Effectiveness of Implementing Sustainable Evidence-Based Mental Health Practices in Low-Resource Settings to Achieve Mental Health Equity for Traditionally Underserved Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | PAR 23 092

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 092

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is soliciting R01 grant applications under Funding Opportunity Announcement PAR 23-092 to support research on how to effectively implement and sustain evidence-based mental health treatments and services in low-resource, under-resourced settings across the United States, with the explicit goal of advancing mental health equity for traditionally underserved populations. The core emphasis is not on inventing new clinical interventions from scratch, but on figuring out how to make proven, evidence-based practices (EBPs) actually work in real-world settings where staffing, funding, infrastructure, access, and community trust may be limited. Clinical trials are optional, meaning applicants may propose a clinical trial if it fits the research questions, but a trial is not required.

Projects responsive to this opportunity are expected to develop and test implementation strategies that improve delivery and long-term sustainment of EBPs so that underserved groups can access, receive, and benefit from effective mental health care. The FOA highlights the need for innovative approaches that directly address barriers at multiple levels, such as barriers affecting providers (for example, workforce shortages, limited training, high turnover, competing demands, burnout, lack of supervision), systems (for example, weak referral networks, limited reimbursement pathways, fragmented services, data limitations, transportation and broadband gaps), and individuals or communities (for example, stigma, cultural and language mismatches, historical mistrust, limited health literacy, costs, childcare needs, or difficulties navigating systems). A central expectation is that studies will generate actionable knowledge about what it takes to close mental health outcome gaps, not just increase service delivery in general.

A major priority is building evidence about the factors that create, maintain, or reduce disparities in mental health outcomes, and using that evidence to design implementation approaches that are equity-focused. The FOA strongly encourages research that produces new information about the drivers of inequity and the mechanisms by which implementation strategies do or do not reduce disparities. This includes attention to the full life span, meaning proposals should consider the needs of children, adolescents, adults, and older adults as appropriate, rather than implicitly focusing only on one segment of the population unless justified. The “equity” focus also signals that outcomes of interest are not limited to clinical symptom reduction; applicants may also examine outcomes such as engagement, retention, quality of care, culturally responsive delivery, functioning, recovery-oriented outcomes, and differential benefits across groups, while explicitly assessing whether implementation closes gaps between underserved groups and more advantaged groups.

The eligible applicant pool is broad and includes many types of domestic U.S. organizations and governmental entities, reflecting an intent to support work grounded in the settings where underserved populations actually receive care and social support. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible domestic organizations. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions on foreign involvement for this particular opportunity. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. In addition, foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed, which effectively keeps the work and project infrastructure U.S.-based even if a U.S. organization has international ties.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health category, funded through NIH and associated with CFDA number 93.242. The original closing date listed is July 5, 2024. An award ceiling is not specified in the provided summary, and the number of expected awards is not listed in the excerpt, so applicants would typically consult the full FOA and NIH budget guidance for R01s to understand practical budget expectations, project period norms, and any institute-specific considerations.

Overall, PAR 23-092 is aimed at rigorous, equity-centered implementation research: work that tests strategies to overcome real-world constraints in low-resource U.S. settings, improves the sustained delivery of evidence-based mental health care, and produces new, generalizable knowledge about how to reduce disparities and achieve better mental health outcomes for populations that have historically been underserved by the mental health system.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Effectiveness of Implementing Sustainable Evidence-Based Mental Health Practices in Low-Resource Settings to Achieve Mental Health Equity for Traditionally Underserved Populations (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.242.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-01-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 23 092

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