Related Announcements

PAR-21-325 - Mental Health Research Dissertation Grant to Enhance Workforce Diversity (R36 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-184 - Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

PA-20-185 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-196 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

PA-20-200 - NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-21-235 - NIMH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PAR-21-155 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-21-048 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32)

PA-21-049 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions With NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)

PA-21-050 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)

PA-21-051 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31)

PA-21-052 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31 - Diversity)

PA-20-188 - NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PAR-21-271 - Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-21-194 - Mentored Career Transition Award for Intramural Fellows (K22 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

PA-20-190 - Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-203 - Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

PA-20-205 - Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

RFA-NS-21-012 - NIH Blueprint and BRAIN Initiative Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Issued by

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Purpose

NIMH is issuing this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) to highlight interest in research to analyze existing and accumulating data to aid in refining phenotypes of posttraumatic psychopathology(ies), markers of onset and change, and risk detection. NIMH is also interested in research using available data to identify potential prevention and treatment targets and to advance and refine measurement and validation of potential novel targets for future development in experimental therapeutics research.

Background

Historically, the manifestation of mental health problems following traumatic stress exposure has been considered largely under the umbrella of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, there is high variability in presentation and frequent comorbidity with other conditions including depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and a variety of other symptoms. Comorbidity and variability in presentation of patients post trauma is the rule, rather than the exception. Given the current limited ability to predict posttraumatic outcomes, match interventions to risk, and treat the underlying causes of specific dysfunction and disorder, research involving persons exposed to traumatic events can improve understanding in these areas.

In response to a traumatic event, people commonly report a range of acute symptoms, e.g., hyperarousal, avoidance, re-experiencing, and changes in thoughts and mood. Quickly, many individuals progressively improve, and symptoms recede. Those who continue to experience distress may develop diagnosable mental health problems, including PTSD and other conditions- which may become chronic. However, scientists and clinicians lack the ability to predict, at an individual level, who will suffer from mental health problems and who will recover naturally after trauma exposure. Variability within those diagnosed contributes to poor prediction and inconsistent treatment response. Further evidence of heterogeneity in PTSD is that response to the best evidence-based treatment is highly variable. Patients ostensibly suffering from the same disorder often respond differently to empirically supported treatments (both psychological and pharmacological). Why some but not other patients derive benefits is largely unknown. Emerging data from neuroimaging, neurochemistry, physiological, cognitive and behavioral studies reveal significant differences in systems related to arousal, memory, and reward in those experiencing maladaptive responses to trauma and may help reveal the mechanisms that give rise to eventual clinical presentations. Novel interventions are needed and may be both developed and targeted to those who would most benefit.

NIMH, with partner Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, created a set of Common Data Elements for research in the traumatic stress space. NIMH has made the depositing and sharing of research data through the NIMH Data Archive (NDA) routine. Data characterizing alterations (cognitive, behavioral, physiological, neurobiological, etc.) after exposure to traumatic events and pre-existing vulnerabilities are accumulating and increasingly available for integrated analyses. For example, in addition to more typical size or scope research projects (e.g., NDA #2297, NDA #2541, NDA #2527), NIMH supported a substantial initiative (the Aurora study) to collect longitudinal data from an acutely traumatized cohort of adults presenting in emergency rooms and followed for up to a year with assessment across domains and levels of functioning. There is substantial opportunity to leverage data available in NDA and other large private and public databases to advance the understanding, prevention, and treatment of posttraumatic psychopathology.

