NIH PAR · NIMH · R21
PAR-25-291: Utilizing Invasive Recording and Stimulating Opportunities in Humans to Advance Neural Circuitry Understanding of Mental Health Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
Reviewed by Dr. Meng ZhaoLast reviewed October 16, 2026Data refreshed October 16, 2026Editorial standards
Reissue of RFA-20-351.The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to encourage applications to pursue invasive neural recording studies focused on mental health-relevant questions. Invasive neural recordings provide an unparalleled window into the human brain to explore the neural circuitry and neural dynamics underlying complex moods, emotions, cognitive functions, and behaviors with high spatial and temporal resolution. Additionally, the ability to stimulate, via the same electrodes, allows for direct causal tests by modulating network dynamics. This funding opportunity aims to target a gap in the scientific knowledge of neural circuit function related to mental health…
- NOFO number
- PAR-25-291
- Type
- PAR
- Activity code
- R21
- Primary institute
- NIMH · National Institute of Mental Health
- Clinical trials
- Optional
- Posted
- Nov 22, 2024
- Opens
- Jan 16, 2025
- Expires
- Jan 8, 2028
PAR-25-291 due dates
4 application due dates remain before the NOFO expires. Dates marked * are NIH standard due dates. Check the related notices below for changes NIH made after posting.
| Application Due Date(s) | Renewal / Resubmission / Revision (as allowed) | AIDS - New/Renewal/Resubmission/Revision, as allowed | Scientific Merit Review | Advisory Council Review | Earliest Start Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 16, 2025 | March 16, 2025 * | Not Applicable | July 2025 | October 2025 | December 2025 |
| June 16, 2025 | July 16, 2025 * | Not Applicable | November 2025 | January 2026 | April 2026 |
| October 16, 2025 | November 16, 2025 * | Not Applicable | March 2026 | May 2026 | July 2026 |
| February 16, 2026 | March 16, 2026 * | Not Applicable | July 2026 | October 2026 | December 2026 |
| June 16, 2026 | July 16, 2026 * | Not Applicable | November 2026 | January 2027 | April 2027 |
| October 16, 2026 | November 16, 2026 * | Not Applicable | March 2027 | May 2027 | July 2027 |
| February 16, 2027 | March 16, 2027 * | Not Applicable | July 2027 | October 2027 | December 2027 |
| June 16, 2027 | July 16, 2027 * | Not Applicable | November 2027 | January 2028 | April 2028 |
| October 16, 2027 | November 16, 2027 * | Not Applicable | March 2028 | May 2028 | July 2028 |
What its predecessor PAR-23-101 funded
PAR-25-291 reissues PAR-23-101. Until awards appear under the new number, its funding history is the best guide to who wins under this program: 2 projects and $896K in FY2022–FY2026.
Projects funded
2
Distinct projects, FY2022–FY2026
New awards
2
Type 1 (new project) award records
NIH funding
$896K
Award dollars under PAR-23-101, FY2022–FY2026
Funding by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Award records | New awards | Funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2022 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| FY2023 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
| FY2024 | 1 | 1 | $193K |
| FY2025 | 2 | 1 | $703K |
| FY2026 | 0 | 0 | $0 |
Institutions with the most funding
- Vanderbilt University$471K · 1 project
- Stanford University$425K · 1 project
Funding institutes
- NIMH$896K · 3
Activity codes funded
- R213 records
Most recent new awards
- Neural Basis of Human Working Memory (opens NIH RePORTER)
Vanderbilt University · 1R21MH139624-01 · NIMH · Notice Apr 8, 2025
$471KR21
- Behavioral and Neuronal Correlates of Human Mood States (opens NIH RePORTER)
Stanford University · 1R21MH134172-01A1 · NIMH · Notice Nov 7, 2023
$193KR21
FY2026 closed on September 30, 2026, but NIH keeps posting that year's awards to RePORTER for several weeks. FY2026 figures reflect records available on October 16, 2026 and may rise slightly at the next refresh.
Participating institutes
2 NIH institutes and offices take applications under PAR-25-291. Contact the program officer at the institute that fits your research before applying.
- NIMH · National Institute of Mental Health
- none
Related notices
Mar 31, 2025 · NOT-OD-24-084
This funding opportunity was updated to align with agency priorities. Carefully reread the full funding opportunity and make any needed adjustments to your application prior to submission.April 4, 2024 - Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25,…
Aug 31, 2022 · NOT-OD-22-198
Implementation Changes for Genomic Data Sharing Plans Included with Applications Due on or after January 25, 2023. See Notice NOT-OD-22-198.
Aug 5, 2022 · NOT-OD-22-189
Implementation Details for the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy. See Notice NOT-OD-22-189.
Notices of Special Interest (NOSIs)
NIH has attached 1 NOSI to PAR-25-291; none are active now. A NOSI flags a topic an institute wants to fund through this NOFO.
Award terms
- Application types allowed
- NewResubmissionRevision The OER Glossary and the How to Apply Application Guide provide details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed for this NOFO.
- Award budget
- The combined budget for direct costs for the two-year project period may not exceed 275,000. No more than 200,000 may be requested in any single year.
- Project period
- The maximum project period is 2 years. NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this NOFO.
- Funds available and number of awards
- The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.
Summarized from the NOFO text; the full NOFO governs eligibility, budget, and review.
Related NOFOs
- Reissue of PAR-23-101.
- Companion NOFOs: PAR-25-290.
Other open NOFOs for R21
- PAR-25-282Mood and Psychosis Symptoms during the Menopause Transition (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)NIMH · next due Oct 16, 2026
- PAR-25-286Neuromodulation/Neurostimulation Device Development for Mental Health Applications (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)NIMH · next due Oct 16, 2026
- RFA-MH-27-125Mechanistic Evaluation of Therapeutic Targets derived from Treatable Traits to Improve CNS Outcomes in People with HIV (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)NIMH · next due Nov 9, 2026
- PA-25-304NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)NIH · next due Oct 16, 2026
- PA-25-306NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Project Grant (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required)NIH · next due Oct 16, 2026
- PAR-25-143Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)NCI · next due Oct 16, 2026
About this page
GotGrant gathers the NOFO, its participation and change notices, and its NOSIs from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, and counts funded projects from NIH RePORTER by the opportunity number each award was made under. Data refreshed October 16, 2026; the NIH Guide is the authoritative source. See our data methodology.