorders.
What does the FOA mean by "sensitive periods"?
In this context, sensitive periods are specific windows during development when the brain is especially responsive to environmental inputs. Experiences during these windows can have disproportionately large effects, potentially increasing risk for mental illness or strengthening resilience.
What kinds of research questions does the FOA encourage?
The FOA encourages studies examining how the timing of exposures or experiences influences trajectories of cognition and affect, and how those trajectories relate to behaviors relevant to psychiatric disorders. It emphasizes that when an exposure occurs can matter as much as what the exposure is.
Is the FOA focused only on atypical development or mental illness?
No. Applicants are encouraged to investigate sensitive periods in typical development as well as in the emergence of psychopathology, including how these windows may influence cognitive and emotional development over time.
Does the FOA support research aimed at intervention timing?
Yes. The FOA explicitly invites projects that identify sensitive periods that could be used strategically for intervention, including prevention, pre-emption (acting before full disorder onset), or treatment.
Does the FOA emphasize mechanisms as well as associations?
Yes. Alongside timing and behavior, the FOA emphasizes mechanisms, including how genetics, experience, and developmental processes interact to influence brain and behavior (for example, gene-by-environment and neurodevelopmental/biological frameworks).
What funding mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Grant mechanism (R21), which is generally intended for early-stage, innovative, or high-impact work that may be too preliminary for larger awards.
Is there a companion funding opportunity with the same scientific scope?
Yes. The FOA is described as running in parallel with a companion announcement of identical scientific scope using the R01 mechanism: RFA-MH-10-010. This provides a pathway for either exploratory projects (R21) or more mature, full-scale projects (R01), depending on readiness and scope.
How much funding did NIMH plan to commit, and how many awards were expected?
NIMH planned to commit about $5,000,000 in fiscal year 2010 to support an estimated 10 to 15 total awards across this FOA and the companion announcement.
What is the award ceiling for the R21 under this FOA?
For the R21 mechanism under this FOA, the listed award ceiling is $200,000.
What is the funding activity category?
The opportunity falls under the Health funding activity category.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status; nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (aside from institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; state governments; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments).
Are specific institution types (such as HBCUs or HSIs) included in the eligibility list?
Yes. The eligibility section also lists Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and faith-based or community-based organizations as eligible applicant types.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility section includes eligible federal agencies.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included among eligible applicant types.
Are regional organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Regional organizations are included among eligible applicant types.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility section includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
When was the FOA posted, and what were the closing and archive dates?
The posted and creation date is June 18, 2009. The original and current closing date is October 20, 2009. The archive date is November 20, 2009.
Where can applicants find the full announcement text?
The full announcement was provided via the NIH Grants Guide at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-10-011.html.
Who should be contacted for technical access or linking issues related to the announcement?
The contact point for technical access or linking issues was the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
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