Active — next new-application deadline October 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization; renewal, resubmission, and revision applications are due November 5, 2026.Atlas Opportunity Score 70/100
PAR-25-136
NIH/NIMH | Laboratories to Optimize Digital Health (PAR-25-136)
Open NIH/NIMH R01 opportunity supporting digital mental health test beds that pair academic researchers with software developers and established digital platforms. The next new application deadline is October 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM applicant-local time.
FundingApplication budgets are not limited but must reflect actual project needs; maximum project period is four years.
DeadlineOctober 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization for new applications; November 5, 2026 for resubmissions.
Last verifiedOctober 1, 2026
Required next actionConfirm the proposed study uses a well-established digital mental health platform with a sufficient active user base, an empirically supported intervention, a responsive clinical-trial design, required research infrastructure and registrations, and plans for data sharing and participant protection. Submit a compliant new application by October 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
Broad Eligibility
Small businesses and other for-profits, higher education institutions, nonprofits, governments, independent school districts, tribal entities, and other listed organizations may apply. Required registrations include SAM/UEI, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. No cost sharing is required.
Atlas Analysis
NIMH's Laboratories to Optimize Digital Health opportunity supports clinical trials that use well-established digital mental health platforms to test strategies for optimizing evidence-based interventions and mental health service delivery. The platform must have a sufficient existing user base for rapid, adequately powered research, and applications should capitalize on the platform's unique digital capabilities rather than simply translate an in-person treatment. The next new-application due date is October 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of NIH, is accepting R01 applications under PAR-25-136, Laboratories to Optimize Digital Health. The program supports digital mental health test beds that pair academic researchers with software developers and well-established digital platforms to optimize existing evidence-based digital health interventions and conduct adequately powered clinical trials.
Next new-application deadline: October 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. The next resubmission deadline is November 5, 2026 at 5:00 PM applicant-local time. Assistance Listing: 93.242.
Funding: Application budgets are not limited but must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project. The maximum project period is four years. Cost sharing is not required.
Eligibility: Eligible applicants include U.S. small businesses and other for-profit organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits, state and local governments, independent school districts, tribal entities, and other listed organization types. Applicants must maintain required SAM/UEI, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons registrations.
Program requirements: Applicants must leverage a well-established digital mental health platform and existing user base sufficient for powered studies. NIH specifies at least 1,000 active users and emphasizes meaningful partnerships between software developers and academic researchers. Responsive work may include care transitions, large health systems, real-time data, wireless devices, interoperability, serious mental illness, suicide-related outcomes, and health-disparity or vulnerable-population applications, provided the central work remains digital mental health optimization and clinical evaluation.
Atlas fit: Moderate and partner-oriented. The Nonagon N9+ may be relevant as a complementary remote physical examination platform supplying guided examinations, vitals, or telehealth-enabled clinical encounter data when those capabilities materially support the funded mental health objective. It should not be positioned as the required digital mental health intervention itself. Dr. Miltie is technically within an eligible for-profit applicant class, but a direct application should not advance unless the company can independently verify the required established digital mental health platform/user base, evidence-based intervention, clinical-trial capacity, and research partnership. A partner-led or technology-subcontract structure with an established digital mental health platform and academic clinical research team is the stronger pathway.
From Funding to Implementation · School Health Solution
Turn school-health funding into a clinically capable care model.
Dr. Miltie N9+ can support clinician-directed remote exams in school settings, helping care teams move beyond video-only encounters when a funded program calls for stronger pediatric access.
Source verificationOfficial government source · grants.nih.govAtlas last verified this record October 1, 2026. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗
