Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 22 082
The Innovative Pilot Mental Health Services Research Not Involving Clinical Trials (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) opportunity, PAR-22-082, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant in the health funding category (CFDA 93.242) that supports early-stage, pilot mental health services research aligned with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) services research priorities. It is a reissue of PAR-19-189 and is specifically designed for projects that advance mission-relevant services research questions without conducting a clinical trial. In other words, the program is meant to fund foundational or exploratory work that can strengthen the evidence base for how mental health services are organized, delivered, accessed, financed, implemented, measured, and improved, while staying outside the scope of testing a clinical intervention or service intervention in a trial-like framework.
A defining feature of this announcement is the explicit boundary it draws around clinical trials and intervention testing. NIMH has moved toward an experimental therapeutics model for intervention studies, where research is expected to specify and test a mechanistic target and demonstrate target engagement. At the same time, NIMH recognizes that some high-priority services research does not naturally fit a clinical trial structure. This R34 is meant to fill that gap by encouraging pilot research that is not an immediate precursor to testing a service intervention, yet still produces valuable, actionable knowledge for the mental health services field. That can include preparatory studies that develop methods, measures, datasets, analytic approaches, implementation supports, or system-level understanding that can later inform decision-making and future research, without stepping into an intervention efficacy or effectiveness trial.
The eligible applicant pool is intentionally broad, reflecting the cross-sector nature of mental health services and the settings where services research often occurs. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education under those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); small businesses; and additional eligible entities listed under “Other Eligible Applicants.” The announcement also highlights inclusion of Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility signals that NIMH is open to pilot services research led by academic, governmental, community, and international partners, as long as the work fits the non-clinical-trial scope and aligns with NIMH priorities.
Mechanistically, this is an R34 grant mechanism, which NIH commonly uses to support pilot or feasibility work that is intended to generate key preliminary data, demonstrate the viability of an approach, and reduce uncertainty before larger-scale research is pursued. The emphasis here is less on delivering a fully scaled program or definitive outcome evaluation and more on building a solid empirical and methodological foundation for the next steps in mental health services research. The funding opportunity listing provides an original closing date of 2023-01-13 and shows no stated award ceiling or expected number of awards in the excerpted source data, suggesting applicants would need to consult the full notice for budget limits, project period details, and any institute-specific expectations.
Overall, PAR-22-082 is best understood as a targeted pathway for investigators and organizations who want to study mental health services questions that matter to real-world systems and communities but do not involve running a clinical trial. It supports pilot research that strengthens the tools, evidence, and infrastructure needed to understand and improve mental health service delivery and outcomes, while respecting NIMH’s current framework that reserves intervention testing for studies using the experimental therapeutics approach.Apply for PAR 22 082
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Pilot Mental Health Services Research Not Involving Clinical Trials (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2022-02-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-01-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and ID of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Innovative Pilot Mental Health Services Research Not Involving Clinical Trials (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) number is PAR-22-082.
Which federal agency and NIH institute are associated with this opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity. It supports research aligned with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) services research priorities.
What type of research does this program support?
This program supports early-stage, pilot mental health services research that is aligned with NIMH services research priorities. The focus is on generating foundational or exploratory evidence that can strengthen understanding of how mental health services are organized, delivered, accessed, financed, implemented, measured, and improved.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. This opportunity is explicitly designated Clinical Trial Not Allowed. Projects must stay outside the scope of testing a clinical intervention or service intervention within a trial-like framework.
Why does this FOA exclude clinical trials?
The announcement draws a clear boundary around clinical trials and intervention testing in light of NIMH's move toward an experimental therapeutics model for intervention studies (where studies are expected to specify and test a mechanistic target and demonstrate target engagement). NIMH also recognizes that many high-priority services research questions do not naturally fit a clinical trial structure, and this R34 is intended to support that non-trial work.
What kinds of topics or questions fit within "mental health services research" for this program?
Based on the description provided, a good fit includes pilot research that improves knowledge, tools, or infrastructure related to mental health services, including how services are:
- Organized
- Delivered
- Accessed
- Financed
- Implemented
- Measured
- Improved
If clinical trials are not allowed, what types of activities can be supported?
The FOA emphasizes pilot research that can include preparatory or foundational studies such as developing or strengthening:
- Methods
- Measures
- Datasets
- Analytic approaches
- Implementation supports
- System-level understanding relevant to services research
These activities are intended to produce actionable knowledge and reduce uncertainty for future work without conducting an intervention efficacy or effectiveness trial.
Is this grant meant to be a direct precursor to testing a service intervention?
Not necessarily. The program is described as supporting pilot research that is not an immediate precursor to testing a service intervention, while still producing valuable and actionable knowledge for mental health services research.
What is the grant mechanism, and what does it generally indicate?
This opportunity uses the R34 grant mechanism. NIH commonly uses R34 awards to support pilot or feasibility work intended to generate key preliminary data, demonstrate viability, and reduce uncertainty before larger-scale research is pursued.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes a wide range of U.S. and non-U.S. entities, as listed in the opportunity description. Examples include:
- State, county, city, township, and special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
- Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education under those nonprofit categories)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- Other eligible entities listed under "Other Eligible Applicants"
Does the FOA specifically mention any institution types or community organizations as eligible?
Yes. The opportunity highlights eligibility for a range of institution types and organizations, including:
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Faith-based or community-based organizations
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The description notes that eligible federal agencies are included among the eligible applicants.
Are applicants from U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The eligible entity list includes U.S. territories or possessions and regional organizations.
Are non-federally recognized tribal governments eligible?
Yes. In addition to federally recognized tribal governments, the opportunity also notes eligibility for Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The description explicitly includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) as eligible applicants.
What is the funding category and CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed in the health funding category and includes CFDA 93.242.
Is this opportunity new, or does it replace an earlier announcement?
It is described as a reissue of PAR-19-189.
What is the main purpose of this R34 within NIMH's current research framework?
The R34 is positioned as a pathway for mission-relevant services research that does not fit a clinical trial design, while still generating useful, actionable knowledge and strengthening the evidence base and infrastructure for improving mental health services.
What does the opportunity say about award ceiling and expected number of awards?
In the excerpted source data provided, there is no stated award ceiling and no expected number of awards listed. Applicants would need to consult the full notice for budget limits, project period details, and any institute-specific expectations.
What closing date is shown in the provided information?
The funding opportunity listing provides an original closing date of 2023-01-13.
What is the key "fit" test for deciding whether a project is appropriate for PAR-22-082?
Based on the description provided, the key fit is whether the project advances NIMH-aligned mental health services research questions and delivers pilot, foundational, or preparatory knowledge (methods, measures, datasets, analytic approaches, implementation supports, or system understanding) without conducting a clinical trial or testing an intervention in a trial-like framework.
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