Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 11 177
Apply for PAR 11 177
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Translational Research for the Development of Novel Interventions for Mental Disorders (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 Mar 24, 2011 and posted on Mar 24, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 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 $2,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: City or township governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Independent school districts For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Special district governments Small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
- 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 Foreign (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Translational Research for the Development of Novel Interventions for Mental Disorders (R21/R33)" (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-11-177) supports early-stage, high-impact research aimed at turning new neuroscience findings about mental disorders into practical, non-pharmacologic interventions. The central purpose is to accelerate translation from mechanism-focused discoveries (for example, about brain circuits, cognition, emotion regulation, development, or social processes) into intervention approaches that can reduce symptoms and/or improve real-world functioning. The FOA is designed for projects that are genuinely innovative, meaning they either focus on novel treatment targets or propose new, highly creative ways to engage and change already-known targets.
This opportunity uses the Exploratory/Developmental Phased Innovation grant structure (R21/R33), which is meant to move an idea from proof-of-concept to a well-justified pilot stage without requiring investigators to apply for two completely separate awards. The first phase, the R21, can provide up to two years of support for preliminary, proof-of-principle studies conducted in human participants. In practice, this phase is where investigators test whether the proposed intervention concept is plausible, whether the target can be engaged as intended, and whether the approach shows initial signals that it could influence outcomes relevant to mental health. If the R21 phase meets the milestones laid out in the application, projects can transition to the second phase, the R33, which can provide up to three additional years. The R33 phase is intended for pilot-level work focused on implementation and feasibility, including whether the intervention can be delivered as designed, whether participants will enroll and stay engaged, whether the procedures are workable in realistic settings, and whether the study can credibly set up a larger, fully powered trial to evaluate efficacy.
A key feature of PAR-11-177 is that it welcomes a wide range of non-pharmacologic intervention approaches, as long as they are grounded in strong scientific models and clearly connected to measurable targets. Examples of acceptable conceptual foundations include neurophysiological models (such as approaches tied to brain signaling patterns or circuit function), cognitive and affective neuroscience models (such as targeting attention, learning, threat processing, reward responsiveness, or emotion regulation), social neuroscience models (such as mechanisms involved in social perception, affiliation, or interpersonal functioning), basic behavioral science frameworks, and neurodevelopmental models that account for how risk and mechanisms unfold across development. The emphasis is not on re-testing standard treatments, but on developing interventions that reflect modern mechanistic understanding and that explicitly attempt to engage and modify the proposed target(s).
The program is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health area, listed under CFDA 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants). The announcement indicates no cost sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not expected to contribute non-federal matching funds as a condition of the award. NIH listed an estimated total funding level of $2,000,000 for the opportunity, though actual award numbers and sizes typically depend on annual appropriations, application volume, and scientific merit.
Eligibility for PAR-11-177 is broad and includes many types of organizations. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those with 501(c)(3) status and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. Government entities at multiple levels are eligible as well, including state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The FOA also includes eligibility for tribal organizations and tribal governments (including federally recognized tribes and other tribal entities), independent school districts, and a range of mission-focused institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Faith-based and community-based organizations may apply, and the opportunity allows non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as well as foreign components of U.S. organizations, reflecting NIH's willingness to support strong science regardless of geography when permissible and justified.
In terms of timing and administrative details, the opportunity was posted and created on March 24, 2011, with an original and final closing date listed as May 7, 2014, and an archive date of June 7, 2014. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health. For applicants needing the full details, NIH provided an official guide link (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-177.html). NIH also listed contact support through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster emails for technical access or linking issues (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV).
Overall, this FOA is best viewed as a pathway for researchers who have a strong, neuroscience-informed rationale for a new intervention and who can lay out a credible plan to move from early human proof-of-principle (R21) to a more practice-oriented pilot that tests feasibility and implementation factors (R33), with the explicit goal of setting up a later, larger trial to rigorously test efficacy. The defining expectations are innovation, clear target engagement logic, and a phased plan that uses measurable milestones to justify progression from exploratory work to pilot-level readiness.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity called, and what is the funding opportunity number?
The opportunity is titled "Translational Research for the Development of Novel Interventions for Mental Disorders (R21/R33)" and the Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-11-177.
Which federal agency sponsors this grant opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the main purpose of PAR-11-177?
The purpose is to support early-stage, high-impact translational research that turns new neuroscience findings about mental disorders into practical, non-pharmacologic interventions. The focus is on accelerating translation from mechanism-focused discoveries (for example, brain circuits, cognition, emotion regulation, development, or social processes) into intervention approaches that can reduce symptoms and/or improve real-world functioning.
