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Division Update: February 2024

In this issue:

• Welcome
• Plans and priorities
• Announcements
• Notices of special interest (NOSIs)
• Relevant notices of funding opportunities
• Featured job opportunities

Welcome

Welcome to the inaugural edition of the National Institute of Mental Health's (NIMH) Division of Services and Intervention Research (DSIR) triannual newsletter! We are excited to share information about DSIR’s plans and priorities, Notices of Special Interest (NOSI), Notices of Funding Opportunities, research highlights, career opportunities, and other relevant news and information. Since joining DSIR in August 2023, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know DSIR’s program officers and analysts, learn about the exciting work we fund, and speak to leaders in the field to help identify our priorities and plan for our future. I invite you to check out these updates below and visit the NIMH website for more information. Stay tuned for another newsletter from DSIR in May! We look forward to working with you. Sincerely, Patricia A. Areán, Ph.D. Director, NIMH Division of Services and Intervention Research

Plans and priorities

1. Fund cutting edge research to improve access and quality of evidence-based treatments for everyone who is in need.
   Over the next few years, DSIR aims to work together to identify high need areas and release funding opportunities to address those challenges. We want to hear from you about priority research areas, work with you to expand the scientific and mental health workforce, and cultivate your research ideas. I encourage everyone to read the White House Report on Mental Health Research Priorities, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Strategic Plan, and of course the NIMH Strategic Plan for Research.
   
   
2. Collaborate with other National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutes, offices, agencies, foundations, advocacy groups, and professional organizations.
   DSIR aims to share our findings with others as well as hear from end users what research is needed to answer important policy questions. Our division has already cultivated some relationships but plans to go further for a greater impact.

To accomplish 1 and 2, we need to:

3. Expand the workforce within DSIR.
   Our branch chiefs, program officers, and other staff work hard to provide high-quality technical assistance, develop funding opportunities, and participate in important workgroups within NIMH, NIH, and other federal agencies.

4. Improve communications with the field.
   With this newsletter, DSIR aims to consolidate information and better communicate with the field our funding priorities, new opportunities, and highlight the work you are doing and the impact your work is making on the mental health field.
   
   To that end, we plan to work on our division website, identify meetings and conferences where we can hold workshops, and publish our mission in relevant journals. Please reach out with any questions.

Announcements

DSIR recently welcomed Mary Acri, Ph.D., and Victor Lushin, Ph.D., to our Services Research and Clinical Epidemiology Branch (SRCEB), headed by Michael Freed, Ph.D.

DSIR recently welcomed Marcy Burstein, Ph.D., to our Treatment and Prevention Interventions Research Branch (TPIRB), headed by Adam Haim, Ph.D.

Notices of special interest (NOSIs)

What is a NOSI?

DSIR uses NOSIs to communicate a specific topic NIMH is interested in supporting. NOSIs also allow us to assess the field readiness for conducting additional research in priority areas.

Selected NOSIs:

NOT-MH-24-340: Impact of Policy Interventions Aimed at Addressing Social Determinants of Health to Improve Functioning and Well-being for People with Serious Mental Illnesses

This NOSI highlights research priorities on the impact of social and economic policy interventions that address social determinants of health on improvements in access and engagement with mental health treatment, mental health functioning, and quality of life for people with serious mental illnesses, with special attention to understanding the underlying mediators/change mechanisms of those policies on outcomes.

Questions? Contact Jennifer Humensky, Ph.D. 

NOT-MH-24-155: Notice of Extension to PAR-21-130, PAR-21-131, PAR-21-132, PAR-21-133, PAR-21-134, PAR-21-135, PAR-21-136 and PAR-21-137

The purpose of this Notice is to extend the expiration dates for PARs PAR-21-130 through PAR-21-137. Due to the extension, the following application due dates will be added: June 15, 2024, and October 15, 2024.

Questions? Contact NIMHinitiatives@mail.nih.gov.

NOT-MH-24-120: SBIR/STTR High-Priority Areas for Digital Mental Health Innovations

The purpose of this NOSI is to encourage Small Business Concerns to submit Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications that propose to develop, refine, and evaluate digital mental health technologies. Digital health technology includes mobile health (mHealth) (smartphones, wearable sensors, tablets or other devices) and health information technology (internet platforms, and electronic health records) that collect or use biological, social, and behavioral data.

Questions? Contact Adam Haim, Ph.D.

Relevant notices of funding opportunities

Recently announced funding opportunities:

PAR-24-118: Advancing Learning Health Care Research in Outpatient Mental Health Treatment Settings (R34 Clinical Trial Optional)

This funding opportunity solicits exploratory/developmental research applications within the learning health care framework to support adoption, implementation, sustainability, and continuous improvement of evidence-based practices in outpatient mental health and substance use treatment systems. 

Questions? Contact Michael Freed, Ph.D.

RFA-MH-24-105: Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET): Learning Health Care Research to Improve Mental Health Services and Outcomes (P01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to solicit Program Project (P01) applications from scientific hubs to support learning health care research in clinics offering evidence-based Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) to persons in the early stages of psychotic illness. 

Questions? Contact Robert K. Heinssen, Ph.D.

RFA-MH-24-106: Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET) Data Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to solicit Resource-Related Research (U24) applications for an Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET) National Data Coordinating Center (ENDCC). The ENDCC will develop infrastructure to facilitate large-scale, practice-oriented research across clinics offering evidence-based CSC to persons experiencing a first episode of psychosis.

Questions? Contact Robert K. Heinssen, Ph.D.

Selected other funding opportunities:

PAR-23-105: Innovative Pilot Mental Health Services Research Not Involving Clinical Trials (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to encourage innovative pilot research that will inform and support the delivery of high-quality, continuously improving mental health services to benefit the greatest number of individuals with, or at risk for developing, a mental illness.

Questions? Contact Michael Freed, Ph.D.

PAR-23-095: Innovative Mental Health Services Research Not Involving Clinical Trials (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to encourage innovative research that will inform and support the delivery of high-quality, continuously improving mental health services to benefit the greatest number of individuals with, or at risk for developing, a mental illness.

Questions? Contact Michael Freed, Ph.D.

Featured job opportunities

DSIR has active openings for program officers:

• Program Officer – Division of Services and Intervention Research (DSIR), Adult Psychosocial Interventions Research Program (TPIRB Chief: Adam Haim, Ph.D.)
• Social and Behavioral Sciences Administrator/Health Scientist Administrator (Program Officer) – Services Research and Clinical Epidemiology Branch (SRCEB Chief: Michael Freed, Ph.D.)

Please share and spread the word.

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