Archived

BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early-Stage Research for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Federal funding opportunity RFA-EY-25-001 from National Institutes of Health (Department of Health and Human Services).

Posted: December 9, 2024
Closed: June 15, 2026
Award ceiling: $200,000
Program funding: $200,000
Cost sharing: No
Instrument: Grant
Assistance listing: 93.173, 93.286, 93.213, 93.865, 93.866, 93.853, 93.867, 93.273, 93.242, 93.279
Category: Health, Income Security and Social Services
Archives: July 21, 2026

Program funding history

Awards made under Assistance Listing 93.173 (one of 10 on this opportunity) across FY2025–FY2027, from public federal spending records.

FY2025 obligated: $416.1M
FY2026 obligated: $414.8M
FY2027 (to date) obligated: $0
Awards in window: 2,058

Top recipients: The Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education, New York University, The Leland Stanford Junior University

Source: USAspending.gov · refreshed October 2026 · Program page: awards, recipients and the opportunities under this listing →

This opportunity is archived. Applications are no longer accepted. Similar grants are listed below, and the free Tuesday digest carries the next ones like it.

Synopsis

A central goal of the BRAIN Initiative is to understand how electrical and chemical signals code information in neural circuits and give rise to sensations, thoughts, emotions and actions. While currently available technologies can provide some understanding, they may not be sufficient to accomplish this goal. For example, non-invasive technologies are low resolution and/or provide indirect measures such as blood flow, which are imprecise; invasive technologies can provide information at the level of single neurons producing the fundamental biophysical signals, but they can only be applied to tens or hundreds of neurons, out of a total number in the human brain estimated at 85 billion. Other BRAIN FOAs seek to develop novel technology (RFA-NS-17-003) or to optimize existing technology ready for in-vivo proof-of-concept testing and collection of preliminary data (RFA-NS-17-004) for recording or manipulating neural activity on a scale that is beyond what is currently possible. This FOA seeks applications for unique and innovative technologies that are in an even earlier stage of development than that sought in other FOAs, including new and untested ideas that are in the initial stages of conceptualization. In addition to experimental approaches, the support provided under this FOA might enable calculations, simulations, computational models, or other mathematical techniques for demonstrating that the signal sources and/or measurement technologies are theoretically capable of meeting the demands of large-scale recording or manipulation of circuit activity in humans or in animal models. The support might also be used for building and testing phantoms, prototypes, in-vitro or other bench-top models in order to validate underlying theoretical assumptions in preparation for future FOAs aimed at testing in animal models.

Who can apply

Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
City or township governments
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
Private institutions of higher education
For profit organizations other than small businesses
State governments
County governments
Special district governments
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Small businesses
Independent school districts

Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession.

The official record

Grants.gov published the official terms and dates of this opportunity; this page keeps them as they were listed.

View on Grants.gov Full announcement

Agency contact: National Institutes of Health · [email protected] · 301-402-2541

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