The Development of Psychosocial Therapeutic and Preventive Interventions for Mental Disorders (PAR-25-182), issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports pilot research on developing and testing innovative psychosocial interventions for mental disorders. This funding opportunity aims to accelerate the translation of foundational research in behavioral, cognitive, affective, and neuropsychological science into practical interventions that prevent or treat mental health conditions.

This opportunity uses a phased funding mechanism (R61/R33), with up to two years of support for early-stage activities like evaluating target engagement and defining intervention parameters. If milestones are achieved, up to three additional years of funding are available to replicate findings and test the association between target engagement and clinical outcomes. Projects should adhere to the NIMH’s experimental therapeutics framework, which emphasizes understanding how interventions affect specific mechanisms underlying mental health disorders.

Eligible applicants include state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, small businesses, and other entities. Minority-serving institutions, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving Institutions (HSIs), are encouraged to apply. International entities are also eligible under certain conditions.

Applications are accepted through October 15, 2027, and there is no specified funding ceiling or floor. Applicants should propose innovative psychosocial interventions addressing critical gaps in mental health care. Proposals must demonstrate strong theoretical underpinnings, clear hypotheses, and the potential to advance to larger-scale efficacy trials.

This funding opportunity represents a critical step in developing and validating psychosocial interventions that address the complex needs of individuals with mental health disorders. For detailed application requirements, applicants can review the full NOFO or contact NIH Grants Information at grantsinfo@nih.gov.