Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 19 210
The Dysregulation and Proximal Risk for Suicide (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity (RFA-MH-19-210) is a National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) small grant initiative aimed at sharpening what science can say about near-term, time-varying risk for suicide attempts. The central idea is that suicide risk is not just a stable trait or a long-term vulnerability; it can shift quickly, often in response to acute stressors, and the most useful prevention tools are the ones that can tell clinicians and communities not only who is at risk, but when the risk is peaking and why. This program aligns with the Prioritized Research Agenda for Suicide Prevention, especially the goal of understanding who is most at risk, what drives the transition from suicidal thoughts to action, and the best timing for intervention.
A defining feature of this opportunity is its emphasis on dysregulation as a dynamic mechanism, with a particular push to go beyond the common focus on “emotion dysregulation” alone. NIMH is specifically looking for research that examines constructs in the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) domain of Arousal and Regulation (for example, sleep-wake processes, arousal levels, stress responsivity, circadian rhythms, or physiological regulation) and tests how these interact with constructs from other RDoC domains, such as Cognitive Systems and Negative and Positive Valence Systems. The FOA highlights examples of functions that may be shaped by arousal/regulation states, including reward responding, frustrative non-reward, cognitive flexibility and control, and decision-making. In practical terms, the funded studies should help clarify how moment-to-moment or day-to-day changes in arousal and regulatory processes combine with cognitive and emotional processes to create imminent, or proximal, risk conditions for suicide attempts.
The program is explicit about what counts as responsive. Applications must directly investigate how the interaction between at least one Arousal and Regulation construct and one or more constructs in other RDoC domains relates to imminent risk for suicide attempts. Proposals that stay at the level of static characteristics (such as fixed personality traits), that focus mainly on distant or distal predictors, or that rely primarily on past suicidal behavior without addressing near-term risk processes are not a fit. Likewise, studies that operate within only a single RDoC domain, without testing cross-domain interactions, are considered nonresponsive. The overall emphasis is on mechanisms that fluctuate over time and can plausibly become targets for interventions delivered during high-risk windows.
The intended payoff is twofold: better mechanistic understanding and more actionable targets. By mapping how dysregulation in arousal and regulation interacts with cognition and valence processes to produce time-varying risk, the research supported by this FOA is meant to identify modifiable points of intervention, especially those suitable for rapid, timely responses when an individual enters a high-risk period. The “clinical trial optional” label indicates that applicants may propose clinical trials, but they are not required; the key is that the project addresses the mechanistic, proximal-risk focus and fits the R21 exploratory/developmental scope.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the health category (CFDA 93.242) using the NIH R21 mechanism, which typically supports early-stage, high-impact exploratory work. The listed award ceiling is $200,000. The opportunity was created on 2018-10-03, and the original closing date was 2018-12-05. While the summary information provided does not specify the exact number of expected awards, the FOA is positioned as a targeted effort to build a stronger portfolio of proximal suicide risk research within NIMH.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. governmental units and institutions, as well as nonprofit and for-profit entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and 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 that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other organizations. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicant groups 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, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations. This wide eligibility is consistent with the public health urgency of suicide prevention and the need for research that can apply across settings and populations.
In short, this grant opportunity is designed to move suicide prevention science toward a more precise understanding of short-term risk by funding studies that capture how dysregulation in arousal and regulation, in combination with cognitive and valence-related processes, contributes to imminent suicide attempt risk. The FOA prioritizes dynamic, mechanistic, cross-domain RDoC research that can reveal near-term warning pathways and identify changeable targets for interventions delivered at the moments they are most needed.Apply for RFA MH 19 210
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Dysregulation and Proximal Risk for Suicide (R21 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 2018-10-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-12-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Dysregulation and Proximal Risk for Suicide (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) - RFA-MH-19-210
What is this funding opportunity?
This is an NIH National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funding opportunity titled "Dysregulation and Proximal Risk for Suicide (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)" (FOA number RFA-MH-19-210). It supports exploratory/developmental research using the NIH R21 mechanism, focused on improving what science can say about near-term, time-varying risk for suicide attempts.
What problem is the FOA trying to address?
The FOA is built around the idea that suicide risk is not only a stable trait or long-term vulnerability. Risk can change quickly, often following acute stressors. The goal is to better understand when risk is peaking and why, so prevention approaches can be timed to high-risk windows.
What is the main scientific focus of the program?
The central focus is dysregulation as a dynamic mechanism that helps explain imminent (proximal) risk for suicide attempts. NIMH is specifically interested in dysregulation in the RDoC Arousal and Regulation domain and how it interacts with constructs from other RDoC domains to contribute to short-term suicide attempt risk.
What does "proximal" or "imminent" risk mean in this FOA?
Within the description provided, proximal (imminent) risk refers to near-term risk that can fluctuate moment-to-moment or day-to-day, rather than distant, long-term predictors. The FOA emphasizes capturing dynamic processes that help explain transitions toward a suicide attempt over short time horizons.
