Urgent Award: COVID-19 Mental Health Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 22 113

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 113

The Urgent Award: COVID-19 Mental Health Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) is a discretionary National Institutes of Health funding opportunity from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intended to support time-sensitive research that addresses urgent mental health needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. It uses the NIH R01 mechanism, meaning it is designed for robust, hypothesis-driven research projects, and it allows (but does not require) clinical trials, giving applicants flexibility to propose either observational, mechanistic, services, or intervention-focused studies as long as the work fits NIMH priorities and the pandemic-related urgency described in the notice.

This opportunity is identified as PAR-22-113 and is categorized under the Health funding activity area, with assistance listing/CFDA number 93.242. The grant is structured as a standard NIH research grant, with an award ceiling listed at $750,000. The source information does not specify the anticipated number of awards, suggesting that funding decisions depend on available appropriations, program priorities, and the merit and urgency of submitted applications. The original closing date provided in the source data is December 23, 2022, and the opportunity record was created on January 31, 2022, which places it squarely in the period when federal agencies were seeking to rapidly generate evidence to guide mental health responses to COVID-19 and its downstream impacts.

A wide range of organizations are eligible to apply, reflecting NIH’s intent to draw on diverse research settings and capabilities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; and Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), as well as Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The eligibility list also includes public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, which is notable because it supports research that may be embedded in community and housing contexts where pandemic stressors and service access issues can be especially pronounced. Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether or not they hold 501(c)(3) status (so long as they are not institutions of higher education), and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also eligible, indicating openness to partnerships and applied research capacity beyond traditional academic centers.

In addition to the standard categories above, NIMH explicitly highlights other eligible applicants to ensure broad participation and to encourage research that is responsive to populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). Faith-based or community-based organizations are also called out as eligible, which aligns with the reality that many mental health supports and outreach efforts during the pandemic were delivered through trusted community institutions. The eligibility scope extends further to include eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), allowing for international or cross-jurisdictional work when it is relevant to the aims of the program and NIMH’s mission.

Overall, the opportunity is meant to accelerate rigorous mental health research that can inform prevention, assessment, treatment, and service delivery challenges intensified or newly created by COVID-19. By using an R01 framework with clinical trials optional, and by permitting applications from universities, governments, nonprofits, community organizations, tribes, businesses, territories, and foreign entities, the program is structured to capture a wide spectrum of urgent, high-impact projects and to support evidence generation in the settings and communities where pandemic-related mental health burdens have been most acute.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Urgent Award: COVID-19 Mental Health Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-01-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-12-23. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 22 113

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