Resource and Capacity Building to Advance the Science of Aggression across Species and Disciplines (R24 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), has issued a forecasted grant opportunity titled “Resource and Capacity Building to Advance the Science of Aggression across Species and Disciplines.” This initiative is part of NIH’s discretionary grant portfolio and is aligned with its broader mission to support health-related research and reduce the burden of disease. The OBSSR, in particular, is mandated by Congress to develop and coordinate research on violent behavior, making this opportunity a strategic move to strengthen scientific understanding and innovation in this complex area. This funding opportunity is designed to support the development of infrastructure and resources to enhance the mechanistic understanding, prevention, and treatment of aggressive behavior. Aggression, which is frequently associated with psychiatric and neurological conditions, presents significant public health challenges. The opportunity encourages research that integrates across disciplines and species, seeking to build robust, cross-cutting methodologies and translational bridges between animal and human studies. Key focus areas include the development of naturalistic and ecologically valid experimental paradigms that can function analogously in both animal and human contexts; the advancement of measurement tools that bolster causal inference, scientific rigor, and reproducibility; and the establishment of cross-species data repositories encompassing behavioral, brain, genetic, and physiological data. The funding mechanism for this opportunity is the R24 activity code, which supports resource-related research projects. Acceptable expenditures are likely to involve infrastructure and personnel development, creation and dissemination of tools or datasets, and initiatives that foster team science and mentorship. Collaborative team science will be prioritized, particularly those involving diverse disciplines such as neuroscience, psychology, behavioral genetics, sociology, criminology, and ethics. Applications are also expected to integrate bioethical perspectives and promote engagement with practitioners, researchers, and affected communities to ensure the research remains practically relevant and use-inspired. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad, encompassing public and private institutions of higher education, state and county governments, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), federally recognized and other Native American tribal organizations, independent school districts, public housing authorities, and nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status. The funding is available nationwide, and there are no geographic limitations beyond the eligibility criteria. No cost sharing or matching is required for this grant. As of now, this is a forecasted opportunity. The NIH estimates the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be posted on October 17, 2025, with applications due by January 16, 2026. Awards are expected to be announced on November 1, 2026, with project start dates beginning December 1, 2026. These timelines offer ample opportunity for potential applicants to form interdisciplinary collaborations and prepare comprehensive, competitive proposals. Interested applicants are encouraged to begin preparation early. For further details or to express interest, applicants may contact Kristin Brethel-Haurwitz at the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, reachable via phone at 301-402-3930 or by email at kristin.brethel-haurwitz@nih.gov. This forecast provides advance notice to the research community and aims to stimulate timely and strategic development of research initiatives in the aggression sciences.