What makes an application "responsive" to this FOA?
To be responsive, an application must directly investigate how the interaction between at least:
- one Arousal and Regulation construct (RDoC Arousal and Regulation domain), and
- one or more constructs in other RDoC domains
relates to imminent risk for suicide attempts.
Which RDoC domain does NIMH want emphasized?
The FOA places special emphasis on the RDoC Arousal and Regulation domain, with a push to go beyond only "emotion dysregulation." The opportunity encourages examining time-varying arousal/regulation mechanisms and how they shape other functional systems relevant to suicidal behavior.
What are examples of Arousal and Regulation constructs mentioned in the FOA description?
Examples listed include:
- Sleep-wake processes
- Arousal levels
- Stress responsivity
- Circadian rhythms
- Physiological regulation
Which other RDoC domains should be examined in combination with Arousal and Regulation?
The FOA highlights interactions between Arousal and Regulation constructs and constructs from other domains such as:
- Cognitive Systems
- Negative Valence Systems
- Positive Valence Systems
What kinds of functions might be shaped by arousal/regulation states, according to the FOA?
The FOA gives examples of functions that may be shaped by arousal and regulation states, including:
- Reward responding
- Frustrative non-reward
- Cognitive flexibility and control
- Decision-making
Does the FOA require measuring time-varying processes?
Yes, the emphasis is on mechanisms that fluctuate over time (moment-to-moment or day-to-day) and contribute to near-term suicide attempt risk. The program is oriented toward understanding dynamic processes rather than static characteristics.
Are projects focused on static traits or long-term predictors a fit?
No. The FOA indicates that proposals centered on static characteristics (such as fixed personality traits), distal predictors, or those that rely primarily on past suicidal behavior without addressing near-term risk processes are considered not a fit for this opportunity.
Can a project focus on only one RDoC domain?
No. Studies operating within only a single RDoC domain, without testing cross-domain interactions, are described as nonresponsive.
Is the FOA only about "emotion dysregulation"?
No. A defining feature is the push to go beyond a narrow focus on emotion dysregulation and to emphasize the broader Arousal and Regulation domain (sleep, circadian, stress responsivity, physiological regulation, and related processes) in interaction with cognition and valence systems.
What is the intended payoff of the research supported by this FOA?
The FOA describes a two-part payoff:
- Better mechanistic understanding of how dysregulation and cross-domain interactions produce time-varying suicide attempt risk.
- More actionable, modifiable intervention targets, especially targets suitable for rapid responses during high-risk windows.
Does this funding opportunity allow clinical trials?
Yes. It is labeled "clinical trial optional", meaning applicants may propose clinical trials, but they are not required. The key requirement is alignment with the mechanistic, proximal-risk focus within the R21 exploratory scope.
What funding mechanism does this FOA use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R21 mechanism, which is typically intended to support early-stage, high-impact exploratory/developmental research.
What is the award ceiling listed in the provided summary?
The listed award ceiling is $200,000.
Which NIH institute is sponsoring this opportunity?
The sponsoring institute is the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), within the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the program category and CFDA number?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant opportunity in the health category with CFDA 93.242.
When was this opportunity created and when was it originally due?
The opportunity was created on 2018-10-03, and the original closing date listed is 2018-12-05.
Does the summary specify how many awards NIMH expects to make?
No. The summary notes that the exact number of expected awards is not specified in the information provided, while describing the FOA as a targeted effort to strengthen NIMH's portfolio in proximal suicide risk research.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. governmental units and institutions, as well as nonprofit and for-profit entities. Eligible applicants listed include:
- State, county, city, township, and 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 that are not federally recognized
- Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
- Other organizations
Are specialized institution types explicitly called out as eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights additional eligible groups 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
- Eligible federal agencies
- U.S. territories or possessions
- Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations)
- Regional organizations
Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) and regional organizations.
How does this FOA relate to broader suicide prevention priorities?
The FOA aligns with the Prioritized Research Agenda for Suicide Prevention, particularly goals focused on understanding who is most at risk, what drives the transition from suicidal thoughts to action, and when interventions should be delivered for maximum impact.
What types of applications are likely to be considered nonresponsive?
Based on the description provided, nonresponsive applications include those that:
- Focus mainly on static traits rather than dynamic, time-varying processes
- Emphasize distal or long-term predictors without addressing near-term mechanisms
- Rely primarily on past suicidal behavior without examining proximal risk processes
- Stay within only one RDoC domain and do not test cross-domain interactions
- Do not directly link the required cross-domain interaction to imminent suicide attempt risk
What is the practical prevention angle behind this FOA?
The practical aim is to support research that can help clinicians and communities identify not only who is at risk, but when risk is peaking and why, with an emphasis on identifying modifiable targets for interventions that can be delivered quickly during high-risk windows.
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