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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health

Mental Health Research Grants

Federal program · program number 93.242 (the federal Assistance Listing number)

Key facts

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108 grants
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13 grants
Type of help
Cooperative agreement (a grant with close agency involvement), project grant, training
Typical award
FY 2023 range: $1 to $17,379,729 Average Cost: $508,267

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What it pays for

The mission of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure. We fulfill this mission by supporting and conducting research on mental illnesses, health services, and the underlying basic science of the brain and behavior; supporting the training of scientists to carry out basic and clinical mental health research; and communicating with scientists, patients, providers, and the public about mental health research advances and priorities. In May 2024, NIMH released its Strategic Plan for Research. The Strategic Plan builds on the successes of previous NIMH strategic plans by providing a framework for scientific research and exploration, and addressing new challenges in mental health. The new Strategic Plan outlines four high-level Goals: � Goal 1: Define the Brain Mechanisms Underlying Complex Behaviors � Goal 2: Examine Mental Illness Trajectories Across the Lifespan � Goal 3: Strive for Prevention and Cures � Goal 4: Strengthen the Public Health Impact of NIMH-Supported Research These four Goals form a broad roadmap for the Institute�s research priorities over the next five years, beginning with the fundamental science of the brain and behavior, and extending through evidence-based services that improve public health outcomes.

Who can apply

Public, private, -profit, or nonprofit agencies (including State and local government agencies), eligible Federal agencies, universities, colleges, hospitals, and academic or research institutions may apply for research grants. SBIR grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses, and STTR grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses which "partner" with a research institution in cooperative research and development. An applicant for individual predoctoral fellowship support must be enrolled in a research doctoral degree program by the proposed activation date of the fellowship. A postdoctoral applicant must have received a Ph.D., Psy.D., M.D., D.D.S., Sc.D., D.N.S., D.O., D.S.W., or equivalent degree from an accredited institution to be eligible for an individual postdoctoral fellowship. All research training awards are made to appropriate domestic research centers, medical schools, departments of psychiatry, non-medical academic departments, psychiatric hospitals or hospitals with psychiatric services, community mental health centers, and biomedical research institutes on behalf of individuals who need the opportunity to realize research potential. Except for the NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award (K99/R00), the individuals must be citizens or nationals of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence. The NIH Pathway to...

How applications are judged

The following consideration will be used in determining projects to be funded: (1) Technical merit of the proposed project as determined by peer review; (2) Availability of funds; and (3) Relevance to program priorities.

Match

None required (federal program listing).

Who in Tennessee has won this program

26 awards to Tennessee groups since 1989 · 0 in Gibson County. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee winners
Past winnerWhereAmountFiscal year
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$14.9M spent that year2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville$14.8M spent that year2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$8.7M2001
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$8.7M2006
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$8.1M2005
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$7.4M2020
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$6.8M2004
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$6.4M2005
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$5.4M2009
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson County$5.3M2020
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$5M2002
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$4.5M1989

Source: Federal Audit Clearinghouse, USAspending.gov.

Tennessee groups that got this money through Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. In Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services passes it on: watch that agency for applications, not the federal agency. 73 pass-through grants on file · 0 in Gibson County. Largest shown:

Tennessee pass-through grant winners
Past winnerWhereThroughAmountFiscal year
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyThe Trustees of Princeton University$1.6M2023
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyThe Pennsylvania State University$1.1M2026
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyVanderbilt University$920K spent that year2025
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyThe General Hospital Corporation$839K2026
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyThe Pennsylvania State University$756K2025
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai$734K2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyVanderbilt University Medical Center$560K2023
University of TennesseeMemphis, Shelby CountyUniversity of Puerto Rico$553K2026
Vanderbilt UniversityNashvilleVumc$500K spent that year2024
Vanderbilt UniversityNashvilleVanderbilt University Medical Center$493K spent that year2025
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai$487K spent that year2025
Vanderbilt University Medical CenterNashville, Davidson CountyIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai$462K2024

Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).

Official program listing (SAM.gov) Program website