Social disconnection and Suicide Risk in Late Life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), invites applications for the R01 funding opportunity titled “Social Disconnection and Suicide Risk in Late Life.” This program supports research examining how social isolation and perceived loneliness contribute to suicidal thoughts and behaviors among older adults, and how social connection may serve as a protective factor. The initiative continues the agency’s long-standing focus on understanding mental health mechanisms and fostering prevention strategies grounded in biological, behavioral, and environmental evidence. It was updated on March 31, 2025, to align with current agency priorities. The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to encourage rigorous, mechanistic research that identifies factors at multiple levels—neurobiological, psychosocial, and societal—that link social disconnection with suicide risk in late life. Projects may also explore how social integration protects against suicidal ideation or behavior. Mechanisms may include neural circuitry, behavioral functioning, stress physiology, or environmental supports. The overarching goal is to generate findings that can inform intervention development or guide adaptation of existing healthcare and community-based systems to better support vulnerable older adults. This opportunity accepts R01 Research Project Grant applications, with the companion R21 mechanism (PAR-25-066) available for exploratory or high-risk work. Applications may include or exclude a clinical trial, provided that clinical trials proposed are mechanistic in nature and do not focus on safety or treatment efficacy. Funding levels are not limited but must reflect actual project needs, and the project period may extend up to five years. Applicants must ensure their budgets include costs for required data submission to the NIMH Data Archive and adherence to NIH’s Data Management and Sharing Policy. Eligible applicants include domestic and foreign public or private higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, local, state, tribal, and federal governments, as well as faith-based and regional organizations. No cost sharing is required. Applicants must complete registrations in SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov prior to submission. Applications must be submitted electronically through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system platform. The program follows NIH’s standard due dates: February 5, June 5, and October 5 annually through September 8, 2026. Letters of intent are due 30 days before each application deadline. Applications are accepted by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. Applications are reviewed for scientific merit through NIH’s peer review system. Review criteria emphasize the importance of the research (significance and innovation), rigor and feasibility of the proposed approach, and the expertise and resources of the investigative team. Additional considerations include data management plans, participant protections, and inclusion of diverse older adult populations. Successful applications will demonstrate potential to advance understanding of how social and biological mechanisms interact to influence suicide risk and resilience in late adulthood. Awards are expected to begin approximately three to six months following council review, with the earliest possible start dates aligning with December 2025 for the first cycle. Program questions should be directed to Dr. Elizabeth A. Necka, Ph.D., at Liz.Necka@nih.gov or 301-480-5789. Administrative and financial inquiries may be directed to Robert Munk at rmunk@mail.nih.gov or 301-443-3034. The NOFO remains active through September 8, 2026, with recurring annual deadlines, and is open to U.S. and foreign entities seeking to advance translational mental health research focused on social connection and suicide prevention among older adults.