NIMH Short Courses for Mental Health Related Research

The National Institute of Mental Health, operating under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health, has announced a forecasted opportunity titled NIMH Short Courses for Mental Health Related Research. This initiative is part of the NIMH Research Education Program and is intended to support innovative educational activities that focus on skill development courses. The program emphasizes training for graduate and medical students, medical residents, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career investigators. Its purpose is to advance mental health research by fostering the development of creative, interactive, and state-of-the-art short courses that provide essential skills, techniques, and research tools. The program’s scope includes support for the creation, implementation, and evaluation of short courses designed to advance knowledge in cutting-edge research methods. Applicants are encouraged to propose innovative and interactive approaches that will enhance the ability of early-stage scientists to conduct mental health-related research. The courses funded under this program should prioritize relevance to mental health, applicability in emerging research areas, and the potential for sustained impact on the research community. Funding is discretionary, allowing the NIMH to support projects that align most closely with its mission. The eligibility for this program is broad, encompassing a wide range of applicants including county, city, township, and state governments, independent school districts, tribal governments, housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), small businesses, for-profit entities other than small businesses, public and private institutions of higher education, and special district governments. Additionally, faith-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories, federal agencies, and non-federally recognized tribal organizations may also apply. This inclusivity reflects the NIMH’s commitment to encouraging diverse participation and fostering collaboration across sectors. The forecasted timeline for this opportunity indicates an estimated posting date of January 23, 2026, with an application due date of May 25, 2026. The anticipated award date is April 1, 2027, which is also the projected project start date. Because this notice is forecasted, applications are not yet being solicited, but it provides prospective applicants sufficient lead time to prepare competitive proposals. The opportunity is expected to recur on a regular basis, as it is a continuation of ongoing NIMH education initiatives. There is no pre-application requirement indicated in the forecast notice. Funding under this opportunity has a ceiling of $200,000 for individual awards, with no stated award floor and no total program funding specified at this time. The estimated number of awards has not been determined. Importantly, there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for applicants, reducing barriers to participation. The funding is intended to be used directly in the design and delivery of the proposed educational short courses, ensuring alignment with the NIMH’s strategic goals in mental health research advancement. Evaluation of applications will be based on the creativity, innovation, and impact of the proposed short courses, as well as their relevance to state-of-the-art research techniques. Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong expertise in the design and implementation of interactive educational experiences for mental health-related scientific research. This notice does not outline detailed application questions or evaluation criteria beyond the general emphasis on innovation and relevance, as it is intended to provide advance notice rather than solicit proposals. For further information, the designated program contact is Ashlee Van’t Veer, Ph.D., who may be reached by phone at 301-443-3107 or by email at ashlee.vantveer@nih.gov. Interested applicants should use this forecast to plan their submissions in advance of the official application window opening in 2026.