Research to Support the Reduction and Elimination of Mental Health Disparities (Admin Supp) | PA 17 165

Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 17 165

Research to Support the Reduction and Elimination of Mental Health Disparities (Admin Supp) (Funding Opportunity Number PA 17-165) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary grant opportunity, administered through the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), that provides administrative supplement funding to currently active NIMH grants. In practical terms, this program is not designed for brand-new standalone projects. Instead, it is meant to add targeted, disparities-focused aims and activities to an existing, funded NIMH award, as long as the proposed supplement work stays within the scientific scope of that parent grant. The overarching goal is to accelerate research that directly contributes to reducing and ultimately eliminating mental health disparities in the United States, with a specific emphasis on disparities linked to race and ethnicity, geography, and socioeconomic status.

The scientific purpose of the supplements is twofold. First, the initiative seeks research that helps identify and explain mechanisms that underlie disparities or differences in mental health status across populations. That can include studying risk and protective factors, social and environmental drivers, structural barriers, and other determinants that may contribute to unequal mental health outcomes. Second, it encourages work that improves how mental health interventions are delivered so that they are more effective, accessible, and appropriately implemented for diverse groups. That delivery focus can involve questions of reach, uptake, engagement, fidelity, acceptability, and real-world effectiveness in communities that historically experience poorer access, lower-quality care, or worse outcomes.

This funding opportunity explicitly frames its priorities around NIMH Strategic Objectives, meaning applicants are expected to connect their supplement aims to NIMH’s broader research mission while maintaining a clear, practical link to disparity reduction. Because these are administrative supplements, the work is expected to build directly off the existing infrastructure, data streams, partnerships, or ongoing studies supported by the parent grant. The supplement mechanism is meant to speed up progress by allowing investigators to extend or adapt what they are already doing rather than starting from scratch.

Eligibility is broad across many U.S.-based organizational types, reflecting an intent to support research in diverse settings and through varied institutional partners. Eligible applicants listed include state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments). The opportunity also allows public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (when not institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, and other entities that meet NIH eligibility rules and have an active NIMH parent award suitable for supplementation.

The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicant categories that signal strong interest in community- and minority-serving institutions and organizations. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. This emphasis aligns with the program’s focus on disparities by encouraging applications from or in partnership with organizations that are closely connected to populations most affected by mental health inequities.

At the same time, the program sets clear restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply under this opportunity, and foreign components (as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. The intent is to keep the research focus and operational footprint within the United States, consistent with the program’s disparity targets and population focus.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized under CFDA 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants), uses the grant funding instrument, and sits in the health activity category. The source record indicates an original closing date of 2018-01-23 and a creation date of 2017-02-13. An award ceiling is not specified in the provided source data, and the expected number of awards is also not listed, which is typical for supplement announcements where funding depends on parent grant eligibility, the availability of funds, and program priorities at the time of review.

Overall, PA 17-165 is best understood as a targeted add-on funding pathway for existing NIMH-funded investigators and their institutions to deepen and sharpen the disparities impact of ongoing mental health research. It supports supplements that either unpack the causes of unequal mental health outcomes or improve the real-world delivery of interventions so that effective mental health care and prevention approaches can be implemented more equitably across communities defined by race and ethnicity, place, and socioeconomic conditions in the United States.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research to Support the Reduction and Elimination of Mental Health Disparities (Admin Supp)" 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 2017-02-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-01-23. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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.

Apply for PA 17 165

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: