Silvio O. Conte Centers for Basic and Translational Mental Health Research (P50) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Silvio O. Conte Centers for Basic and Translational Mental Health Research (P50) opportunity?

This funding opportunity supports large, team-based research centers designed to address major questions in mental health science that are considered high-risk and high-impact. It is intended for ambitious, integrated center programs where multiple projects and shared components work together in a way that would be difficult to accomplish through typical single-project grants.

Which agency issues and supports this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is issued by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What is the opportunity number for this funding announcement?

The opportunity number is PAR-08-194.

What type of NIH grant mechanism is used for this program?

This program uses the NIH Specialized Centers grant mechanism (P50), which is typically used to fund multi-component research centers with multiple interrelated projects and cores, supported by coordinated leadership and shared resources.

What kinds of research does this program aim to support?

The scientific focus is broad but targeted to fundamental and translational neuroscience relevant to mental health, including work spanning multiple levels of analysis such as genes, cells, circuits, behavior, clinical symptoms, and development.

What are the main scientific objectives highlighted by NIMH for these centers?

NIMH highlights three main objectives: (1) advancing brain and behavior research that directly informs mental health; (2) strengthening integration and translation between basic neuroscience and clinical research, particularly related to severe mental illnesses; and (3) improving understanding of neurobehavioral and developmental mechanisms that contribute to psychopathology and mental disorders in childhood and adolescence.

How should projects within a P50 center relate to each other?

Applications are expected to be integrative by design. The projects should not simply be grouped under one umbrella; they should show strong interdependence, shared conceptual frameworks, and coordinated methods so that the combined program produces advances beyond what the individual parts could achieve alone.

Does the opportunity emphasize any particular approach to research design?

Yes. The announcement emphasizes unusually synergistic, center-style efforts that use creative experimental strategies and integrated programs spanning multiple levels of analysis to generate advances that are difficult or impossible to achieve through more typical grant mechanisms.

Is training included as part of the center concept?

Yes. A notable feature is an emphasis on building interdisciplinary and/or translational training experiences for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers, suggesting that centers should incorporate meaningful opportunities for trainees to work across disciplines and bridge basic-to-clinical perspectives.

Is this an active grant competition right now?

No. Based on the dates provided, this is a historical funding announcement. It was posted/created on December 3, 2008, had an original and current closing date of September 23, 2010, and an archive date of October 24, 2010.

What is the CFDA number 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 funds.

Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?

Eligibility is described as broad and includes: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; state governments; certain for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and multiple nonprofit categories including 501(c)(3) organizations and some non-501(c)(3) nonprofits (with the note that details may be clarified in the full funding opportunity announcement).

Are tribal entities included in the eligible applicant types?

Yes. Eligible applicant types listed include Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized.

Are U.S. territories or regional organizations eligible?

Yes. Additional eligible applicant types listed include regional organizations and U.S. territories or possessions.

Does the provided text include budget caps or detailed structural requirements?

No. The provided announcement text does not list budget caps or specific structural requirements. It does note that the P50 mechanism generally implies a center structure with multiple interrelated projects and cores.

Where was the full announcement made available?

The full announcement was made available via the NIH Grants Guide page referenced in the additional information link (as described in the opportunity summary provided).

How is this opportunity classified administratively?

It is described as a discretionary grant opportunity classified under health research.

What makes this program different from standard single-project grant mechanisms?

The program is intended for unusually synergistic center-style efforts where integrated projects and shared resources collectively address major, high-risk/high-impact questions. The aim is to enable advances that would be difficult or impossible through more typical, single-project grant approaches.