Approaches to Identifying Preteen Suicide Risk and Protective Factors (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA MH 24 320

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 24 320

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Approaches to Identifying Preteen Suicide Risk and Protective Factors (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-MH-24-320; CFDA 93.242) supports research aimed at building stronger, more practical models of suicide risk in preteens. The central focus is on understanding how suicide risk develops before adolescence, how and when risk escalates into observable behaviors such as self-harm or suicide attempts, and what factors can prevent that progression. This is an R01 grant mechanism, meaning it is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects, and it explicitly does not allow clinical trials.

The scientific goal is threefold. First, the initiative seeks studies that can explain "risk states" in preteens and how those states transition into suicide-related behaviors, including self-harm and attempts. In other words, NIH is looking for research that goes beyond broad correlations and instead clarifies pathways and mechanisms: what changes in a child’s emotional, cognitive, social, environmental, or biological functioning signal movement from vulnerability to imminent danger. Second, the opportunity emphasizes identifying protective factors, both proximal (near-term, immediate buffers) and distal (longer-term, developmental or contextual influences), that could realistically be strengthened or cultivated to alter a child’s trajectory away from suicide risk. This includes protective factors that might exist at the individual level (skills, coping, emotion regulation), family level (supportive caregiving, communication), school/community level (connectedness, safety), or broader systems level (access to appropriate services). Third, NIH is asking applicants to translate these insights into actionable prevention logic by identifying intervention targets and optimal timing, along with scalable assessment approaches that can work in real-world settings. The program is not just interested in theoretical models; it wants models and measurement strategies that clinicians, schools, and other systems can use to identify risk and protection, monitor changes over time, and connect assessment results to meaningful outcomes.

A major applied component of the announcement is the push for scalable assessment tools with clinical utility. That points toward approaches that can be deployed broadly and consistently, rather than relying only on intensive, highly specialized research measures. Projects could reasonably fit methods such as longitudinal cohort designs, multimodal risk assessment (for example, combining child and caregiver reports, digital or behavioral indicators, and contextual data), and modeling strategies that help distinguish transient distress from escalating risk states. The emphasis on identifying targets and timing suggests NIH is particularly interested in developmental staging: when certain risks tend to emerge in preteen years, when protective factors are most influential, and when prevention efforts might have the greatest impact.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based institutions and organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicants such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, tribal governments other than federally recognized entities, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the opportunity sets clear limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. In addition, foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not permitted. These restrictions make the scope firmly domestic in terms of applicant organizations and project components.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity from NIH, categorized under health research funding, with an original closing date of November 9, 2023, and a creation date of September 8, 2023. While the listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards, the R01 mechanism generally supports multi-year, investigator-initiated research projects of meaningful scale, consistent with the initiative’s emphasis on model development, identification of protective factors, and creation of clinically useful assessment approaches for preteen suicide risk.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Approaches to Identifying Preteen Suicide Risk and Protective Factors (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" 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 2023-09-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-11-09. (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 RFA MH 24 320

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