Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 15 330
Apply for RFA MH 15 330
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pilot Effectiveness Studies and Services Research Grants (R34)" 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 Jan 27, 2015 and posted on Feb 24, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 19, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $225,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Special district governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) City or township governments Small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Independent school districts Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities State governments 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.
- 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 Pilot Effectiveness Studies and Services Research Grants (R34) funding opportunity (RFA-MH-15-330) is a National Institutes of Health program administered in alignment with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) priorities. Its central goal is to fund early-stage, pilot-level projects that help investigators take the next step between an intervention that has already shown efficacy and the larger, more definitive studies needed to demonstrate how well that intervention works in real-world settings. In practice, this FOA is aimed at helping research teams generate the kind of preliminary evidence that can justify and de-risk a later, larger-scale effectiveness trial or a major services research study.
The FOA emphasizes two main project types. First, it supports effectiveness research on interventions that have already demonstrated efficacy, but now need testing in broader populations or in community practice contexts where conditions are more variable and less controlled than in tightly managed efficacy trials. That includes situations where an evidence-based intervention is being moved into typical service environments such as community mental health clinics, primary care, schools, justice settings, or other real-world systems. Second, it encourages innovative mental health services research directions that are promising but still need initial development or preliminary testing. This can include new models for delivering care, improving access, coordinating services, or changing the way systems identify and address mental health needs, especially when those ideas require pilot work before they can be tested at scale.
A key expectation is that proposed studies will focus on practical, decision-relevant early outcomes that determine whether a larger trial is warranted and how it should be designed. Applications are expected to include plans and methods for evaluating feasibility (can the approach be delivered as intended in the target setting), tolerability and acceptability (do participants and providers find it workable and appropriate), and safety (whether there are any significant risks or adverse effects associated with the approach in the proposed context). The FOA also stresses the importance of collecting preliminary data that function as a prerequisite for the next stage of research, such as informing recruitment and retention strategies, estimating effect sizes or variability, validating outcome measures in the intended setting, refining implementation procedures, or identifying barriers and facilitators to real-world delivery.
The intended “next step†after an R34 under this announcement is typically a larger, more definitive study, such as a comparative effectiveness study, a practical trial, or a large-scale services study. In other words, the R34 is positioned as a bridge mechanism: it is not meant to replace a full-scale trial, but to provide enough rigorous pilot evidence to make that later trial scientifically and operationally credible. Projects that are a good fit are those that clearly articulate how the pilot results will directly inform the design, methods, and justification for the subsequent larger study.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health category under CFDA 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants). The FOA indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The estimated total funding level listed is $3,000,000, and the award ceiling is $225,000. Key dates in the posting record include a posted date of February 24, 2014, an original closing date of February 17, 2015, and a current closing date of February 19, 2015, with an archive date of March 21, 2015. While those dates reflect the historical cycle for this specific announcement, they also provide a sense of the scale and funding limits associated with this R34 call as issued.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across the public, private, academic, nonprofit, and governmental spectrum. Eligible applicants listed include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities (including Indian housing authorities). Academic entities are eligible, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Nonprofit organizations are eligible, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education) and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). For-profit organizations are also eligible, including small businesses and for-profit entities other than small businesses. Tribal eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations, as well as Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and tribally controlled colleges and universities.
The FOA explicitly includes a range of additional eligible applicants such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based and community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. Importantly, non-U.S. entities are also eligible to apply, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations may apply. Foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, signaling that international collaboration or non-U.S. implementation settings may be permissible when scientifically justified.
For applicants seeking the official announcement details, the FOA points to the NIH Grants Guide page at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-15-330.html. The contact information included is for technical access issues through the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV), which is intended for troubleshooting problems accessing or linking to the announcement rather than for scientific program guidance.
Overall, this R34 opportunity is best understood as targeted support for pilot work that answers the practical questions reviewers and funders typically ask before committing to a large effectiveness or services research effort: can it be done in the intended setting, will stakeholders engage with it, is it safe and acceptable, and does the early signal justify scaling up to a rigorous, real-world trial or system-level study.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Pilot Effectiveness Studies and Services Research Grants (R34) opportunity?
This funding opportunity is the NIH Pilot Effectiveness Studies and Services Research Grants (R34), referenced as RFA-MH-15-330. It is administered in alignment with National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) priorities and is designed to support early-stage, pilot-level studies.
What is the main purpose of this R34 FOA?
