Approaches to Identifying Preteen Suicide Risk and Protective Factors (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Background
The Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), is issuing a grant opportunity titled 'Approaches to Identifying Preteen Suicide Risk and Protective Factors (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)'. The goal of this initiative is to support research designed to develop models of pre-teen suicide that explain risk states transitioning to risk behaviors, identify protective factors, and intervention targets and timing, as well as scalable assessment approaches.

Grant Details
This initiative supports 4-year longitudinal studies that seek to refine protocols for the assessment of pre-teen suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) and associated risk and protective factors. It emphasizes efforts to enhance knowledge of suicide risk among youth from sub-populations at higher risk for STBs or in which suicide death rates have been rising at significant rates.

The research scope may include optimizing existing assessment instruments, developing and validating new or adapted measures, examining the acceptability and utility of new or existing assessment methods, and/or developing and testing methods for characterizing risk trajectories. Awarded R01 projects will be expected to create a Consortium that will work to identify and incorporate common data elements and develop a core assessment battery. This will include optimizing assessment protocols and examining the feasibility, acceptability, psychometric properties, safety, and predictive utility of assessment approaches for use with diverse youth and families.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, state governments, county governments, city or township governments, special district governments, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Federally Recognized), U.S. Territory or Possession entities, independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. Individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Period of Performance
The maximum award project period is 4 years.

Grant Value
NIMH intends to commit a total of $4.4 million in FY 2024 to fund 6 R01 awards and 1 U24 award across this NOFO and the companion U24.