NIMH Mentoring Networks for Mental Health Research Education (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The NIMH Mentoring Networks for Mental Health Research Education (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) program is offered by the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the National Institute of Mental Health. The NIH Research Education Program (R25) is designed to support structured educational activities that align with NIH’s broader mission to advance biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. This specific opportunity focuses on strengthening the mental health research workforce by enhancing mentorship networks and providing targeted educational experiences that complement existing training pathways. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to develop and support mentoring networks that improve research education in mental health disciplines. These networks are intended to recruit, prepare, and sustain individuals in research careers, particularly those with specialized or underrepresented disciplinary backgrounds. The program emphasizes the importance of fostering a well-prepared workforce capable of addressing national mental health research priorities while also promoting a deeper understanding of mental health research and its societal implications. Funding under this opportunity is provided as a grant mechanism, with an award ceiling of up to 200,000 dollars. While the total program funding is not specified, the funding is intended to support activities such as curriculum development, mentoring structures, research education experiences, and other initiatives that enhance training environments. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this program, which means funds must be directed toward educational and mentoring activities rather than direct clinical research interventions. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity. Eligibility for this program is broad and inclusive, encompassing a wide range of entity types. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, and other for-profit organizations. Additional eligible entities include federal agencies, U.S. territories, and faith-based or community-based organizations. This wide eligibility scope reflects the program’s intent to foster collaboration across sectors and disciplines in advancing mental health research education. The application process is expected to follow standard NIH submission procedures, typically requiring submission through Grants.gov and associated NIH systems. Applicants will need to prepare detailed proposals outlining their mentoring network structure, educational activities, participant recruitment strategies, and expected outcomes. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast, NIH R25 applications generally include research education program plans, evaluation strategies, and institutional support documentation. The timeline for this forecasted opportunity indicates an estimated posting date of January 23, 2026, with an application due date of May 25, 2026. Awards are expected to be made by April 1, 2027, with project start dates aligned to that same timeframe. As a forecasted opportunity, applicants are encouraged to begin early planning and coordination prior to the official release. The program appears to follow a recurring NIH funding cycle, suggesting future opportunities may be issued annually or periodically. For additional information, applicants may contact Belinda Sims at the National Institutes of Health via email at belinda.sims@nih.gov or by phone at 301-435-7155. As this is a forecasted notice, applicants should monitor Grants.gov and NIH communications for the official funding announcement and any updates regarding application requirements or deadlines.