NIMH Research Education Programs for Psychiatry Residents (R25- Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), is offering the NIMH Research Education Programs for Psychiatry Residents (R25). This initiative is designed to support educational activities that encourage individuals with specialized backgrounds to pursue careers in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences research. The overarching goal of this program is to develop, maintain, and expand the scientific abilities of psychiatry residents in areas aligned with the mission of the NIMH. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) supports innovative educational programs focused on two primary components: Courses for Skills Development and Research Experiences. These programs will offer structured didactics, including experimental design, statistics, neuroscience, and career development guidance such as grant writing and scientific presentation skills. Additionally, the program provides hands-on, mentored research experiences during psychiatry residency to help participants gain practical exposure to research methodologies relevant to mental health. The NIMH R25 program is designed to counteract the declining number of physician-scientists pursuing research careers in psychiatry, particularly at a time of rapid advancement in neuroscience and genetics. By facilitating training during residency, the program aims to shorten the time psychiatry residents need to achieve research independence and to increase the number of residents pursuing careers in NIMH-related research. This initiative aligns with the broader strategic research priorities of NIMH, spanning topics such as neuroscience, human genetics/genomics, translational research, and mental health interventions. Applicants must be U.S.-based institutions, including public and private higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, local and state governments, tribal organizations, independent school districts, and regional organizations. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible. The primary participants must be psychiatry residents in an ACGME-accredited residency program. The program offers a maximum budget of $200,000 per year in direct costs, with an award duration of up to five years. Indirect costs are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs. Personnel costs may not exceed 25% of total direct costs, and participant compensation must be well justified. Applicants must submit their proposals electronically via NIH’s ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution. Key dates for submission include an opening date of April 25, 2023, with annual application deadlines on May 25th of 2023, 2024, and 2025. Letters of intent are due 30 days before each application deadline. Scientific merit reviews occur in November, followed by advisory council reviews in January, and awards are expected to be issued in April of each funding cycle. The funding opportunity expires on May 26, 2025. Applicants are required to submit a well-structured research education program plan, including sections on program objectives, faculty, participants, evaluation metrics, and institutional commitment. Additionally, a plan for instruction in the responsible conduct of research (RCR) and a dissemination strategy for findings must be included. Proposals undergo rigorous peer review based on criteria such as significance, innovation, approach, and institutional environment. For further inquiries, applicants can contact key NIH personnel: Dr. Mark Chavez (Scientific/Research Contact), Dr. Nick Gaiano (Peer Review Contact), and Rita Sisco (Grants Management Contact). More details and submission guidelines can be found on the NIH Grants website.