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National Institutes of Health

NAMHC Concept Clearances

Approved Concepts for Requests for Applications (RFAs), Program Announcements (PAs), and Requests for Proposals (RFPs)

Specific information on each initiative, including receipt date, will be available once the RFA, PA, or RFP has been published. This page provides links to recently cleared concepts for upcoming solicitations and presents key information, including the objectives and descriptions of future solicitations and a direct link to NIMH staff contacts. The NIMH staff contacts can provide additional information on specific concepts, where available and appropriate.

This listing of potential future initiatives is meant to provide the earliest possible alert to potential applicants in order to maximize application preparation time. While the NIMH plans to proceed with these initiatives, their publication and timing is not certain and depends on sufficient funds being available. The titles and brief descriptions are consistent with the information available at the time of concept clearance. The resultant RFAs, PAs, RFPs may differ from the concepts in the final wording of the titles or other aspects.

The NAMHC conducts most, but not all, NIMH concept clearances. Concepts may also be cleared through other public venues.

For more information, see the NIH Guide’s list of published  RFAs and  PAs and NIMH Contracts.

Submit comments to Tracy Waldeck at waldeckt@mail.nih.

Concepts

NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research RFA: The Human Connectome Project
May 29, 2009
The goal of the five year Human Connectome Project (HCP) is to develop and share knowledge about the structural and functional connectivity of the human brain.
Building a Longitudinal Mental Health Tracking System
February 13, 2009
Building a Longitudinal Mental Health Tracking System: This initiative will leverage the power of existing household surveys on behavioral health by embedding detailed modules assessing psychopathology, functioning, and service use.
Research on Biomarkers for Mental Disorders
February 13, 2009
Research on Biomarkers for Mental Disorders Concept Clearances - This initiative will solicit applications proposing novel approaches to the identification, characterization, and validation of biomarkers and/or biosignatures (integrated profiles of biomarkers and behavioral indicators) of major mental disorders.
Identification and Characterization of Sensitive Periods for Neurodevelopment of Mental Illness
February 13, 2009
Identification and Characterization of Sensitive Periods for Neurodevelopment of Mental Illness Concept Clearances - This initiative will stimulate neurodevelopmental research in humans and animals that will increase our understanding of the neurobiology underlying developmentally sensitive periods for risk, resilience, and intervention.
Exploratory Studies of Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) Cells from Healthy and Patient Populations
September 19, 2008
This initiative will support exploratory studies to generate and characterize induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells from healthy and/or patient populations.
Leveraging Health Care Networks to Transform Effectiveness Research
September 19, 2008
This initiative will stimulate research that will demonstrate the linking of existing health care databases to show feasibility of conducting effectiveness trials within existing networks.
Viral and Host Genetic Factors Regulating HIV-Associated CNS Disease
May 22, 2008
This initiative will support research on viral and host genetic factors regulating susceptibility to and progression of HIV-associated neurologic and neuropsychiatric disease.
The GEI Systems Biology Initiative
May 22, 2008
This initiative will provide support for investigators to conduct studies in systems biology that expand on previous findings from Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) to identify and characterize the molecular elements of the larger dynamic networks and their perturbations underlying complex human disease states.
Suicide Prevention Efforts in Emergency Medicine Departments
May 22, 2008
Emergency Medicine Department (ED) practitioners are responsible for appropriate risk assessment, discharge, and referral of high risk suicidal individuals, yet no evidence based standards exist for these practices. This initiative supports research to improve identification, evaluation, and appropriate referral by ED staff of individuals at risk for suicide, as well as research to develop practical interventions that can assist community providers who care for these high-risk patients.
Promoting Outstanding Mental Health Innovators in Scientific Excellence (PrOMISE) Awards
May 22, 2008
The Promoting Outstanding Mental Health Innovators in Scientific Excellence (PrOMISE) Award is intended to identify outstanding scientists who are in the early, formative stages of their careers and who intend to make a long-term career commitment to research in the mission areas of NIMH. This award would assist the investigators in launching an innovative research program that holds the potential to profoundly transform the understanding of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental disorders, paving the way for a cure.
Home-Based Lithium Level Testing for Bipolar Patients
May 22, 2008
The goal of this initiative will be to assess the feasibility of a home-based lithium level test.
Comparative Studies of Cortical Development to Link Developmental Neuroscience and Behavior
May 22, 2008
This initiative will support studies that link behavioral and cortical neurodevelopmental processes across species.
Clinical Pharmacotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
May 22, 2008
This initiative will advance research on the efficacy of available and exploratory medications for PTSD.
Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Returning Combat Veterans in the Community
May 22, 2008
This initiative will systematically evaluate the impact of community-based “reintegration” programs on the mental health and behavioral adjustment of National Guard, Reserve Component, and newly separated combat veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenic Episode (RAISE)
January 11, 2008
The goal of this initiative is to improve prognosis and long-term outcome for people suffering from schizophrenia.
Novel NeuroAIDS Therapies: Integrative Preclinical/Clinical Program (IPCP)
January 11, 2008
This initiative will support novel bench-to-bedside research in NeuroAIDS treatment development. We propose to foster the Novel NeuroAIDS Therapies: IPCP to support new treatment concepts that can be integrated into clinical practice and open new research directions.
Novel Interventions for Neurodevelopmental Disorders
January 11, 2008
This initiative will support the development of novel interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders, with the aim of improving various domains of functioning that are impaired across disorders, and of altering developmental trajectories
Networks for Developing PTSD Risk Assessment Tools
January 11, 2008
This initiative will support the development and initial testing of new approaches to differentiate trauma survivors who will recover naturally from those who will develop enduring symptoms and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Limited Competition for Data Deposition & Analysis of Genomic Wide Association Studies of Mental Disorders
