Notice of Informational Conference Calls for Prospective Applicants to NIH BRAIN Initiative Funding Opportunity Announcements

Notice Number: NOT-NS-14-005

Key Dates
Release Date: January 6, 2014

Related Announcements
RFA-NS-14-007
RFA-NS-14-008
RFA-NS-14-009
RFA-MH-14-215
RFA-MH-14-216
RFA-MH-14-217

Issued by
NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research (http://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Purpose

Background Information

The Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative is a new Presidential project aimed at revolutionizing our understanding of the human brain. By accelerating the development and application of innovative technologies, researchers will be able to produce a new dynamic picture of the brain that, for the first time, shows how individual cells and complex neural circuits interact in both time and space. It is expected that the application of these new tools and technologies will ultimately lead to new ways to treat, cure, and even prevent brain disorders.

For general information and inquiries regarding NIH support for the BRAIN Initiative, please consult the following website: http://www.nih.gov/science/brain/index.htm.

On December 17, 2013, NIH released six Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) for the inaugural set of projects under the BRAIN Initiative (see links in the Related Announcements section of this Notice), with an expected initial investment of $40M to be considered for NIH funding in Fiscal Year 2014. Summaries of the FOAs and other information for prospective applicants are available at the following website: http://www.nih.gov/science/brain/funding.htm.

Informational Conference Calls

The purpose of this Notice is to inform prospective applications to the FOAs that NIH will be hosting a series of informational conference calls to address technical questions regarding applications to each of the FOAs.

Information on dates and contacts for each of the conference calls is as follows:

January 10, 2014, 2:00-3:00 PM EST:
RFA-MH-14-215, Transformative Approaches for Cell-Type Classification in the Brain

For call-in information, contact Andrea Beckel-Mitchener at BRAIN-info-NIMH@mail.nih.gov.

January 13, 2014, 2:00-3:00 PM EST:
RFA-MH-14-216, Development and Validation of Novel Tools to Analyze Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in the Brain

For call-in information, contact Michelle Freund at BRAIN-info-NIMH@mail.nih.gov.

January 15, 2014, 1:00-2:00 PM EST:
RFA-MH-14-217, Planning for Next Generation Human Brain Imaging

For call-in information, contact Greg Farber at BRAIN-info-NIMH@mail.nih.gov.

February 4, 2014, 1:00-2:30 PM EST:
RFA-NS-14-007, New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Large-Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System
RFA-NS-14-008, Optimization of Transformative Technologies for Large Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System
RFA-NS-14-009, Integrated Approaches to Understanding Circuit Function in the Nervous System

For call-in information, contact Karen David at NINDS-Brain-Initiative@nih.gov.

In addition to accessing the information provided in the upcoming conference calls, applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the Scientific/Research Contacts listed in each of the FOAs to discuss the alignment of their proposed work with the goals of the FOA to which they intend to apply.

Inquiries

Inquiries specifically regarding this Notice can be directed to:

Edmund Talley, Ph.D.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Telephone: 301- 496-1917
Email: NINDS-Brain-Initiative@nih.gov