AFSP Standard Research Innovation Grants

AFSP Standard Research Innovation Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Amount: Up to US $125,000
Last Updated: October 01, 2025

Summary

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) offers Standard Research Innovation Grants to support innovative research on suicide across various disciplines. These grants aim to enhance understanding of suicide's causes and prevention methods, focusing on diverse populations and technological tools. Grants are available for two years, contingent on performance, and applications must include at least one suicide outcome measure. AFSP prioritizes research that addresses underrepresented communities and evaluates new methodologies for suicide prevention.

Overview

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Established in 1987, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. AFSP is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health by engaging in the following core strategies: Funding scientific research Educating the public about mental health and suicide prevention Advocating for public policies in mental health and suicide prevention Supporting survivors of suicide loss and those affected by suicide in our mission AFSP Suicide Research Priority Areas We define priorities for funding every two years to stimulate research in understudied areas. We also encourage applications that address the priorities set out by the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention’s Research Prioritization Task Force. Priority area research applications are reviewed along with the general pool of grant applications, with priority given to strong grants in the designated areas. AFSP suicide research grants program priority areas:Diversity: Suicide prevention research related to underrepresented communities, health and mental health disparities and inequities, as well as researchers from underrepresented backgrounds proposing research focused on understanding and preventing suicide.Evaluation of technological tools for suicide prevention: The application of implementation science methodology to evaluate technological tools available in order to expand access and overcome barriers for suicide prevention.Survivors of Suicide Loss: Research related to survivors of suicide loss, understanding the impact of suicide loss and it’s after-effects, and the process of healing. Standard Research Innovation Grants Grants awarded to individual investigators at any level. Purpose All AFSP research grants are designed to support research on suicide from a variety of disciplines including psychiatry, medicine, psychology, genetics, epidemiology, neurobiology, sociology, nursing, health services administration, social work, and many others. Grants are not intended to support the development or implementation of organization-specific prevention programs, educational programs, treatments, or other interventions unless they have a significant research component. In that case a study would be welcome, but it must have generalizability beyond the specific institution or program. Term of Grant (Read more information on page 3 AFSP Grant Policies) Standard Research Innovation Grants are made for a period of two years, with the second year of funding contingent upon the first year's performance. The project must begin within 6 months of the approved start date.

Eligibility

We've imported the main document for this grant to give you an overview. You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. AFSP Suicide Research Grants support studies aimed at increasing our understanding of the causes of suicide and factors related to suicide risk, or that test treatments and other interventions designed to prevent suicide. At least one suicide outcome measure must be included in all grant projects. We also consider studies of treatment feasibility, and studies that add a suicide component (e.g., population or treatment) to an existing grant in another area. AFSP research grants and fellowships are awarded to individuals affiliated with not-for-profit institutions or organizations in the U.S. and abroad. Applications from the Veterans Administration are eligible. Applications from both private and public colleges and universities are eligible, so long as the institution is not-for-profit. Grant payments are made to the grantee institution for the individual investigator. Individuals may be the Principal Investigator (PI) on only one AFSP Distinguished Investigator Grant at a time, and may not simultaneously be the PI on any other type of AFSP research grant. This does not preclude serving as a mentor on a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship or a Young Investigator Grant while being the Principal Investigator on another AFSP grant. During the second year of funding (the first year in the case of a one-year grant), an individual holding a research grant may apply for another AFSP grant in the same or another category which, if approved, would start after the end date of the first grant. The second grant cannot begin until the final progress report and financial statement for the current grant are received by AFSP and the Initiation papers for the second grant are approved. AFSP research grants and fellowships are awarded with the understanding that the recipient individual and institution will not accept funds from any other granting agency for research that substantially overlaps with what was approved by AFSP. Personnel compensated in whole or in part through an AFSP research grant are not considered employees of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, but of the grantee institution. AFSP does not assume any responsibility for the conduct of the research or other acts of the investigators. AFSP grantees are subject to the ethical and scientific policies of the grantee institution. Although prior research on suicide is not required, applicants are expected to show evidence of prior research or research training in a related field. These grants are intended to fund new directions and initiatives in suicide research rather than to support the applicant's existing research. Supplemental grants to larger grant are encouraged if they add a unique study area that can utilize the structure of any existing grant. The grantee institution is expected to provide the required physical facilities and administrative services normally available in an institution. Allowable costs include: Compensation for investigators and other personnel required to conduct the research (e.g. technicians, research assistants, clerical staff), including salary and fringe benefits Indirect Costs at up to 8% of total budget Consultant fees Consumable research supplies Costs related to assessment measures, tests, or procedures Travel specifically required of personnel or participants to achieve the research aims Participant fees Leasing of Software, Computers, Cell Phones, and Audio

Ineligibility

Grant applications are not accepted from for-profit organizations, or from federal or state government agencies. AFSP research grants and fellowships are not designed to cover the total cost of the research proposed. A mentor may not serve on more than two current funded AFSP grants. Non-allowable costs include: Construction, alteration, or maintenance of buildings Standard office equipment or furniture Durable equipment (e.g. computers, microscopes, imaging, and other laboratory equipment) Expenses related to conference or presentations Books, periodicals, or other publication expenses Personnel recruiting expenses Per diem charges for hospital beds Institutional Charges for Tuition, IRB fees, General IT Costs Purchase of Computers, Cell Phones, Software, Audio