Neuroscience Capacity Accelerator For Mental Health (NCAMH) 2026

Neuroscience Capacity Accelerator For Mental Health (NCAMH) 2026 is sponsored by International Brain Research Organization (IBRO). This program aims to enhance research related to mental health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, directly supporting IBRO's commitment to equitable access to neuroscience resources and development in disadvantaged regions.

Neuroscience Capacity Accelerator for Mental Health Research Neuroscience Capacity Accelerator For Mental Health (NCAMH) Join the NCAMH Collaboration Hub!

NCAMH Videos and Articles Watch the NCAMH Informational Webinar This program aims to enhance neuroscience research related to mental health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), with a focus on building research capacity and accelerating the potential for impactful research programs. Applications for this program are currently closed.

Are you interested in participating in a unique and impactful career opportunity to establish a research collaboration with a focus on mental health?

We invite you to apply to the Neuroscience Capacity Accelerator for Mental Health (NCAMH), an innovative program dedicated to enhancing neuroscience research capacity and fostering transformative collaborations in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) , with a focus on driving progress in understanding and addressing anxiety, depression and psychosis.

NCAMH Informational Webinar IBRO held the NCAMH Informational Webinar on 11 February 2026. The session covers the program’s goals, eligibility and key dates, plus practical insights from expert speakers to help you build a strong, competitive proposal. W atch the webinar recording HERE .

Who can get involved in the NCAMH program? Whether you are part of an existing collaboration or seeking new opportunities to expand your research and career trajectory, the NCAMH program offers a unique opportunity to deepen our understanding of anxiety, depression and psychosis * .

Designed specifically for researchers located in or affiliated with LMIC s , the program supports groups of local or international partners working on collaborative projects in their formative stages. While project leaders must be based in an LMIC, collaborating partners can be located anywhere in the world.

Collaborations may involve combining local neuroscience expertise with insights from diverse, multidisciplinary partners, such as other neuroscientists, patient advocacy groups, healthcare practitioners, and educators.

*We define anxiety, depression, and psychosis in their broadest sense, encompassing all types of anxiety and depressive disorders (including obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder) and all forms of psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia, postpartum psychosis, and bipolar disorder). What is the program about?

NCAMH provides more than just funding – it also offers an opportunity to enhance your research expertise and build capacity for impactful collaborations.

Projects supported by the program may aim to widen networks beyond the usual circles, engage partners with complementing expertise from diverse scientific disciplines, develop or implement plans to collaborate with Lived Experience (LE) experts or generate pilot data – all with the goal of preparing competitive and successful grant proposals for future projects.

Proposals should focus on furthering our broader understanding of anxiety, depression and psychosis, and/or explore innovative opportunities for early intervention. As a capacity-building initiative, the NCAMH program also offers a professional development program for awardees.

Over a 9 month period, participants will benefit from a range of activities, including in-person exchanges, virtual workshops and interactive webinars to support their growth as researchers and collaborators.

Whether you are affiliated with an academic institution, a research institute, a not-for-profit organization, or a non-academic healthcare organization, NCAMH is designed to support project teams in preparing successful future grant proposals. Receive up to USD $60,000 in funding, and more importantly, develop the skills and network necessary for your personal and professional growth.

The grant will support you as you lay the foundation for long-lasting, impactful collaborations. Watch the highlights of the 2025 Capacity Building Seminar ! [This program] not only allowed us to collaborate with outstanding researchers but also strengthened our internal logistics and research protocols.

It provided a boost to our leadership and organizational processes, enabling us to operate at a higher level of efficiency. Laura V.

Sánchez-Vincitore, NCAMH 2024 Grantee Commissioned by Wellcome , the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO) is delivering the Neuroscience Capacity Accelerator for Mental Health (NCAMH), which aims to accelerate the development of impactful neuroscience research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) by strengthening local capacities through targeted training and fostering collaborative research projects.

Our goal is to leverage neuroscience to drive progress in both basic and translational research on anxiety, depression and psychosis * . This call seeks to fund projects that enhance our understanding of these conditions and/or identify new approaches for predicting, stratifying, and intervening as early as possible. Each selected project will be supported with up to USD $60,000 in funding.

Please note that salary and other overhead expenses are not eligible for funding under this grant. *We define anxiety, depression, and psychosis in their broadest sense, encompassing all types of anxiety and depressive disorders (including obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder) and all forms of psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia, postpartum psychosis, and bipolar disorder). Who is eligible to apply?

This program is open to researchers and clinicians with existing collaborations or those seeking new opportunities to expand their research with a small group of partners (typically 2-3 collaborators in total). Collaborations may be international or domestic. Project collaborators must be from different institutions.

Collaborators from the same institution, even if they belong to different departments, do not meet this requirement. Applicants can be employed by higher education institutions, research institutes, non-academic healthcare organisations, or not-for-profit organizations. Individuals who have previously received a NCAMH grant (or previously served as a project collaborator) are not eligible to apply.

Project leaders must be based in and affiliated with an institution in a LMIC and have the experience and support structures necessary to drive and lead a collaborative research project. Project leaders must hold independent investigator status at the LMIC institution, meaning they are eligible to serve as a Principal Investigator (PI) on independent research grants.

