Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 210
The Advanced Laboratories for Accelerating the Reach and Impact of Treatments for Youth and Adults with Mental Illness (ALACRITY) Research Centers program is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity that supports P50 research centers focused on speeding up how effective mental health treatments and service improvements are developed, tested, and put into real-world practice. The core idea is to fund center-based, team-science efforts that bring together expertise from clinical research and mental health services research with fields like behavioral and social science, health information and communications technology, health systems engineering, and decision science. A key expectation is that these teams work in close partnership with stakeholders who live with mental illness or support someone who does, along with clinicians, payers, and other participants in the mental health care system. The program is oriented toward practical, high-impact studies that can change routine clinical care and help drive broader transformation in how mental health services are delivered across the United States.
The FOA emphasizes rapid development, testing, and refinement of novel and integrative approaches in three connected areas. First, it targets optimizing the effectiveness of therapeutic or preventive interventions for mental disorders within clearly defined populations, meaning applicants should specify who the intervention is intended to help and what outcomes matter most. Second, it focuses on organizing and delivering those optimized services in real-world treatment settings rather than idealized research environments, which points toward implementation in typical clinics, community mental health programs, schools, primary care settings, or other everyday care contexts. Third, it explicitly calls for continuous improvement of the quality, impact, and durability of both interventions and service delivery within diverse care systems, signaling that projects should not stop at a one-time test but should build learning-oriented methods that can sustain gains over time and across different settings and communities.
The ALACRITY Centers program is designed to create synergy across multiple parts of the mental health research ecosystem. In practice, that means the centers are expected to connect advances in clinical research (new or improved interventions), transformative health care technologies (such as digital tools, decision supports, measurement systems, telehealth approaches, or workflows enabled by health IT), and modern information science (data systems, analytics, pragmatic measurement, feedback loops), while also aligning with emerging federal and state mechanisms for structuring and financing mental health care. The overall direction is strongly translational and systems-focused: not just proving something can work, but building evidence and practical know-how for making it work reliably at scale, for the people and settings that need it.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Instrument: Grant) with the activity category listed as Health and the CFDA number 93.242. The opportunity number is PAR-24-210, and the application due date listed is May 18, 2026. The award ceiling shown is $1,500,000, indicating the maximum award amount per the posted opportunity details. The FOA is also labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," which typically means an application may propose a clinical trial if appropriate, but it is not required; applicants can pursue other rigorous study designs that fit the center's goals, including effectiveness, implementation, services delivery, or hybrid approaches, depending on what the research questions demand.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township, and 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 that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible categories such as faith-based or community-based organizations and a range of minority-serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), as well as regional organizations and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it makes clear that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, although foreign components may be allowed under NIH policy definitions (as outlined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement), which can matter for certain collaborations or specialized contributions while keeping the applicant organization U.S.-based.
Taken together, the ALACRITY FOA is aimed at building robust, multidisciplinary research centers that can shorten the time between research findings and better mental health care, improve how interventions perform in everyday practice, and develop systems that keep improving over time. Competitive applications will typically align with the program's practical emphasis: clearly defined populations, real-world service settings, stakeholder partnership, and methods that support ongoing learning and sustained impact across diverse care systems.Apply for PAR 24 210
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advanced Laboratories for Accelerating the Reach and Impact of Treatments for Youth and Adults with Mental Illness (ALACRITY) Research Centers (P50 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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 2023-06-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-05-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
ALACRITY Research Centers (PAR-24-210) - Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is the ALACRITY Research Centers program?
The Advanced Laboratories for Accelerating the Reach and Impact of Treatments for Youth and Adults with Mental Illness (ALACRITY) Research Centers program is an NIH funding opportunity that supports P50 research centers focused on speeding up how effective mental health treatments and service improvements are developed, tested, and put into real-world practice.
2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is to shorten the time between research findings and better routine mental health care by supporting center-based, team-science efforts that produce practical, high-impact evidence and know-how for making interventions and service improvements work reliably at scale across the United States.
