Cellular and Molecular Biology of Complex Brain Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Background
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to encourage research on high confidence risk factors associated with complex brain disorders. These disorders include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety disorders, tic disorders, and autism. They impose significant burdens on care and productivity in the United States.

The goal of this grant is to advance understanding of the biology underlying these disorders by focusing on intracellular, transcellular, and circuit substrates of neural function. Recent advancements in identifying genetic variants associated with mental illnesses and novel technologies for probing brain biology provide a unique opportunity for researchers to explore these complex interactions.

Grant Details
This NOFO encourages studies that are either hypothesis-generating or hypothesis-testing in design. Research may utilize in vivo, in situ, or in vitro experimental paradigms including model organisms or human cell-based assays. Studies should aim to elucidate the neurobiological impacts of individual or combined risk factors rather than modeling disorders directly.

The resulting findings should be disseminated to enrich data resources like Gene Ontology and FAIR Data Informatics. The R21 activity code is intended for early-stage exploratory approaches or proof-of-concept studies where preliminary data is limited. Specific research objectives include:
- Analyzing genes associated with disease risk;
- Investigating environmental risk factors;
- Optimizing cell-based experimental systems;
- Developing new biological tools;
- Incorporating computational approaches for data mapping.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include higher education institutions (public and private), nonprofits, for-profit organizations (including small businesses), local governments, state governments, tribal governments, federal agencies, and foreign organizations. Individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Period of Performance
The total project period may not exceed 2 years.

Grant Value
The combined budget for direct costs may not exceed $275,000 over the two-year project period, with no more than $200,000 requested in any single year.