They do not need to currently hold a grant, but their institutional role must allow them to apply for and manage external funding as the lead researcher. We understand that job titles may vary according to regional context. Project collaborators are not required to be based in or affiliated with a LMIC .

Project collaborators must hold independent investigator status if joining the project in the capacity of a researcher. Project collaborators must bring complementary skills and resources essential to the delivery of the project. Project proposal specifications Project proposals should: Start from September 2026 and be for a duration of 9 months.

Focus on advancing knowledge in neuroscience with relevance to furthering our understanding of the development and/or resolution of anxiety, depression and psychosis as broadly defined categorizations, or exploring new opportunities for early interventions in these conditions. Demonstrate the potential for long-term scientific collaboration, with a clear plan for developing future research proposals.

Address ethical considerations in both study design and uptake (if applicable).

Teams conducting research projects involving human participants and collecting data on anxiety and/or depression must use at least one of the following recommended measures , relevant to their research question: Patient Health Questionnaire PHQ-9 (adults – depression) General Anxiety Disorder questionnaire GAD-7 (adults – anxiety) Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale RCADS-25 (children and adolescents – depression and anxiety) World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule WHODAS-12 (adults – impact on functioning) Funding may be used for the following research-related expenses: Equipment purchase, maintenance, and repair Materials and consumables Hardware, software, data storage, and analysis tools Lived Experience advisors Travel and subsistence costs for NCAMH project partners * Conference participation and training Attendance at a conference directly relevant to the proposed project* Registration fees, travel and accommodation for a training course directly relevant to the proposed project Open-access publication fees Costs for public engagement activities related to the research project The following costs are not eligible for funding: Salaries, stipends, or institutional overheads Costs unrelated to the proposed research activities Insufficiently specified expenses * Note: Travel and accommodation costs for the NCAMH project leading partners attending the NCAMH Capacity Building Seminar that is to take place in person will be covered separately by the NCAMH program.

These costs should not be included in your budget request. Lived experience involvement We strongly advocate for the meaningful involvement of LE experts in mental health research. Historically excluded, LE perspectives are vital and their long-term engagement in research projects ensures improved applicability, relevance and acceptability of findings to the end users.

Grant applicants are encouraged to consider how the inclusion of LE perspectives could enhance their projects on anxiety, depression, or psychosis. However, proposals are not required to include an engagement plan or practical LE component. Capacity building in LE involvement will be facilitated after grants are awarded.

Professional development program A dedicated NCAMH professional development program offers selected recipients a unique opportunity for career advancement. Throughout the grant period, awardees will engage in a dynamic array of activities designed to enhance their skills and foster transformative experiences. Travel costs for in-person events will be reimbursed in connection with attendance.

The in-person Capacity Building Seminar is a multi-day event scheduled to in conjunction with the 39th ECNP Congress . Attendance is expected from all selected grantees, as their participation will be integral to the program’s objectives.

Useful material before your application Wellcome’s guidance on involving lived experience in scientific projects NCAMH Informational Webinar Please note that, due to financial restrictions and other economic sanctions, we are unable to accept applications from: citizens and residents of North Korea, Venezuela and Crimea residents of Iran, Cuba and Belarus applicants affiliated with institutions based in China n.

b these restrictions apply to both the project leaders and collaborators in addition to their respective team members associated with the proposed projects Funds will be transferred according to a 90:10 format, meaning 90% of the grant will be awarded in advance of the project start date, and the remaining 10% upon completion of the project and associated end-of-grant reporting.

Funds will be transferred only to accounts affiliated with official institutions or organisations. No overhead charges are permissible under this funding program. Grantees are responsible for their own travel insurance for all program related travel.

Grant payments will be made via international wire transfer. It’s important to note that unless payments are made in USD, we cannot guarantee that recipient banks will not apply handling fees or additional charges. Additionally, the amount you receive may vary slightly due to exchange rate fluctuations, which are beyond IBRO’s control.

We recommend that you check with your bank in advance to confirm whether any fees will be deducted or if there are additional charges for international transactions. Being proactive can help ensure that your payment is received smoothly and in full. Results announcement have been slightly delayed to early August.

Thank you for your patience. Join the NCAMH Collaboration Hub! This online networking group is a dedicated space for prospective applicants to the Neuroscience Capacity Accelerator for Mental Health (NCAMH) program to connect, collaborate and build impactful partnerships.

Designed to bring together researchers, practitioners, and organizations committed to advancing mental health research, the group facilitates meaningful collaboration and supports the development of strong applications for the NCAMH program. In this group, you will be able to: Connect globally with individuals and other teams in neuroscience, mental health, and related fields.

Engage in discussions, share resources and collaboration opportunities, and form partnerships for impactful projects. Citlalli Netzahualcoyotzi Piedra Eleazar Ramirez Hernandez Guilherme Vanoni Polanczyk María Esmeralda Castelló Gómez Create an applicant account here . Refer to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for any inquiries.

For technical issues with the site, submit a customer support request form. Please submit your application using the link which appears in the “key information” box at the top of the page, accessible during the application period. Please note you will be redirected to the IBRO Grants Portal .

For any queries, please contact the IBRO programs team . Collaborative Research Grants