NIMH Research Education Programs for Psychiatry Residents

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), operating within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the National Institutes of Health, has issued a forecasted Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) identified as PAR-26-047. This program is titled NIMH Research Education Programs for Psychiatry Residents. The NOFO is not yet accepting applications but is intended to provide ample notice for potential applicants to begin preparing responsive proposals in advance of the application window. The overarching goal of this program is to support the development, maintenance, and expansion of the scientific abilities of psychiatry residents through structured research education experiences aligned with the mission of NIMH. NIMH has a longstanding mission to advance the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research. This initiative specifically complements and enhances the research training of psychiatry residents to strengthen the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce. Through innovative educational experiences, the program seeks to ensure that psychiatry residents are better equipped to conduct research addressing pressing national mental health needs. By targeting residents in psychiatry, the program emphasizes fostering early career research engagement at a critical stage of professional development. The scope of this grant program is centered on research education rather than direct research project funding. Funds are designated to support research-oriented educational activities such as structured training opportunities, mentorship-driven research learning, and other interactive educational methods. These activities are designed to provide psychiatry residents with the skills and exposure needed to pursue independent research careers in fields central to the NIMH mission. Spending rules emphasize alignment with educational goals rather than stand-alone clinical research. Eligibility for this program is broad, including a wide range of public, private, nonprofit, and for-profit institutions and organizations. Eligible entities include state, county, city, and township governments; Native American tribal governments and organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; public housing authorities; small businesses; for-profit organizations; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; and special district governments. The program also allows applications from faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, eligible agencies of the federal government, and regional organizations. This broad eligibility reflects NIH’s intent to engage a diverse array of institutions that can provide psychiatry residents with valuable research training. The estimated application due date for this opportunity is May 25, 2026, with an anticipated award date of April 1, 2027. The estimated project start date is also set for April 1, 2027, aligning with the award notification. The estimated post date for the solicitation is January 23, 2026. At present, there are no pre-application requirements listed, such as letters of intent or concept papers. Applications are expected to be submitted through standard NIH channels once the formal announcement is published. The program is forecasted as part of NIH’s recurring research education initiatives, which typically issue updates and opportunities on an annual basis. Funding parameters indicate that the award ceiling is $200,000. No minimum award floor is specified, and the total program funding has not yet been announced. The expected number of awards is not provided in the current forecast, meaning applicants must wait for the official posting for clarification. Cost sharing or matching is not required. Interested applicants are encouraged to begin considering programmatic fit and institutional capacity in anticipation of the forthcoming application instructions. Applicants seeking more information may contact the scientific point of contact listed in the forecast notice: Dr. Mark Chavez, Ph.D., who can be reached at 301-443-8942 or by email at mchavez1@mail.nih.gov. This contact provides a direct channel for inquiries regarding program intent, eligibility, and proposal preparation. Additional details and official application requirements will be available when the NOFO is formally released on or after January 23, 2026.