Notice Number: NOT-MH-09-006

Key Dates
Release Date: February 13, 2009

Issued by
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), (http://www.nimh.nih.gov)

Background

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to promote an important initiative by reissuing two Requests for Applications (RFA) to solicit applications on Novel Interventions for Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

This notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects, as well as for previous applicants to have time to revise their submissions in response to review critiques.

These RFAs are expected to be published in March 2009 with an expected receipt date in May 12, 2009.

These RFAs will utilize the R34 and the combined R21/R33 mechanisms. Details of the planned FOAs are provided below.

Research Initiative Details

This Notice encourages investigators with expertise and insights in the areas of interventions and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, to begin to consider applying for one of these reissued Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs).  These FOAs will solicit NIMH Clinical Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R34) and Phased Innovation (R21/R33) grant applications, which propose to develop novel interventions that will improve functioning in domains commonly affected by neurodevelopmental disorders.  The R34 FOA will provide resources for evaluating the feasibility, tolerability, acceptability and safety of novel approaches, and for obtaining the preliminary data needed to support the development of a larger-scale efficacy trial.  The R21/R33 FOA will provide support for a first phase (R21) for initial technical development and proof-of-principle, and a second phase (R33) for further development, application, and evaluation of clinical utility.  It is intended that the results will support the development of larger efficacy studies of the proposed novel intervention.  These FOAs are intended to encourage a broad scope of new and innovative treatment approaches with potential for widespread, cost-effective application across a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders based on the targeted domain(s) of impairment.  The treatment approaches may include psychopharmacologic, other physiological, cognitive, psychosocial, psychoeducational, and behavioral approaches or novel combinations of any of these approaches.  Also of interest are particularly innovative and theoretically-based intervention approaches currently in clinical use that have not been adequately evaluated for safety and efficacy.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOT BEING SOLICITED AT THIS TIME.

Inquiries

Interested parties are encouraged to contact:

Ann E. Wagner, Ph.D.
Division of Developmental Translational Research
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6184, MSC 9617
Rockville, MD 20852-9617
Telephone (301) 443-5944
FAX: (301) 480-4415
Email: [email protected]