The central goal is to fund pilot work that helps investigators move from an intervention that has already shown efficacy to the larger, more definitive studies needed to determine how well it works in real-world settings. The R34 is positioned as a bridge mechanism to generate preliminary evidence that can justify and de-risk a later large-scale effectiveness trial or major services research study.
What kinds of projects are emphasized under this FOA?
The FOA emphasizes two main project types: (1) effectiveness research on interventions that have already demonstrated efficacy and now need testing in broader populations or in community practice settings; and (2) innovative mental health services research directions that are promising but still need initial development or preliminary testing before being evaluated at scale.
Does this FOA support testing interventions in real-world practice settings?
Yes. A major emphasis is testing evidence-based interventions in typical service environments where conditions are less controlled than efficacy trials. Examples of real-world settings referenced include community mental health clinics, primary care, schools, justice settings, and other real-world systems.
Is this R34 intended to fund a full-scale effectiveness trial?
No. The R34 under this announcement is described as a bridge mechanism and is not meant to replace a full-scale trial. Its role is to provide rigorous pilot evidence that directly informs the scientific and operational credibility of a later, larger study.
What is the expected "next step" after completing an R34 project under this FOA?
The intended next step is typically a larger, more definitive study such as a comparative effectiveness study, a practical trial, or a large-scale services research study.
What outcomes should an R34 project focus on for this FOA?
Studies are expected to focus on practical, decision-relevant early outcomes that help determine whether a larger trial is warranted and how it should be designed.
What does the FOA say about feasibility evaluation?
Applications are expected to include plans and methods for evaluating feasibility, meaning whether the approach can be delivered as intended in the target setting.
What does the FOA say about acceptability and tolerability?
The FOA expects applications to evaluate tolerability and acceptability, meaning whether participants and providers find the approach workable and appropriate in the proposed context.
What does the FOA require related to safety?
The FOA stresses assessing safety, including whether there are significant risks or adverse effects associated with the approach in the proposed setting or context.
What types of preliminary data are this FOA looking for?
The FOA highlights preliminary data that function as prerequisites for the next research stage, such as data to inform recruitment and retention strategies, estimate effect sizes or variability, validate outcome measures in the intended setting, refine implementation procedures, and identify barriers and facilitators to real-world delivery.
How should applicants connect the pilot study to a future larger study?
A strong fit is described as a project that clearly articulates how pilot results will directly inform the design, methods, and justification for a subsequent larger study, rather than treating the pilot as an endpoint.
Which NIH institute is associated with this opportunity?
This R34 funding opportunity is administered in alignment with NIMH priorities (National Institute of Mental Health).
What is the CFDA number and category for this grant?
The opportunity is listed in the health category under CFDA 93.242, described as Mental Health Research Grants.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The FOA indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the estimated total funding level for this FOA?
The estimated total funding level listed is $3,000,000.
What is the award ceiling for individual awards under this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as $225,000.
What are the key dates associated with this FOA?
The posting record lists a posted date of February 24, 2014, an original closing date of February 17, 2015, a current closing date of February 19, 2015, and an archive date of March 21, 2015.
Are the listed dates current?
The dates provided reflect the historical cycle for this specific announcement as issued, including its closing and archive dates.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across the public, private, academic, nonprofit, and governmental spectrum, including U.S. and non-U.S. entities as described in the FOA summary provided.
Are state and local governments eligible applicants?
Yes. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, and public housing authorities (including Indian housing authorities).
Are colleges and universities eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, as well as tribally controlled colleges and universities.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education) and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education).
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations, including small businesses and for-profit entities other than small businesses.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Eligibility includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments, other Native American tribal organizations, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and tribally controlled colleges and universities.
Are minority-serving institutions explicitly included?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes applicants such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes faith-based and community-based organizations among eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly lists U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicants.
Can foreign organizations apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities are described as eligible, including foreign organizations and foreign institutions, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations may apply.
Are foreign components allowed in an application?
Yes. Foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, indicating that international collaboration or non-U.S. implementation settings may be permissible when scientifically justified.
Where can applicants find the official FOA announcement?
The FOA points to the NIH Grants Guide page at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-MH-15-330.html
Who should be contacted for technical issues accessing the announcement?
The contact provided for technical access issues is the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV, intended for troubleshooting access or linking problems rather than scientific program guidance.
What is the core review-and-decision logic this R34 is meant to support?
This R34 is framed around answering the practical questions that typically come before a major effectiveness or services research investment: whether the work can be carried out in the intended setting, whether stakeholders will engage with it, whether it is safe and acceptable, and whether early results justify scaling up to a rigorous real-world trial or system-level study.
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