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BRAIN Initiative: Data Knowledgebase Ecosystem and NeuroAI Integration
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Topic Description
Post Date: September 29, 2025
Expiration Date: September 29, 2026
The NIH Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative strategically advances neuroscience to revolutionize our understanding of the human brain. The Initiative seeks applications for an interconnected set of Knowledgebase projects including a data commons that will federate currently established BRAIN data repositories into a unified framework with three key research areas:
- Developing standardized cell-type taxonomies and spatial reference frameworks for cross-species brain mapping
- Creating quality-assured connectivity atlases with validated annotation tools for circuit-level analysis
- Integrating synchronized neural-behavioral data with cross-species ontologies to characterize brain-behavior relationships.
These federated resources will enable AI-powered cross-modal discovery using knowledge graphs and open data standards to accelerate predictive modeling and translation from pre-clinical models to human health applications. The NIH BRAIN Initiative simultaneously seeks transformative NeuroAI approaches that leverage these integrated knowledgebase resources through three complementary research directions:
- Developing interpretable computational models that elucidate biological mechanisms across scales while maintaining cross-modal integration capabilities
- Advancing energy-efficient neuromorphic platforms that adapt to individual variations through real-time processing for research and health monitoring applications
- Establishing brain-body system frameworks to investigate embodied intelligence through integration of neuronal and non-neuronal cellular interactions with environmental contexts.
These NeuroAI innovations must demonstrate bidirectional knowledge exchange where biological principles inform brain-inspired computing architectures while computational tools drive mechanistic neuroscience discovery. Applications should address critical gaps through data-driven approaches that advance reproducibility and transparency while maintaining BRAIN's leadership in interdisciplinary neuroscience and technology development for improving human health.
The NIH BRAIN Initiative consists of the NIH Institutes and Centers identified below, unless otherwise indicated.
Participating ICOs
Crystal Lantz, Ph.D.
[email protected]
The NIH Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) may co-fund meritorious applications in this topic area based on the availability of funds and alignment with research priorities in women's health.
This office does not award grants. Applications must be relevant to the objectives of at least one of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers listed in this topic.
ICO Scientific Contact:Elena Gorodetsky, M.D., Ph.D.
[email protected]
Victoria Shanmugam, MBBS, MRCP, FACR, CCD
[email protected]
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