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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this NIH funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity is titled "Approaches to Identifying Preteen Suicide Risk and Protective Factors (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-MH-24-320.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 93.242.

What type of grant mechanism is this?

This opportunity uses the R01 grant mechanism, which is intended for substantial, hypothesis-driven research projects.

Are clinical trials allowed under this R01?

No. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this opportunity ("R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed").

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to support research that builds stronger, more practical models of suicide risk in preteens, including how 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.

What age group does the program focus on?

The central focus is on preteens, with an emphasis on understanding suicide risk development before adolescence.

What kinds of outcomes or behaviors are included under "suicide-related behaviors" in this announcement?

The announcement specifically references observable behaviors such as self-harm and suicide attempts as examples of suicide-related behaviors of interest.

What are the three main scientific goals described in the opportunity?

The scientific goal is described as threefold: (1) explain risk states in preteens and how those states transition into suicide-related behaviors (including self-harm and attempts), (2) identify protective factors (both proximal and distal) that could be strengthened or cultivated to reduce risk progression, and (3) translate findings into actionable prevention logic by identifying intervention targets, optimal timing, and scalable assessment approaches suitable for real-world settings.

What does NIH mean by studying "risk states" in preteens?

Based on the opportunity description, "risk states" refers to conditions or patterns in a child's emotional, cognitive, social, environmental, or biological functioning that indicate movement from vulnerability toward imminent danger, and how those states may transition into observable suicide-related behaviors.

Does this opportunity prioritize mechanisms and pathways over broad correlations?

Yes. The description emphasizes research that goes beyond broad correlations and instead clarifies pathways and mechanisms that explain how risk develops and escalates.

What types of domains can be considered when identifying signals of escalating risk?

The opportunity notes emotional, cognitive, social, environmental, and biological functioning as relevant domains for understanding changes that may signal progression from vulnerability to imminent danger.

What kinds of protective factors is NIH interested in?

NIH is interested in both proximal (near-term, immediate buffers) and distal (longer-term, developmental or contextual influences) protective factors that could realistically be strengthened or cultivated to alter a child's trajectory away from suicide risk.

At what levels can protective factors be studied in this program?

The opportunity describes protective factors across multiple levels, including the individual level (e.g., skills, coping, emotion regulation), family level (e.g., supportive caregiving, communication), school/community level (e.g., connectedness, safety), and broader systems level (e.g., access to appropriate services).

Is the program interested in identifying intervention targets and when to intervene?

Yes. The announcement asks applicants to translate insights into actionable prevention logic by identifying intervention targets and optimal timing.

What does "optimal timing" refer to in the context of this funding opportunity?

Based on the description, optimal timing refers to developmental staging in preteen years, including when certain risks tend to emerge, when protective factors are most influential, and when prevention efforts might have the greatest impact.

Is the program interested in tools that can be used outside specialized research settings?

Yes. A major applied component is the push for scalable assessment tools with clinical utility, meaning approaches that can be deployed broadly and consistently in real-world settings rather than relying only on intensive, highly specialized research measures.

What is meant by "scalable assessment tools with clinical utility" in this announcement?

The opportunity highlights assessment approaches that can be used by clinicians, schools, and other systems to identify risk and protective factors, monitor changes over time, and connect assessment results to meaningful outcomes, with an emphasis on being broadly deployable and consistent across settings.

What research designs or methods are suggested as potentially fitting this opportunity?

The description indicates that projects could reasonably fit approaches such as longitudinal cohort designs, multimodal risk assessment (e.g., combining child and caregiver reports, digital or behavioral indicators, and contextual data), and modeling strategies that distinguish transient distress from escalating risk states.

Is longitudinal research explicitly mentioned as relevant?

Yes. The opportunity notes that longitudinal cohort designs could reasonably fit the aims described.

What does "multimodal risk assessment" mean in the context of this opportunity?

As described, multimodal risk assessment can include combining child and caregiver reports, digital or behavioral indicators, and contextual data to better characterize risk and protection.

Does the opportunity emphasize distinguishing temporary distress from escalating risk?

Yes. The description mentions modeling strategies that help distinguish transient distress from escalating risk states.

Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?

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.

Are certain types of institutions explicitly highlighted as eligible?

Yes. The announcement 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.

Can non-U.S. (foreign) organizations apply?

No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.

Can a U.S. organization include a non-domestic component in the project?

No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible under this opportunity.

Are foreign components permitted under NIH policy for this announcement?

No. Foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not permitted.

What federal agency is offering this discretionary grant opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is described as a discretionary grant opportunity categorized under health research funding.

What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?

The original closing date listed is November 9, 2023.

What is the creation date listed for this opportunity?

The creation date listed is September 8, 2023.

Does the listing provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?

No. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or an expected number of awards.

What general scale of project does the R01 mechanism suggest for this opportunity?

While the listing does not provide specific dollar amounts, it notes that the R01 mechanism generally supports multi-year, investigator-initiated research projects of meaningful scale, aligned with the initiative's emphasis on model development, identification of protective factors, and creation of clinically useful assessment approaches for preteen suicide risk.