Michael Gwarisa
Pharmaceutical company Alkermes plc has unveiled a new research funding initiative aimed at supporting psychiatric nurse practitioners who are working to improve treatment for serious mental health conditions.
The company announced that applications for the first Alkermes Pathways APN Research Awards™ will officially open on March 16, 2026, offering funding opportunities to advanced practice nurses conducting research in mental health care. The submission window will remain open until June 1, 2026.
The program is targeted specifically at psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners, particularly those involved in clinical care, academic research, or community health programs. Applicants are expected to demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing knowledge and treatment options for patients living with conditions such as Schizophrenia and Bipolar I disorder.
According to Alkermes, the initiative aims to bring more frontline clinical insight into mental health research by empowering nurse practitioners who interact with patients daily.
Dr. Craig Hopkinson, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of Research and Development at Alkermes, said nurse practitioners play a crucial role in shaping real-world understanding of psychiatric illness.
“Psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners bring deep, real-world insight from the front lines of care,” Hopkinson said. “For the past eight years, our Pathways Research Awards program has supported early-career investigators and encouraged innovative research during important stages of their scientific development.”
He said the new APN-focused program expands that commitment by specifically supporting advanced practice nurses whose perspectives could help improve clinical practice and deepen understanding of complex mental health disorders.
The announcement comes ahead of major global gatherings for mental health nursing professionals, including meetings organized by the International Society of Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses and the Psych Congress Nurse Practitioner Institute.
Professor Cynthia Handrup, Director of the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Illinois Chicago, will chair the independent review committee overseeing the awards.
Handrup said the initiative creates an important pathway for nurses to pursue research rooted in the realities of clinical practice.
“This program gives nurse practitioners a meaningful opportunity to investigate research questions that emerge directly from patient care,” she said. “We hope to identify projects that can strengthen the evidence base and ultimately improve outcomes for people living with serious mental illness.”
Under the inaugural program, selected projects will receive grants of up to $10,000 to support their research.
To qualify, applicants must be practicing psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners working in clinical, academic, or community health settings. Candidates must also hold a doctoral-level qualification such as a PhD or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), or collaborate with a mentor or co-investigator who holds one.
Submitted proposals will be evaluated by an independent panel of experts in psychiatric research and clinical care.
Full eligibility requirements and application details are available through the program’s official website.
