Form 1 IRP Strategic Planning Survey

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Survey to Inform NIMH Strategic Planning for the Division of Intramural
Research Programs (IRP)
In 2022-2023, the Division of Intramural Research Programs (IRP) of the National Institute of
Mental Health (NIMH) will be developing a strategic plan and vision for the next five years. In
launching this process, we would like to collect input from IRP staff, trainees, and contractors.
Please complete this survey by [DATE].
With this brief, anonymous survey, we wish to collect your feedback about the NIMH IRP and its
scientific research goals. If you prefer, you may also send comments directly to the Office of the
Scientific Director (Jennifer.Mehren@nih.gov), with the subject line, “IRP Strategic Planning
Feedback.” A summary of all feedback will be shared with NIMH Staff, the NIMH Board of
Scientific Counselors (BSC), and others involved in the strategic planning process. We
appreciate you taking the time to help shape the NIMH IRP’s strategic plan.
Survey Questions:
1. What type of position do you have in the NIMH IRP?
o Principal Investigator
o Staff Scientist/Staff Clinician
o Clinical Staff
o Scientific Support Staff
o Fellow (Postdoc or Clinical)
o Fellow (Predoc or Postbac)
o Other (if checked, enter position type)
2. How long have you worked in the NIMH IRP?
o ≤2 years
o More than 2 years, ≤5 years
o More than 5 years, ≤10 years
o More than 10 years, ≤20 years
o More than 20 years

3. What scientific areas or goals do you think are important for the IRP to focus on or
begin to undertake in the next five years? Think outside of your own research area.
What do you predict the major areas of progress in medicine and mental health will be,
and how can the IRP fit in? [Limit to 250 words/1800 characters]

4. What do you perceive as the major strengths of the NIMH IRP (i.e., what aspects of the
IRP should we be sure to retain?) Mark all that apply:
o Longitudinal research
o Creating and sharing of national resources
o High-risk/high-reward research
o Clinical/Translational work, including developing novel
therapeutics/interventions
o Basic/Discovery research
o Ease of collaborations
o Fiscal Freedom (e.g., no need to apply for grants)
o Excellent training environment
o Clinical Center resources
o Other—please comment [Limit to 200 characters]
o Other—please comment [Limit to 200 characters]
5. What do you see as the major barriers or obstacles to achieving our scientific goals in
the IRP? Pick up to six:
o Insufficient lab or clinical space
o Insufficient budget
o Inability to carryover funds from year to year
o Administrative burden (travel, HR, other)
o IT support
o Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) Review
o Clinical Protocol Review
o Animal Protocol Review
o NIMH IRP Lab/Branch Structure
o Obstacles in collaborating with other scientists
o Insufficient career development/training support
o Insufficient Clinical Center resources
o Insufficient resources in supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility
(DEIA)
o Other—please comment [Limit to 200 characters]
o Other—please comment [Limit to 200 characters]

6. Please enter any additional comments you would like to make about where you think
NIMH IRP research should be going in the next five years. [Limit to 250 words/1800
characters]