Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA EY 18 001
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early-Stage Research for Large-Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" supports very early, high-risk ideas aimed at dramatically improving how scientists can record from, or modulate, neural activity across large portions of the nervous system. The big scientific motivation behind the call is the core BRAIN Initiative challenge: figuring out how electrical and chemical signaling in neural circuits encodes information and ultimately produces sensation, thought, emotion, and action. NIH is emphasizing that existing tools leave major gaps. Non-invasive approaches often have low spatial or temporal resolution and frequently rely on indirect signals like blood flow, which can be imprecise proxies for neural activity. Invasive approaches can access the fundamental biophysical signals at the single-neuron level, but typically only across tens to hundreds of neurons at a time, which is tiny compared to the roughly 85 billion neurons in the human brain. This program is intended to help push beyond those constraints by seeding brand-new concepts that could eventually enable recording and control at much larger scales.
What distinguishes this R21 opportunity from related BRAIN funding announcements is how early the work is expected to be. NIH notes that other BRAIN FOAs focus either on developing novel technology or on optimizing more mature technologies that are ready for in vivo proof-of-concept studies and preliminary data collection. By contrast, this FOA is meant for ideas that are even earlier than that, including concepts that may still be in the initial stages of conceptualization and have not yet been tested. In practical terms, applicants are being invited to propose unconventional measurement or modulation strategies, new signal sources, new sensing modalities, or radically different engineering and scientific approaches that could plausibly scale up to the level needed for meaningful circuit-level readouts or interventions in humans or in animal models, but that are not yet ready for animal experiments.
A key feature of the announcement is that NIH is open to strong theoretical and preclinical groundwork even before in vivo validation is realistic. The FOA explicitly mentions that support may be used for calculations, simulations, computational models, and other mathematical or computational methods to show that proposed signal sources and measurement technologies are theoretically capable of meeting the demands of large-scale recording or manipulation. That means an application does not need to be centered on a finished device or a complete experimental system; it can focus on rigorous feasibility arguments, modeling, and performance bounds that demonstrate a credible path to scaling. Similarly, the program can support building and testing phantoms, prototypes, in vitro systems, or other bench-top models to validate the underlying assumptions and de-risk the concept ahead of future funding opportunities that would move toward animal model testing.
The award mechanism is an NIH R21, which is commonly used for exploratory and developmental research where the main goal is to establish feasibility and generate a convincing rationale for further development rather than to deliver a fully validated end-to-end technology. The opportunity is listed as "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," so it is not intended to support clinical testing in humans as a trial; the emphasis is on foundational concepts and early-stage validation work that could later mature into technologies appropriate for in vivo studies and, much further down the line, possible clinical translation.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity from NIH under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-EY-18-001, with an original closing date of 2020-10-29 and a stated award ceiling of $200,000. The program is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting the cross-cutting nature of BRAIN-related research across NIH institutes and mission areas.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and additional "other" entities. The FOA also specifically highlights eligibility for organizations such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and foreign (non-U.S.) entities.
Overall, the opportunity is essentially a front-end innovation pipeline for the BRAIN Initiative: it is designed to fund the earliest credible steps toward breakthrough methods for large-scale neural recording and modulation, including heavy emphasis on conceptual novelty, theoretical feasibility, and bench-level validation, with the expectation that successful projects will be positioned to compete for later-stage BRAIN programs that support in vivo proof-of-concept work.Apply for RFA EY 18 001
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early - Stage Research for Large - Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-03-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-10-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this NIH funding opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) BRAIN Initiative funding opportunity titled: "BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early-Stage Research for Large-Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)". It supports very early, high-risk concepts that could dramatically improve the ability to record from, or modulate, neural activity across large portions of the nervous system.
What is the core goal of the program?
The goal is to seed brand-new concepts that could eventually enable much larger-scale neural recording and control than current tools allow. The scientific motivation aligns with a core BRAIN Initiative challenge: understanding how electrical and chemical signaling in neural circuits encodes information and produces sensation, thought, emotion, and action.
What problem is NIH trying to address with this opportunity?
NIH is emphasizing that existing tools leave major gaps. Non-invasive methods often have low spatial or temporal resolution and may rely on indirect signals such as blood flow, which can be an imprecise proxy for neural activity. Invasive methods can access fundamental biophysical signals at the single-neuron level, but usually only across tens to hundreds of neurons at a time, which is tiny compared to the roughly 85 billion neurons in the human brain.
What kinds of research ideas are encouraged?
The opportunity invites unconventional, early-stage ideas such as new measurement or modulation strategies, new signal sources, new sensing modalities, or radically different engineering and scientific approaches. The key is that the ideas should plausibly scale to enable meaningful circuit-level readouts or interventions in humans or animal models in the future, even if the work is not yet ready for animal experiments.
How early-stage can a proposed concept be?
This R21 is specifically intended for ideas that are earlier than related BRAIN funding announcements that focus on developing or optimizing more mature technologies. NIH notes that this FOA can include concepts still in initial stages of conceptualization and that may not yet have been tested.
Is in vivo (animal) testing required for this R21?
No. The program is designed for concepts that are not yet ready for animal experiments. The emphasis is on early-stage feasibility work that can credibly support later progression into in vivo proof-of-concept programs.
What types of work can be supported before in vivo validation is realistic?
The FOA explicitly allows strong theoretical and preclinical groundwork, including calculations, simulations, computational models, and other mathematical or computational methods. These can be used to argue that proposed signal sources and measurement technologies are theoretically capable of meeting the demands of large-scale recording or manipulation.
Can an application focus mainly on modeling and theory rather than a finished device?
