Navigator Emergency Department Diversion Models for Non-Urgent Mental Health Concerns (R34 Clinical Trial Required)

The Navigator Emergency Department Diversion Models for Non-Urgent Mental Health Concerns (R34 Clinical Trial Required) funding opportunity, offered by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), supports pilot research on patient navigation models designed to divert non-urgent mental health cases from emergency departments (EDs). These navigation models aim to address barriers to mental health care, triage patients effectively, provide emotional support, link families to services, and reduce reliance on EDs for non-urgent concerns. The program invites applications to test established models needing pilot evaluation and to develop and pilot new navigator model components. Larger, fully powered studies are supported through a companion funding opportunity (PAR-25-289, R01 Clinical Trial Required).

Eligible projects must focus on testing the mechanisms, implementation, and effectiveness of navigation models, with a focus on scalability and sustainable integration into community health practices. Research objectives include triaging mental health acuity, engaging families with mental health services, addressing socioeconomic barriers, and leveraging technology for symptom tracking and service coordination. Rigorous methodologies, including experimental therapeutics approaches and optimization designs such as SMART and MOST, are encouraged to identify key intervention components and measure mechanisms of action.

The funding opportunity provides up to $225,000 annually in direct costs, with a total maximum of $450,000 over three years. The program seeks collaborations between academic researchers, EDs, and community health practitioners to enhance the translational potential of findings. Applications should incorporate data sharing through the NIMH Data Archive (NDA), using common data elements to facilitate integration with broader mental health research efforts.

Eligible applicants include U.S.-based higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profits, government entities, and tribal organizations. Proposals must be submitted through Grants.gov or other NIH submission systems, with detailed requirements for project narratives, budgets, and supplementary materials. Key dates for submission are February 16, June 16, and October 16 annually, with the earliest start date approximately 10 months after submission.

Review criteria emphasize the significance and innovation of the research, methodological rigor, feasibility, and the qualifications of the research team. Proposals must demonstrate alignment with NIMH’s experimental therapeutics framework, including clearly defined targets and mechanisms of action. Applications will be evaluated by peer review and advisory council processes, with final funding decisions based on scientific merit, relevance to program goals, and available resources.

For more information, applicants are encouraged to consult the NIH Grants Policy Statement and contact NIMH program officials. Support is available for application submission and compliance with NIH’s policies on human subjects, data management, and safety monitoring.