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BRAIN Initiative: Research Opportunities Using Invasive Neural Recording and Stimulating Technologies in the Human Brain (U01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)

Agency: National Institutes of Health

Assistance Listings: 93.372 -- 21st Century Cures Act - Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies

93.853 -- Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders

Last Updated: August 28, 2025

Description

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), with other NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) the National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) and Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR), intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for research on investigative neuroscience with intracranial access to recording and manipulating the brain directly. Investigations within the human brain offer revolutionary, but challenging, opportunities for experimental investigation in how the human brain senses, perceives, remembers, plans, makes decisions, registers emotions, engages language, and activates movements. By leveraging surgical procedures with direct access to the brain, there is the opportunity to design experiments specifically about human neuroscience in ways that are both uniquely human and otherwise impossible. Fundamental basic research often provides insights relevant to disorders of the nervous system and enables research targeting disease mechanisms or therapeutics. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects.  This NOFO will utilize the U01 activity code. Applications to this NOFO must propose to investigate fundamental questions in human neuroscience. In addition, collaborative investigations from newly formed or established teams, combining expertise of clinicians, scientists, device engineers, mathematicians, statisticians, data scientists, regulatory specialists and/or ethics specialists, as appropriate, to propose innovative research plans will be encouraged and these investigators should also begin considering applying for this application.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants

Government

  • County governments
  • State governments
  • City or township governments
  • Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
  • Public and Indian housing authorities
  • Special district governments

Education

  • Independent school districts
  • Public and state institutions of higher education
  • Private institutions of higher education

Nonprofit

  • Nonprofits non-higher education with 501(c)(3)
  • Nonprofits non-higher education without 501(c)(3)
  • Other Native American tribal organizations

Business

  • Small businesses
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses

Miscellaneous

  • Other

Additional information

Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions).

Grantor contact information

Description

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Email

BRAINResOppHu@ninds.nih.gov

BRAINResOppHu@ninds.nih.gov

Documents

No documents are currently available.

Link to additional information

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Forecasted

Estimated Post Date:

November 28, 2025

Estimated Application Due Date:

February 27, 2026

Estimated Due Date Description:

Not available

Estimated Award Date:

November 1, 2026

Estimated Project Start Date:

December 1, 2026

Fiscal Year:

2027

Application process

This site is a work in progress. Go to www.grants.gov to apply, track application status, and subscribe to updates.

Award

$--

Program Funding

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Expected awards

$--

Award Minimum

$--

Award Maximum

Funding opportunity number:

RFA-NS-26-007

Cost sharing or matching requirement:

No

Funding instrument type:

Cooperative agreement

Opportunity Category:

Discretionary

Opportunity Category Explanation:

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Category of Funding Activity:

Health

Category Explanation:

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History

Version:

1

Forecast posted date:

August 28, 2025

Archive date:

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