Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for BRAIN Initiative: New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Key Dates

RFA-NS-24-005 - BRAIN Initiative: Optimization of Instrumentation and Device Technologies for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

RFA-NS-24-004 - BRAIN Initiative: New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

NOT-NS-23-037 - Notice of Early Expiration of NINDS BRAIN Initiative Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA) RFA-NS-21-026 and RFA-NS-21-027

NOT-NS-23-036 - Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for BRAIN Initiative: Optimization of Instrumentation and Device Technologies for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

RFA-MH-22-245 BRAIN Initiative: Engineering and optimization of molecular technologies for functional dissection of neural circuits (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

RFA-NS-21-026 - BRAIN Initiative: New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

RFA-NS-21-027 - BRAIN Initiative: Optimization of Transformative Technologies for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

RFA-MH-21-175 - BRAIN Initiative: Development and Validation of Novel Tools to Probe Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

RFA-EY-21-001 - BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early-Stage Research for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

National Eye Institute (NEI)

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)

All applications to this funding opportunity announcement should fall within the mission of the Institutes/Centers. The following NIH Offices may co-fund applications assigned to those Institutes/Centers.

Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR)

The purpose of this notice is to inform applicants of the intention to re-issue RFA-NS-21-026 and RFA-NS-21-027, which were recently terminated. This Notice is being provided to alert potential applicants of anticipated changes in receipt dates and updated information on FOA requirements and goals. Previously, both RFA-NS-21-026 and RFA-NS-21-027 included support for molecular constructs for recording and manipulating neural activity. However, with the re-issued FOAs, projects primarily focused on molecular technologies will only be supported by the reissue of RFA-NS-21-026. See below for details and potential alternative FOAs for consideration.

The BRAIN Initiative intends to re-issue the following FOAs, which were recently terminated.

RFA-NS-21-026 BRAIN Initiative: New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

RFA-NS-21-027 "BRAIN Initiative: Optimization of Transformative Technologies for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The new FOAs are expected to be published in Spring 2023 with the first receipt date of June 30, 2023.

Updates to FOA Goals and Requirements

Previously, both RFA-NS-21-026 and RFA-NS-21-027 included support for molecular constructs, i.e., engineered gene products or chemical compounds used separately or in combination to monitor and manipulate neural activity. Examples of sensors to monitor activity include calcium-, voltage-, and neurotransmitter-sensitive fluorescent indicators; examples of actuators to manipulate activity include light-sensitive opsins, artificial receptor-ligand pairs, and ion channels designed for sensitivity to ultrasound and magnetic field manipulation. However, with the re-issued FOAs, projects solely focused on molecular technologies will not be supported by the re-issue of RFA-NS-21-027 (U01 Optimization of Transformative Technologies), which will have a narrowed focus on instrumentation and device technologies. The reissue of RFA-NS-21-026 (R01 New Technologies and Novel Approaches) will continue to support molecular technologies along with instrumentation and devices and related approaches.

Investigators proposing molecular approaches are encouraged to consider the following alternative FOA, which is specifically targeted to molecular technologies that are ready for iterative engineering, optimization, and benchmark testing:

RFA-MH-22-245 BRAIN Initiative: Engineering and optimization of molecular technologies for functional dissection of neural circuits (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Applicants proposing molecular technology projects at an earlier stage of development can consider the re-issue of RFA-NS-21-026, and the following more general FOAs:

RFA-MH-21-175 BRAIN Initiative: Development and Validation of Novel Tools to Probe Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

RFA-EY-21-001 BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early-Stage Research for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Program staff listed below can provide guidance on potential options consistent with the ongoing goals of the program and published information on FOA requirements.

TBD

Public/State Controlled Institution of Higher Education
Private Institution of Higher Education
Nonprofit with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institution of Higher Education)
Small Business
For-Profit Organization (Other than Small Business)
State Government
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Federally Recognized)
County governments
Independent school districts
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization (Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
U.S. Territory or Possession
Indian/Native American Tribal Government (Other than Federally Recognized)
Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entity (Foreign Organization)
Regional Organization
Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government, Including the NIH Intramural Program

Applications are not being solicited at this time.

Please direct all inquiries to:

Edmund (Ned) Talley, PhD
Email: BRAIN-FOAs@nih.gov