Verified

Advancing Research on Empirically-Supported Interventions for Older Adults Living with Serious Mental Illness (SMI)

National Institutes of Health

General Information

Document Type:	Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number:	RFA-MH-27-180
Funding Opportunity Title:	Advancing Research on Empirically-Supported Interventions for Older Adults Living with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)
Opportunity Category:	Discretionary
Opportunity Category Explanation:
Funding Instrument Type:	Grant
Category of Funding Activity:	Health
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards:	6
Assistance Listings:	93.242 -- Mental Health Research Grants
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:	No

Version:	Synopsis 1
Posted Date:	May 28, 2026
Last Updated Date:	May 28, 2026
Original Closing Date for Applications:	Oct 15, 2026
Current Closing Date for Applications:	Oct 15, 2026
Archive Date:	Dec 14, 2026
Estimated Total Program Funding:	$ 3,000,000
Award Ceiling:	$
Award Floor:	$

Additional Information

Agency Name:	National Institutes of Health
Description:	The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to foster research that will inform and support the optimization, delivery, sustainability, and effectiveness of empirically-supported practices for addressing the mental health needs of older adults with serious mental illness (SMI). To this end, NIMH seeks applications that propose work that is focused on practice-relevant questions and conducted within and/or across settings where older adults with SMI are likely to be identified as needing care (e.g., primary care and geriatric specialty clinics, assisted living and long-term care facilities, and community centers). Applications may propose research related to adapting, optimizing, and implementing efficacious treatment and services interventions and strategies to improve clinical and functional outcomes among aging populations; examining mutable factors that impact fair and impartial mental health care access, utilization, quality, and outcomes and may serve as targets for intervention development for older adults with SMI; and developing and testing innovative treatment and service interventions that address barriers to accessing quality mental health care. Projects may also focus on systems-level factors and approaches for addressing SMI and improving access to evidence-based interventions in later life, such as evaluation of health system policies and practices, interventions that facilitate care transitions and continuity across settings, and strategies to improve care linkages and coordination across systems.
Link to Additional Information:
Grantor Contact Information:	If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: Division of Services and Intervention Research (DSIR) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) NIMH.DSIR.inquiries@mail.nih.gov

AI Based Application Success Predictor

1. Significance (Importance of the Research Question) (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

This is one of NIH's core review criteria.

Competitive proposals should:

Address an important biomedical or public health problem.
Fill a significant knowledge gap.
Advance scientific understanding.
Improve prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or health outcomes.

Reviewers ask whether successful completion of the project will have a meaningful impact on the field.

2. Strong alignment with the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) and Institute priorities (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Competitive applications closely match:

The objectives of the specific FOA.
The mission of the relevant NIH Institute or Center (e.g., NCI, NHLBI, NIDDK, NIAID, NHGRI).
The scientific priorities described in the funding announcement.

Even scientifically strong proposals are less competitive if they do not fit the FOA or Institute mission.

3. Innovation (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Innovation is a formal NIH review criterion.

Competitive proposals often include:

Novel hypotheses.
New technologies.
Innovative methodologies.
Creative experimental approaches.
New therapeutic or diagnostic strategies.
Artificial intelligence or advanced computational methods (when appropriate).

Projects should demonstrate how they advance beyond current knowledge rather than simply extending existing work.

4. Rigorous Approach and Methodology (Highest Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

The Approach section is often the most heavily scrutinized part of an NIH application.

Competitive proposals include:

Well-defined hypotheses.
Strong preliminary rationale (especially for R01s).
Robust experimental design.
Appropriate statistical analyses.
Risk mitigation strategies.
Alternative approaches.
Realistic timelines and milestones.

A weak approach can prevent funding even for highly innovative ideas.

5. Investigator(s) and Team Expertise (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

Reviewers evaluate whether the investigators have the expertise to complete the proposed work.

Competitive teams demonstrate:

Strong publication record.
Relevant scientific expertise.
Leadership experience.
Complementary multidisciplinary skills.
Successful collaboration.

For early-stage investigators, reviewers place greater emphasis on potential and mentorship.

6. Strong Research Environment (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

The institutional environment should provide:

Appropriate laboratories and equipment.
Core facilities.
Clinical infrastructure (when applicable).
Biostatistical support.
Institutional commitment.
Collaborative opportunities.

A strong research environment increases confidence that the project can be successfully completed.

7. Scientific Rigor, Reproducibility, and Transparency (Very High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐)

NIH places strong emphasis on:

Scientific rigor.
Reproducibility.
Authentication of key biological resources.
Consideration of sex as a biological variable (when applicable).
Transparent reporting.
Data management and sharing.

Applications should clearly describe how rigor and reproducibility will be ensured throughout the study.

8. Strong Preliminary Data (especially for R01s) (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

For many NIH mechanisms—particularly R01—competitive applications often include preliminary data demonstrating:

Feasibility.
Technical capability.
Early proof of concept.
Supporting evidence for the central hypothesis.

Mechanisms such as R21 may place less emphasis on preliminary data, depending on the FOA.

9. Potential for Translation and Public Health Impact (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Competitive proposals often describe how the research could lead to:

New diagnostics.
New therapeutics.
Clinical trials.
Precision medicine.
Public health interventions.
Improved healthcare delivery.

Even basic science applications benefit from articulating their long-term translational relevance.

10. Appropriate Budget, Data Sharing, and Compliance (High Predictor ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆)

Strong applications include:

Well-justified budgets.
Realistic resource requests.
Data Management and Sharing Plans (required for applicable applications).
Compliance with NIH policies on human subjects, vertebrate animals, inclusion, and research ethics.

Administrative completeness and compliance support a smoother review process.

Specialties

Geriatrics & Gerontology

Others

Mental Health

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants:

Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Special district governments
County governments
City or township governments
Independent school districts
State governments
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Small businesses
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Private institutions of higher education
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
For profit organizations other than small businesses

Additional Information on Eligibility:

Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: National Institutes of Health

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity