FEDERAL AGENCY:

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Public Health Service Act, Title III, Section 301, Public Law 78-410, 42 U.S.C. 241, as amended.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide support for research relating to the problems of mental illness and mental health and to raise the level of competence and increase the number of individuals engaged in such research via special levels of National Institute of Mental Health support.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01, MRSDA), Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Award (K08, MCSDA), Mentored Scientist Development Award for New Minority Faculty (K01, MSDA NMF), and Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23) provide support for individuals with research potential who need additional development and/or experience in a productive research environment. Awards are available for up to 5 years of salary support (up to $90,000 per year) for the individual candidate, fringe benefits, and 8 percent indirect costs. Specialized training costs and limited research costs are allowable under justified circumstances. Salary support may be supplemented by the sponsoring institution from nonfederal funds. The Independent Scientist Award (K02, ISA) is for independent scientists whose careers are developing rapidly; the Mid-career Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (K24) is for outstanding clinical scientists engaged in patient-oriented research; the Senior Scientist Award K05, SSA is for outstanding senior investigators. No specialized training costs are available; limited research costs for K05s, K24s, and K02s in theoretical areas are available.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   All awards in these series are made to appropriate domestic research centers, medical schools, departments of psychiatry, non-medical academic departments, psychiatric hospitals or hospitals with psychiatric services, community mental health centers, biomedical research institutes, and departments of behavioral science on behalf of individuals who need the opportunity to realize research potentials. The individuals in all cases must be citizens or nationals of the United States or have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Individuals must qualify by scholastic degree and previous training and/or experience.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Public and private profit or nonprofit organizations will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. For other grantees, costs will be determined in accordance with HHS Regulation 45 CFR, Part 74, Subpart Q.

Pre-application Coordination:   Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Applications must be prepared using the PHS 398 research grant application instructions and forms (revised May 2001). The PHS 398 is available at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/phs398.html in an interactive format. For further assistance contact GrantsInfo, Telephone (301) 435-0714, Email: grantsInfo@nih.gov. Information and instructions may be obtained from the program officials at the National Institute of Mental Health. Forms are completed by the applicant and sponsor. Completed applications should be submitted to the Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040, MSC 7710, Bethesda, MD 20892-7710 or Bethesda, MD 20817 (for express/courier service. Applications are reviewed by nonfederal consultants and recommended for support on the basis of merit. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational organizations and 45 CFR, Part 52.

Award Procedure:   All "K" Series awards are recommended for approval by the National Advisory Mental Health Council and those approved are awarded directly by NIMH to the applicant institution.

Deadlines:   February 1, June 1, and October 1. AIDS-related applications: January 2, May 1, September 1.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 240 to 270 days from submission of the application. Review of AIDS-related applications is expedited.

Appeals:   A principal investigator (P.I.) may question the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of his/her application by communicating with the staff of the Institute. A description of the NIH Peer Review Appeals procedure is available on the NIH home page http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/not97-232.html.

Renewals:   K01, K08 and K23 awards are made for up to 5-year periods with no renewal. K02 and K24 awards are made for a 5-year period, renewable once (unless holder has previously had a K04); K05 awards are limited to one 5-year period.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Payments will be made either on a Monthly Cash Request System or under an Electronic Transfer System. Necessary instructions for the appropriate type of payment will be issued when an award is made.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Reports must be submitted as follows: (1) Interim Progress Reports annually as part of continuation application; (2) Final Progress Report and Invention Statement, and Financial Status Report within 90 days of the end of support.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal officials.

Records:   Records must be retained for at least 3 years; records shall be retained beyond the 3-year period if audit findings have not been resolved.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-0892-0-1-552.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $53,142,000; FY 02 est $57,314,000; and FY 03 est $60,179,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
No Data Available

In fiscal year 2001, 407 awards were funded. In fiscal year 2002, 430 awards are estimated to be funded; and fiscal year 2003, 443 awards are expected to be made.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

42 CFR 52. Guidelines available from NIMH Fax 4U (301) 443-5158 or NIMH Headquarters Office Staff. No charge. NIH Grants Policy Statement (Revised March 2001).

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:   Jean Noronha, Ph.D. 6001 Executive Blvd, Rockville, Maryland 20892-9609 Email: nimhreferral@mail.nih.gov Phone: (301) 443-3367 Fax: (301) 443-4720

Web Site Address:  
http://www.nimh.nih.gov

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

(1) Cortical processes in perception and memory; (2) regulatory mechanisms in brain maturation; (3) chemical factors in abnormal behavior; (4) hemispheric specialization of higher functions in humans; (5) theory and measurement of personality development; (6) biological substrate and correlates of schizophrenia; (7) biochemistry and behavioral recovery after post-traumatic stress; and (8) children's mental health services research.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

The following considerations are used in determining projects to be funded: (1) The potential to develop and/or perform as outstanding research scientists; (2) scientific merit of the proposed research plans; (3) relevance to NIMH priorities; and (4) potential contribution to the mental health field.