3) What NIH activity mechanism does this program use?
This opportunity supports P50 research centers (center-based grants) under the NIH funding structure.
4) What is the opportunity number for this FOA?
The opportunity number is PAR-24-210.
5) When is the application due?
The listed application due date is May 18, 2026.
6) What is the maximum award amount?
The posted award ceiling is $1,500,000 (the maximum award amount shown in the opportunity details).
7) What is the funding instrument and category?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Instrument: Grant). The activity category is listed as Health.
8) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 93.242.
9) What kinds of projects is the FOA trying to support?
The FOA supports multidisciplinary, translational, systems-focused research that improves mental health interventions and the way those interventions are delivered in everyday care settings, with an emphasis on rapid development, testing, refinement, and sustained improvement over time.
10) What does "team science" mean in the context of ALACRITY centers?
In this program, team science refers to center-based collaboration that brings together clinical research and mental health services research with additional disciplines such as behavioral and social science, health information and communications technology, health systems engineering, and decision science.
11) Who is the program intended to benefit?
The program focuses on youth and adults with mental illness, with projects expected to define the specific population(s) the intervention or service improvement is designed to help and clarify the outcomes that matter most for that population.
12) What are the three connected areas the FOA emphasizes?
The FOA emphasizes rapid development, testing, and refinement of novel and integrative approaches across three linked areas:
- Optimizing the effectiveness of therapeutic or preventive interventions for mental disorders within clearly defined populations and outcomes.
- Organizing and delivering those optimized services in real-world treatment settings (not idealized research environments).
- Continuously improving the quality, impact, and durability of both interventions and service delivery within diverse care systems.
13) What does "clearly defined populations" mean for an application?
It means applicants are expected to specify who the intervention is intended to help (the target group) and identify the outcomes that matter most for that group, rather than proposing a broad or unspecified population.
14) What kinds of real-world settings does the FOA point to?
The FOA points toward implementation in typical care contexts such as routine clinics, community mental health programs, schools, primary care settings, and other everyday service environments where mental health care is actually delivered.
15) What does "continuous improvement" mean in this FOA?
It signals that projects should go beyond a single test and incorporate learning-oriented methods that can sustain gains over time and support improvement across different settings and communities, increasing durability and long-term impact.
16) What types of expertise are expected within an ALACRITY center?
The FOA expects centers to integrate expertise from clinical research and mental health services research with complementary fields such as behavioral and social science, health IT and communications technology, health systems engineering, and decision science.
17) How important is stakeholder partnership for these centers?
Stakeholder partnership is a key expectation. Teams are expected to work in close partnership with people who live with mental illness or support someone who does, as well as clinicians, payers, and other participants in the mental health care system.
18) Why does the FOA emphasize payers and health system stakeholders?
The FOA is oriented toward practical implementation and broader transformation of mental health services, which often requires alignment with real-world care systems and financing structures. It explicitly notes alignment with emerging federal and state mechanisms for structuring and financing mental health care.
19) What does it mean that the program is "translational and systems-focused"?
It means the program is not only about showing that an intervention can work under research conditions, but also about building evidence and practical methods to make it work reliably in routine practice, at scale, in the populations and settings that need it.
20) What kinds of technologies or tools might be relevant to an ALACRITY center?
The FOA describes "transformative health care technologies" that may be connected to center activities, including digital tools, decision supports, measurement systems, telehealth approaches, and workflows enabled by health information technology.
21) How does information science fit into the ALACRITY model?
The FOA expects centers to connect modern information science to clinical and services research, including data systems, analytics, pragmatic measurement approaches, and feedback loops that support learning and continuous improvement.
22) Are clinical trials required?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning an application may propose a clinical trial if appropriate, but a clinical trial is not required.
23) If clinical trials are optional, what other study designs are consistent with the FOA?
Based on the FOA description, centers may pursue other rigorous designs that fit the goals of effectiveness, implementation, services delivery, or hybrid approaches, depending on the research questions and the center's strategy.