Research Objectives

To advance research through analysis of existing and accumulating data alone or in combination with new data, NIMH is encouraging submission of applications to leverage available data related to posttraumatic psychopathology in NDA and other public and private databases to address the following areas of scientific interest:

• Applications to refine understanding of markers, mechanisms, and predictors of homogenous functional impairments or alternations as opposed to traditionally defined/diagnosed disorders
• Studies to understand if there are biologically distinct processes which are related to similar clinical presentations initially or over time in the aftermath of traumatic experiences
• Studies to examine patients who differ on symptom clusters or other indices of brain and behavioral functioning as well as those who fall just short of meeting usual diagnostic criteria to determine the types and severity of behavioral and/or neurobiological deficits that are associated with a putative biomarker, including research to address known sex or health disparities
• Theory-driven computational approaches for understanding mechanisms and to generate explanatory models that integrate data across biological, psychological, and social-environmental domains captured actively or passively
• Research to test hypotheses regarding the timing and trajectories of post-trauma functioning (e.g., neurobiological, behavioral, psychophysiological, neurocognitive) in relation to onset, course, and sustainment of posttraumatic psychopathology. Such approaches may include validation of multi-level approaches to assess dysregulated/dysfunctional brain and behavioral functions, structures, systems, connections, and processes
• Studies aiming to develop new ways of classifying or defining post-traumatic mental disorders, including subtypes, based on observable dimensions of behavior and neurobiological measures
• Research that is designed to understand modifiable novel treatment targets to establish their role in the development or sustainment of illness
• Analysis and meta-analysis of existing data sets to inform designs of future clinical trials through prevention/treatment target identification/validation
• Studies to develop and refine acute and intermediate clinical decision support algorithms to inform future prevention and early treatment trials focused on high-risk individuals
• Studies to develop effective data analytical approaches for real-time identification of mental health needs or changes through available sensor and mobile data validated through survey or interview ascertainment of symptomatology
• Research to improve ability to quickly screen and triage acuate trauma survivors

Training applicants, junior investigators, and established investigators are all encouraged under this NOSI. Applicants are encouraged to consider the most appropriate FOA for the scope of the research proposed and the PI career stage.

Areas that are lower priority for this NOSI include:

• Applications attempting to refine understanding of markers, mechanisms, and predictors of heterogenous conditions traditionally defined/diagnosed (e.g., PTSD, Depression, Anxiety)
• Applications that limit transdiagnostic approach to traditionally defined/diagnosed without identifying shared constructs of interest and focus
• Research that utilizes newly available data to confirm/replicate analyses which have previously been demonstrated (e.g., trajectories of PTSD or depression symptoms following traumatic events)

Application and Submission Information

This notice applies to due dates on or after February 5, 2022 and subsequent receipt dates through January 8, 2025.

Submit applications for this initiative using one of the following funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) or any reissues of these announcement through the expiration date of this notice.

• PAR-21-325 - Mental Health Research Dissertation Grant to Enhance Workforce Diversity (R36 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PA-20-184 - Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
• PA-20-185 - NIH Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PA-20-196 - NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
• PA-20-200 - NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PA-21-235 - NIMH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PAR-21-155 - Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PA-21-048 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32)
• PA-21-049 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions With NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)
• PA-21-050 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)
• PA-21-051 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31)
• PA-21-052 - Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Parent F31 - Diversity)
• PA-20-188 - NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PAR-21-271 - Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PA-21-194 - Mentored Career Transition Award for Intramural Fellows (K22 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
• PA-20-190 - Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PA-20-203 - Mentored Clinical Scientist Research Career Development Award (Parent K08 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• PA-20-205 - Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (Parent K23 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
• RFA-NS-21-012 - NIH Blueprint and BRAIN Initiative Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and the funding opportunity announcement used for submission must be followed, with the following additions:

• For funding consideration, applicants must include “NOT-MH-22-045” (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative.

Applications nonresponsive to terms of this NOSI will not be considered for the NOSI initiative.

Inquiries

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

Susan Borja, Ph.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 310-443-1252
Email: [email protected]

Farris Tuma, Sc.D.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-443-9232
Email: [email protected]

Peer Review Contact(s)

Examine your eRA Commons account for review assignment and contact information (information appears two weeks after the submission due date).

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

Tamara Kees
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Telephone: 301-443-8811
Email: [email protected]