Mentoring Networks for Mental Health Research Education

"All proposed networks should provide significant new opportunities and should comprise efforts substantially beyond ongoing mentoring, networking, or research education within academic programs, institutions, or pre-existing networks, or educational collaborations among institutions. Participants in proposed mentoring networks are limited to graduate/medical students, medical residents, postdoctoral scholars, and/or early-career faculty. Proposed networks are expected to enhance the participants' professional development and to foster their career trajectory towards independent mental health research."

"While there is no universally accepted definition of scientific mentoring, it is widely recognized as an important element for career development. Recommendations made by National Advisory Mental Health Council Workgroups on Research Training and Neurodevelopment encourage the NIMH to support programs that provide state-of-the-art, pedagogical opportunities for individuals during the formative stages of their careers. The recommendations of the Workgroup on Research Training also acknowledge the important role that mentors play in the career development of scientists."

The R25 program announcement has been re-issued to support educational activities that enhance training of a workforce for biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research. The concept focuses specifically on mentoring activities, particularly mentoring networks that may be national or regional. Proposed networks must provide significant new opportunities beyond existing mentoring, networking, research education, or institutional collaborations. Participants are limited to graduate/medical students, medical residents, postdoctoral scholars, and early-career faculty. Programs must enhance professional development, foster trajectories toward independent mental health research, and contribute to developing a skilled cadre of investigators aligned with NIMH Strategic Plan objectives. Mentoring is recognized as essential for career development.

Read at National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)