24) What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many U.S.-based organizations and government entities, including:
- State, county, city or township, and 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/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education)
- For-profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
25) Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights faith-based or community-based organizations among additional eligible categories.
26) Are minority-serving institutions specifically included in eligibility?
Yes. The FOA highlights a range of minority-serving institutions, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs).
27) Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions among the eligible categories.
28) Can non-U.S. organizations apply as the applicant?
No. The FOA states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply.
29) Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
No. The FOA states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
30) Are foreign components allowed in any way?
The FOA indicates that foreign components may be allowed under NIH policy definitions (as outlined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement). This can matter for certain collaborations or specialized contributions while keeping the applicant organization U.S.-based.
31) What kinds of outcomes or impacts does NIH appear to be seeking from ALACRITY centers?
Based on the FOA description, NIH is seeking outcomes such as improved performance of mental health interventions in everyday practice, improved organization and delivery of services in real-world systems, and durable, sustained gains supported by continuous improvement methods across diverse settings and communities.
32) What makes an application a strong fit based on the FOA description?
The FOA description suggests strong alignment when an application emphasizes: clearly defined populations and outcomes, implementation in real-world service settings, close stakeholder partnership (including people with lived experience and key system partners), and methods that enable ongoing learning and sustained impact across diverse care systems.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Health
Next opportunity: A Consortium for Gut-Brain Communication in Parkinsons Disease (U24 Clinical Trial not allowed)
Previous opportunity: Specialized Centers for Research on Health Disparities in Uterine Leiomyoma (SCHDUL) (P50 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PAR 24 210
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 24 210) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Informatics Tools for the Pangenome (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA HG 23 026 Funding Number: RFA HG 23 026 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Simultaneous and Synergistic Multi-Target Validation for Alzheimers Disease-Related Dementias (R61/R33 Clinical Trial not allowed) Apply for PAR 23 195 Funding Number: PAR 23 195 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $499,000 |
| Center for ELSI Resources and Analysis (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA HG 23 027 Funding Number: RFA HG 23 027 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Maximizing the Scientific Value of Data Generated by the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32) Apply for RFA OD 23 019 Funding Number: RFA OD 23 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Maximizing the Scientific Value of Data Generated by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program: Dissertation Grant (R36) Apply for RFA OD 23 020 Funding Number: RFA OD 23 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NEI Translational Research Program for Therapeutics (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 200 Funding Number: PAR 23 200 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| NEI Translational Research Program for Therapeutics (R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 205 Funding Number: PAR 23 205 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Optimization of Genome Editing Therapeutics for Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias (ADRD) (U01 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 24 009 Funding Number: RFA NS 24 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $650,000 |
| Analysis of data in the COVID-19 Neuro Databank-Biobank (R03 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 24 025 Funding Number: RFA NS 24 025 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| HIV/AIDS Scholars Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models Program (K01 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 225 Funding Number: PAR 23 225 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Early Stage Investigator HIV/AIDS Research Using Nonhuman Primate (NHP) Models (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 215 Funding Number: PAR 23 215 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 23 189 Funding Number: PA 23 189 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Advancing Development of Diagnostics for Congenital and Adult Acquired Syphilis (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AI 23 039 Funding Number: RFA AI 23 039 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| Schizophrenia and related disorders during mid- to late-life (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 24 023 Funding Number: PAR 24 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Precision HIV Health: Integrating Data and Implementation Science to Accelerate HIV Prevention and Treatment (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 24 100 Funding Number: RFA MH 24 100 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Youth Violence Prevention Interventions (R01 - Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA MD 24 002 Funding Number: RFA MD 24 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Schizophrenia and related disorders during mid- to late-life (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 24 026 Funding Number: PAR 24 026 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Data Analysis and Coordination Center for the PsychENCODE Consortium (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 234 Funding Number: PAR 23 234 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cellular and Molecular Biology of Complex Brain Disorders (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 24 024 Funding Number: PAR 24 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cellular and Molecular Biology of Complex Brain Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 24 025 Funding Number: PAR 24 025 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PAR 24 210", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.