Competitive Research Fellowship Opportunity Launched by the SNF Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute

The program provides funding up to 550,000 USD for eligible early-career researchers leading youth mental health innovation in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs)

New York, NY—The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute continues to strengthen investment in the next generation of mental health leaders by announcing its latest Request for Applications (RFA), targeted at early-career researchers from host institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This competitive program will award two grants, each providing funding of up to 550,000 USD for a four- to five-year research project to advance child and adolescent mental health (CAMH).

The SNF Global Center Research Fellowship is an innovative funding and career development program designed for exceptional early-career researchers making an impact on their communities. Selected Fellows will receive financial support to expand their research expertise and leadership capacity, enabling them to drive innovation and strengthen research ecosystems locally while contributing evidence-based findings that better inform CAMH care systems and understanding.

Fellows will have the opportunity to undertake short-term mentored research training to further enhance their skills, advance projects, or complete early career skills development before transitioning to full research independence. The program aims to attract a diverse cohort of investigators with varied disciplinary backgrounds and skillsets, welcoming researchers new to the child and adolescent mental health field who possess the interest and potential to revolutionize it. Specific research focus areas include understanding the mechanisms of mental illness, developing innovative treatments and prevention strategies, promoting equity in mental health care access, and improving early identification and intervention for vulnerable populations.

The Fellowship reflects the Child Mind Institute’s broader commitment to advancing science-driven, accessible mental health care for children and adolescents worldwide. It is estimated that 90 percent of the world’s children live in LMICs where access to mental health care is often limited, while one in seven children and adolescents globally are affected by mental health challenges. Most mental health conditions occur before the age of 18. And yet, many of those diagnosed do not receive any form of treatment.

The program also offers a unique international platform for mentorship, training, career development, and networking alongside clinical- and communicator-based sister programs under the SNF Global Center at the Child Mind Institute.

“By empowering promising researchers in this program, we aim to build the local capacity necessary to generate the evidence needed to transform policy and care for children and adolescents who need it most,” says Peter Raucci, director of Global Fellowships Strategy at the SNF Global Center at the Child Mind Institute.

The Fellowship aims to address these critical gaps by building sustainable research capacity and supporting the development of evidence-based, culturally responsive initiatives. The program is open to early-career researchers within ten years of completing a doctoral degree, who can dedicate at least 50 percent of their full-time work to the program and are nominated by an eligible host institution. Eligible institutions must be established in and demonstrate a research record within LMICs and may register interest and nominate up to two candidates by June 1, 2026, and the application closes on June 15, 2026.

Informational webinars are scheduled for April 23, 2026, for prospective nominees. An international expert panel will review applications from June to July 2026, with shortlisted candidates invited for virtual interviews in August. The final cohort of Fellows will be announced on World Mental Health Day, October 10, 2026. For full details, eligibility criteria, and registration links, please visit the program website. Questions may be directed to [email protected] and [email protected].

About the SNF Global Center at the Child Mind Institute
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Global Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the Child Mind Institute brings together the Child Mind Institute’s expertise as a leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation’s deep commitment to supporting collaborative projects to improve access to quality health care worldwide. The center is building partnerships to drive advances in under-researched areas of children and adolescents’ mental health, and expand access to culturally appropriate training, resources, and treatment in low- and middle-income countries. This work is conducted by the Child Mind Institute with support from SNF through its Global Health Initiative (GHI).

About the Child Mind Institute
The Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need. We’ve become the leading independent nonprofit in children’s mental health by providing gold-standard, evidence-based care, delivering educational resources to millions of families each year, training educators in underserved communities, and developing tomorrow’s breakthrough treatments.