The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) invites applications for the Social Disconnection and Suicide Risk in Late Life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity. This program aims to support research exploring the mechanisms by which social disconnection increases suicide risk and how social integration may provide protection against suicidal thoughts and behaviors in older adults. This funding opportunity seeks projects that integrate neurobiological, behavioral, and environmental perspectives to identify intervention targets and to develop strategies for suicide prevention in late life.

The scope of this funding opportunity includes studies on both objective social isolation (e.g., few social contacts) and perceived loneliness (discrepancies between desired and actual social relationships). Mechanisms of interest span multiple levels of analysis, including neurobiological and psychosocial factors. Research should emphasize the role of individual and systemic factors such as mental health history, socioeconomic status, and cultural influences on the intersection of social disconnection and suicide risk. Projects adopting the NIH Stage Model or RDoC frameworks for dimensional assessments of psychopathology and brain function are particularly encouraged.

Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, and various government and tribal entities. Foreign organizations and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also eligible. Applicants must complete necessary registrations in SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons before applying. Applications should adhere to NIH requirements and include a rigorous Data Management and Sharing Plan. Proposed projects should align with NIMH guidelines for human research protection and data transparency.

The funding instrument is a grant, with no specific budget cap; budgets must align with the project's scope and actual needs. The project period can extend up to five years. Applicants proposing mechanistic clinical trials must ensure their design focuses on the underlying mechanisms of suicidal behavior, rather than clinical outcomes. Projects emphasizing health disparities and intersectionality in aging populations are highly encouraged. Studies must employ innovative methodologies, such as neuroimaging, computational modeling, or longitudinal analysis, to assess multi-dimensional social disconnection and its impact on suicide risk.

Key dates include an earliest submission date of January 5, 2025, with standard NIH deadlines for new, renewal, and resubmission applications. Peer review and advisory council meetings will determine awards, with the earliest start date being December 2025. Applications should address scientific rigor, feasibility, investigator expertise, and resource availability. Proposals must demonstrate the significance of the research in advancing understanding of late-life suicidality and social disconnection.

Evaluation criteria include the project's importance to the field, the scientific rigor of its approach, the innovation of its hypotheses, and the expertise of the investigative team. Projects must include well-defined plans for participant recruitment, data analysis, and ethical management of high-risk populations. Specific aims should be aligned with NIMH’s priorities to improve late-life mental health through targeted interventions and enhanced understanding of social connection mechanisms.