Fiscal Year 2025 Interim Funding Strategy for Research Grants

The mission of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure. NIMH’s work toward this mission is guided by our Strategic Plan for Research. NIMH’s funding priorities are also highlighted in the President’s Budget Request each fiscal year (FY).

NIH is currently operating under a continuing resolution (CR) , which continues government operations at the FY 2024 level. Until the FY 2025 appropriation is finalized, NIMH will issue non-competing continuation research awards at a level below the amount indicated on the most recent Notice of Award (generally up to 85% of the previously committed level). Final adjustments to awarded levels and out-year committed funding levels will be considered after FY 2025 appropriations are enacted, but NIMH expects institutions to monitor their expenditures carefully during this CR period.

NIMH continues to apply NIH cost management guidelines when making competing research project grant awards. Although funding decisions are generally made in priority score or percentile order, final funding decisions are based on alignment with the NIMH Strategic Plan for Research, considerations of program balance, representation of diverse perspectives, availability of funds, and recommendations from the National Advisory Mental Health Council.  NIMH also supports the Next Generation Researchers Initiative  and will prioritize funding for early-stage investigators and will consider competitive researchers at risk of losing NIH funding.  

As in prior fiscal years, inflationary increases for future year commitments are not provided for all competing and non-competing research grant awards.

NIMH still expects to be able to fund most of the competing research project grant applications that have an impact score up through the 10th percentile.  

Pending a final budget, NIMH expects to fund many applications under the 20th percentile and some applications up to the 25th percentile for early-stage investigators.

This funding strategy will be updated when FY 2025 appropriations are enacted, and final funding policies are determined.