The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has announced a funding opportunity titled "Pilot Effectiveness Trials for Post-Acute Interventions and Services to Optimize Longer-term Outcomes" (Funding Opportunity Number: PAR-25-206). This program aims to support pilot projects that evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of therapeutic and service delivery interventions for post-acute management of mental health conditions. Eligible projects should focus on consolidating treatment gains, managing residual symptoms, preventing relapse, and enhancing adherence to care to optimize long-term mental health outcomes. This program is part of NIMH’s broader mission to transform mental health treatment through basic and clinical research, with the ultimate goal of improving prevention and recovery.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supports pilot effectiveness trials designed to assess feasibility, tolerability, acceptability, safety, and initial effectiveness of post-acute interventions, thereby laying the groundwork for future, larger-scale studies. Interventions might include continuation and maintenance therapies, preventive approaches targeting youth with early-stage conditions, or novel adherence strategies. Technology-assisted interventions, community-integrated services, and strategies to promote equity in mental health care are particularly encouraged. Research must align with NIMH’s experimental therapeutics approach, which emphasizes identifying mechanisms of change and measuring intervention target engagement.

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, nonprofits, government entities, and certain for-profit organizations. Non-U.S. entities may also apply. Projects are limited to a three-year period with a budget not exceeding $750,000 in direct costs, with a maximum of $250,000 in any single year. Key application dates start with the earliest submission date on January 5, 2025, and the first due date for new applications on February 5, 2025. Multiple cycles are scheduled until 2028.

Applications must include a robust research strategy detailing the intervention’s rationale, intended target population, and approach to assessing target engagement. Proposals should also address anticipated scalability and practical application in real-world settings, with end-user input encouraged for maximizing feasibility. Review criteria include the importance of the research, rigor of the approach, feasibility, and expertise of the research team. Selected projects will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of mental health intervention mechanisms, potentially improving the accessibility and effectiveness of post-acute mental health care across diverse populations.