What kinds of projects is this FOA trying to support?
This FOA is designed for projects that are genuinely innovative. That includes projects that focus on novel treatment targets or propose new, highly creative ways to engage and change already-known targets, as long as the approach is grounded in strong scientific models and linked to measurable targets.
Are pharmacologic (drug) interventions the focus of this opportunity?
No. The FOA emphasizes the development of non-pharmacologic interventions.
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
It uses the Exploratory/Developmental Phased Innovation grant structure: R21/R33.
Why does NIH use the R21/R33 phased structure for this program?
The phased structure is intended to move an idea from proof-of-concept to a well-justified pilot stage without requiring investigators to apply for two completely separate awards. The transition from the first phase to the second phase depends on whether pre-specified milestones are met.
What is the R21 phase meant to accomplish?
The R21 phase supports preliminary, proof-of-principle studies conducted in human participants. This is where investigators test whether the intervention concept is plausible, whether the target can be engaged as intended, and whether there are initial signals the approach could influence outcomes relevant to mental health.
How long can the R21 phase last?
The R21 phase can provide up to two years of support.
What is the R33 phase meant to accomplish?
The R33 phase supports pilot-level work focused on feasibility and implementation. Examples include whether the intervention can be delivered as designed, whether participants will enroll and remain engaged, whether procedures are workable in realistic settings, and whether the study can credibly set up a later, larger, fully powered trial to evaluate efficacy.
How long can the R33 phase last?
The R33 phase can provide up to three additional years.
Does an award automatically move from the R21 phase to the R33 phase?
No. Transition is milestone-driven. Projects can transition to the R33 phase if the R21 phase meets the milestones laid out in the application.
What types of scientific foundations or models are considered appropriate for proposed interventions?
The FOA welcomes a wide range of conceptual foundations, provided they are grounded in strong scientific models and clearly connected to measurable targets. Examples listed include neurophysiological models (tied to brain signaling patterns or circuit function), cognitive and affective neuroscience models (targeting attention, learning, threat processing, reward responsiveness, or emotion regulation), social neuroscience models (mechanisms involved in social perception, affiliation, or interpersonal functioning), basic behavioral science frameworks, and neurodevelopmental models (how risk and mechanisms unfold across development).
What is the emphasis regarding targets and measurement?
The emphasis is on interventions that reflect modern mechanistic understanding and explicitly attempt to engage and modify proposed target(s), with a clear connection to measurable targets and a target engagement logic.
Is this FOA intended to re-test standard treatments?
No. The emphasis is not on re-testing standard treatments, but on developing interventions that are innovative and mechanistically grounded.
What subject population is the early (R21) phase expected to involve?
The R21 phase is described as involving preliminary, proof-of-principle studies conducted in human participants.
What is the CFDA number and program area associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants) and is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health area.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement indicates no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not expected to contribute non-federal matching funds as a condition of the award.
What total funding level did NIH estimate for this opportunity?
NIH listed an estimated total funding level of $2,000,000. The announcement also notes that actual award numbers and sizes typically depend on annual appropriations, application volume, and scientific merit.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including those with 501(c)(3) status and certain nonprofits without 501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and multiple types of government entities (state, county, city or township, special district, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities).
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes tribal organizations and tribal governments, including federally recognized tribes and other tribal entities.
Are school districts eligible to apply?
Yes. Independent school districts are listed as eligible applicants.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically included in the eligibility list?
Yes. The eligibility list includes institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Can faith-based or community-based organizations apply?
Yes. Faith-based and community-based organizations may apply.
Are foreign (non-U.S.) organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. The opportunity allows non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as well as foreign components of U.S. organizations.
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the closing dates?
The opportunity was posted and created on March 24, 2011. The original and final closing date listed is May 7, 2014. The archive date is June 7, 2014.
Where can applicants find the official NIH announcement page?
NIH provided the official guide link at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-11-177.html.
Who can be contacted for technical access or linking issues related to the announcement?
NIH listed contact support through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster email for technical access or linking issues: FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
How should applicants think about the overall pathway supported by this FOA?
This FOA is positioned as a pathway for researchers with a strong, neuroscience-informed rationale for a new intervention who can lay out a credible plan to move from early human proof-of-principle (R21) to a more practice-oriented pilot focused on feasibility and implementation (R33), with the goal of setting up a later, larger trial to rigorously test efficacy.
What are the defining expectations emphasized in the FOA?
The FOA emphasizes innovation, clear target engagement logic tied to measurable targets, and a phased plan that uses measurable milestones to justify progression from exploratory work (R21) to pilot-level readiness (R33).
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