Advancing Real-World Effectiveness Evidence for Rapid-Acting Psychotropic Interventional Drugs (RAPIDs)

Source-based overview

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support the development of a research network to study rapid-acting psychotropic interventional drugs (RAPIDs), such as ketamine, esketamine, psilocybin, and other emerging treatments for serious mental illnesses. Preliminary studies suggest that RAPIDs can produce clinically meaningful improvements in mental health outcomes, in some cases following a single dose. However, important questions remain regarding their effectiveness, safety, durability of benefit, and implementation in routine clinical practice. As these interventions move toward broader use, rigorous real-world evidence is needed to identify how RAPIDs can be delivered safely, effectively, and sustainably across diverse patients, providers, and health care settings. The primary goal of this NOFO is to generate actionable evidence on the clinical effectiveness, safety, and implementation of RAPIDs. The resulting evidence from this study will help determine how RAPIDs can be safely and effectively integrated into clinical care and may inform future approaches to health care delivery. The official record contains the controlling eligibility, budget, attachment and submission requirements for opportunity RFA-MH-27-150.

Eligibility

Eligible applicant types listed by the agency: State governments; Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Special district governments; Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments); City or township governments; Private institutions of higher education; Public and State controlled institutions of higher education; For profit organizations other than small businesses; Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized); Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification); County governments; Independent school districts; Small businesses; Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education. Applicants must also satisfy every programme-specific condition in the official notice.

Funding and benefits

Estimated programme funding: USD 20,000,000

Expected number of awards: 3

Themes and supported activities

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support the development of a research network to study rapid-acting psychotropic interventional drugs (RAPIDs), such as ketamine, esketamine, psilocybin, and other emerging treatments for serious mental illnesses. Preliminary studies suggest that RAPIDs can produce clinically meaningful improvements in mental health outcomes, in some cases following a single dose. However, important questions remain regarding their effectiveness, safety, durability of benefit, and implementation in routine clinical practice. As these interventions move toward broader use, rigorous real-world evidence is needed to identify how RAPIDs can be delivered safely, effectively, and sustainably across diverse patients, providers, and health care settings. The primary goal of this NOFO is to generate actionable evidence on the clinical effectiveness, safety, and implementation of RAPIDs. The resulting evidence from this study will help determine how RAPIDs can be safely and effectively integrated into clinical care and may inform future approaches to health care delivery.

Opportunity number: RFA-MH-27-150

Deadline and timeline

Forecast notice: deadline to be announced: Forecast notice: deadline to be announced.

Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.

How to apply

Open the official Grants.gov record, review the full notice and attachments, and use the application package or agency route stated there.

Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.