Yes. The announcement emphasizes that an application does not need to center on a finished device or complete experimental system. It can focus on rigorous feasibility arguments, modeling, and performance bounds that demonstrate a credible path to scaling.
Are bench-top systems or prototypes allowed under this FOA?
Yes. The program can support building and testing phantoms, prototypes, in vitro systems, or other bench-top models to validate underlying assumptions and reduce risk ahead of future funding opportunities that would move toward animal model testing.
What is the funding mechanism used for this opportunity?
The award mechanism is an NIH R21, commonly used for exploratory and developmental research focused on establishing feasibility and creating a strong rationale for further development rather than delivering a fully validated end-to-end technology.
Are clinical trials allowed under this funding opportunity?
No. The opportunity is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed", so it is not intended to support clinical testing in humans as a trial. The emphasis is on foundational concepts and early-stage validation work.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this announcement is RFA-EY-18-001.
What is the listed award ceiling?
The opportunity states an award ceiling of $200,000.
What was the original closing date for this opportunity?
The information provided lists an original closing date of 2020-10-29.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this program?
The program is associated with multiple CFDA numbers: 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867. This reflects the cross-cutting nature of BRAIN-related research across NIH institutes and mission areas.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. and non-U.S. organizations. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and additional "other" entities.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes foreign (non-U.S.) entities among eligible applicants.
Does NIH highlight any specific institution types as eligible?
Yes. The FOA specifically highlights eligibility for organizations such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and foreign entities.
How does this FOA differ from other BRAIN Initiative funding announcements?
What distinguishes this R21 is how early the work is expected to be. NIH contrasts it with other BRAIN FOAs that focus on developing novel technology or optimizing more mature technologies ready for in vivo proof-of-concept studies and preliminary data collection. This FOA is intended for even earlier ideas, including those not yet tested.
What is NIH ultimately hoping projects from this program will enable?
The program is meant as a front-end innovation pipeline. Successful projects are expected to be positioned for later-stage BRAIN programs that support in vivo proof-of-concept work, with the longer-term vision of enabling large-scale neural recording and modulation technologies that could eventually contribute to human-relevant circuit-level readouts or interventions.
What is meant by "large-scale recording and modulation" in the context provided?
Based on the description, it refers to approaches that move beyond current limitations, aiming to record from or control neural activity across much larger portions of the nervous system than existing invasive (tens to hundreds of neurons) or non-invasive (often indirect, lower-resolution) methods typically support.
Is the program limited to recording technologies only?
No. The title and description include both recording and modulation of neural activity, meaning approaches for measuring neural signals and approaches for influencing or controlling neural activity are both relevant.
What kinds of validation approaches are specifically mentioned?
The description specifically mentions simulations and computational modeling, as well as bench-level validation such as phantoms, prototypes, in vitro systems, and other bench-top models.
Is the emphasis on novelty or incremental improvement?
The emphasis is on conceptual novelty and early-stage, high-risk ideas that could represent radically different approaches and plausibly scale to meet the demands of large-scale neural recording or manipulation.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: Making Health care Safer in Ambulatory Care Settings and Long Term Care Facilities (R18)
Previous opportunity: Somatic Cell Genome Editing Dissemination and Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA EY 18 001
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA EY 18 001) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| BRAIN Initiative: New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Large-Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 18 020 Funding Number: RFA NS 18 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Optimization of Transformative Technologies for Large Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01-Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 18 019 Funding Number: RFA NS 18 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Reducing Stigma to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Low and Middle- Income Countries (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 732 Funding Number: PAR 18 732 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| Addressing the Challenges of the Opioid Epidemic in Minority Health and Health Disparities Research in the U.S. (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 745 Funding Number: PAR 18 745 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Addressing the Challenges of the Opioid Epidemic in Minority Health and Health Disparities Research in the U.S. (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 18 747 Funding Number: PAR 18 747 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Projects- TargetedBCP (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 18 030 Funding Number: RFA NS 18 030 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Development and Validation of Novel Tools to Probe Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 19 136 Funding Number: RFA MH 19 136 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 18 814 Funding Number: PAR 18 814 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 18 813 Funding Number: PAR 18 813 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Role of Epitranscriptomics in Development and Disease (R01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 18 830 Funding Number: PAR 18 830 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Standards to Define Experiments Related to the BRAIN Initiative (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 19 146 Funding Number: RFA MH 19 146 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Data Archives for the BRAIN Initiative (R24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA MH 19 145 Funding Number: RFA MH 19 145 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Integration and Analysis of BRAIN Initiative Data (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 19 147 Funding Number: RFA MH 19 147 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Development Optimization, and Validation of Novel Tools and Technologies for Neuroscience Research (SBIR) (R43/R44 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 18 871 Funding Number: PA 18 871 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Development Optimization, and Validation of Novel Tools and Technologies for Neuroscience Research (STTR) (R41/R42 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for PA 18 870 Funding Number: PA 18 870 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Development of Novel Tools to Probe Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in Human and Non-Human Primate Brain (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA MH 19 135 Funding Number: RFA MH 19 135 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Research Opportunities Using Invasive Neural Recording and Stimulating Technologies in the Human Brain (U01 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA NS 19 001 Funding Number: RFA NS 19 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Developing the Therapeutic Potential of the Endocannabinoid System for Pain Treatment (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 18 917 Funding Number: PA 18 917 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) Specialized Collaboratory on Human and Non-Human Primate Brain Cell Atlases (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 19 149 Funding Number: RFA MH 19 149 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) Scalable Technologies and Tools for Brain Cell Census (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 19 148 Funding Number: RFA MH 19 148 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA EY 18 001", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.