January 11, 2008
This initiative will support applications that propose to deposit data (genotypes and phenotypes) into an NIH Repository to augment existing resources and to analyze combined Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) of mental disorders of interest to the NIMH.
Genomic Parsing of Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia: Studies of Large Cohorts in the U.S. and Across the Globe
January 11, 2008
This initiative will support the collection of large cohorts of patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia to enrich pre-existing resources in the NIMH Genetics Repository and apply genomic research paradigms to further our understanding of the molecular etiology of these disorders.
Programs of Excellence in Scientifically Validated Psychosocial Treatment
September 21, 2007
This initiative will support curriculum development to train clinician-scientists who can develop, test, and translate into practice innovative psychosocial treatments for addictive and mental disorders. The goals are to recognize and enhance current clinical training programs that teach and develop research-based clinical practices, and to provide a model for clinician education nationwide.
NIMH Career Opportunities in Research (COR) Honors Undergraduate Research Training Grant (T34)
September 21, 2007
The NIMH Career Opportunities in Research (COR) supports undergraduate research training to develop a pool of individuals who will help ensure that a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to assume leadership roles related to the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral and clinical research agenda for mental health.
Developing State Mental Health Services Research “Laboratories” for Policy Relevant Studies
September 21, 2007
This initiative will stimulate collaborative state, agency, and academic research projects that use existing state data to address policy issues relevant to state or regional public mental health services.
Developing Innovative Approaches to Personalizing Mental Health Care
September 21, 2007
The purpose of this initiative is to support innovative approaches to designing and testing personalized treatment in mental health practice.
Adapting Basic Cognitive Measures for Clinical Assessment of Schizophrenia
September 21, 2007
This initiative will support the development of new cognitive assessment measures for schizophrenia that are based on experimental cognitive science paradigms, in contrast to traditional clinical neuropsychological methods.
Novel Methods for Examining Prefrontal Interactions with Cortical and Subcortical Systems that Support Complex Mental Function
May 11, 2007
To stimulate research on how prefrontal cortical regions interact with other cortical and subcortical systems to give rise to sophisticated behavior and cognitive function using state-of-the-art electrophysiological and molecular techniques.
Mouse Models Containing Human Alleles: Novel Tools to Study Brain Function
May 11, 2007
This initiative will support the development and characterization of novel mouse models that express human genes or human genetic elements that can aid in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying brain function relevant to the research priorities of NIMH.
National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium
January 12, 2007
The Center for Mental Health Research on AIDS has designed this initiative to solicit two application types: (1) competing continuation applications to support the clinical assessments and banking of tissues and fluids at the National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium (NNTC) sites; and (2) new applications to support a single associated database center referred to as the National Coordination Office (NCO). The initiative represents a reorganization of the existing multi-site brain bank structures that will incorporate a cohort-based scientific agenda into the ongoing functions of the consortium.
Limited Supplementary Funding for Whole Genome Association Studies
September 15, 2006
The purpose of this initiative is to provide supplementary funding to enhance comprehensive analyses of whole genome association (WGA) data.
Large Scale Sequence Data Analysis for Complex Disorders
September 15, 2006
This initiative will encourage the development of novel methods in computational biology and population genetics that take into account multiple testing, as applied to large scale mutation-detection.
Center for Genomic and Phenomic Studies in Autism
September 15, 2006
This initiative will comprehensively characterize a large sample of autistic children and their relatives, both cytogenetically and phenotypically, including potential biomarkers and other endophenotypes, with the goal of capturing the autism phenome.
AIDS Mental Health Centers (AMHC) at RCMI-Eligible Institutions
September 15, 2006
The overall goal of this initiative is to develop HIV/AIDS mental health research (i.e., AIDS Mental Health Centers, AMHC) at the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)-supported Research Centers for Minority Institutions (RCMIs).
Translational Research on the Relationship Between Anxiety and Depression
May 12, 2006
Several lines of evidence point to a relationship between anxiety and depression, but it is not well understood. This proposed initiative on the relationship between these disorders is intended to provide data for translation into experimental preventive or treatment interventions for anxiety and depression.
Mechanisms of HIV Neuropathogenesis: Emerging Domestic and Global Issues
May 12, 2006
As treatment with HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) enables people with HIV to live longer, the nature of associated central nervous system (CNS) disease is changing; for example, frequency of milder, more chronic forms is rising.
Interventions and Service Delivery Models for Youth Transitioning to Adulthood
May 12, 2006
The intent of this proposed initiative is to address gaps in intervention and service delivery for youth in the period of transition to adulthood. Disorder-specific, evidence-based treatments and traditional acute-care treatment models often are inadequate for achieving optimal outcomes and functioning for people in this age range.
Mental Health Issues in Basic and Translational Social Neuroscience
February 03, 2006
Social neuroscience is a rapidly emerging new discipline. Over the past several years, there has been an increase in the number of satellite symposia in this area at organizations such as the Cognitive Neuroscience Society and a greater focus in the scientific literature.
Implicating Noncoding RNAs in the Genetics of Mental Disorders
February 03, 2006
Noncoding RNAs are surprisingly prevalent in the human genome and may play a critical role in the regulation of gene expression.
Treatment Response: Linking Genes with Behavioral Phenotypes of Relevance to Patients, Families, and Policymakers
February 03, 2006
Now that new tools (e.g., high throughput genotyping and array technology) make it possible to ask if we can determine the complex genetic basis of mental disorders, how shall we decide what are the relevant phenotypes? Articles about the genetic basis of mental illness continue to use DSM categories.