Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 15 091
Apply for PAR 15 091
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative Development, Optimization, and Validation of Novel Tools and Technologies for Neuroscience Research (SBIR) (R43/R44)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173 Research Related to Deafness and Communication Disorders 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.273 Alcohol Research Programs 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.853 Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders 93.866 Aging Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 16, 2015 and posted on Jan 16, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 5, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, may be allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The BRAIN Initiative Development, Optimization, and Validation of Novel Tools and Technologies for Neuroscience Research (SBIR) (R43/R44) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 15-091) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program aimed at helping small businesses create and mature new neuroscience research tools that can meaningfully accelerate discovery. It sits under the NIH BRAIN Initiative umbrella and uses the SBIR mechanism, meaning it is specifically structured to support early-stage feasibility work followed by more advanced development that pushes a technology toward a product or platform other researchers can actually use.
The scientific focus is on tool and technology development rather than traditional hypothesis-driven biology projects. The FOA targets innovations that make it possible to analyze complex neural circuits in far greater detail, including tools that reveal how cells interact within networks to produce brain function. A major emphasis is on technologies that can record and manipulate neural activity at or near cellular resolution, and do so at large scale. In practical terms, this includes approaches that can monitor many neurons at once, control activity with precision, and capture signals across multiple spatial and temporal scales. The announcement also highlights the need for technologies that can work in any brain region and, importantly, throughout the entire depth of the brain, reflecting a desire for tools that are not limited to surface-accessible structures.
Beyond initial invention and proof-of-concept, the FOA places strong weight on optimization, validation, and usability. It encourages iterative refinement in collaboration with end users, which typically means active engagement with neuroscientists who will test prototypes, provide feedback, and help shape features that matter for real experiments. The end goal is not just a clever prototype, but a tool that can be manufactured and disseminated reliably, sustainably, and at a scale that allows broad adoption. That emphasis on scaling and dissemination signals that applicants should be thinking early about robustness, reproducibility, manufacturability, and practical deployment in typical neuroscience labs, not only in specialized engineering settings.
Because it is an SBIR solicitation, eligibility is limited to small businesses, and the program is designed around the phased SBIR structure (R43/R44). Phase I generally supports early feasibility and proof-of-concept, while Phase II supports further development, refinement, and validation steps that move the technology closer to a market-ready research product. The listing indicates no cost sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not required to provide matching funds as a condition of the award.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant. It was posted January 16, 2015, with an original and current closing date of January 5, 2018, and it was archived February 5, 2018. While the FOA is archived (so it is not currently open in that specific form), it remains a clear example of NIH priorities for BRAIN Initiative tool-building efforts through small businesses. The program is associated with multiple NIH-related CFDA numbers spanning neuroscience, mental health, aging, substance use, and technology innovation programs, reflecting that the tools supported could have broad relevance across brain and behavioral health research areas.
On applicant eligibility, the FOA specifies that non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. However, it notes that foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, may be allowable in some circumstances, which typically refers to limited, well-justified parts of a project performed outside the U.S. under NIH policy.
For reference and official details, NIH provided the full announcement link at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-15-091.html and listed NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts for access and technical issues (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV).
FAQs: BRAIN Initiative SBIR (R43/R44) Tool and Technology Development (PAR 15-091)
What is this funding opportunity?
It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) funding opportunity under the NIH BRAIN Initiative titled "Development, Optimization, and Validation of Novel Tools and Technologies for Neuroscience Research (SBIR) (R43/R44)." The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR 15-091. Its purpose is to help small businesses create and mature new neuroscience research tools that can meaningfully accelerate discovery.
What is the main goal of the program?
The main goal is tool and technology development for neuroscience research. The program is designed to support innovations that enable researchers to analyze complex neural circuits in much greater detail, including tools that help reveal how cells interact within networks to produce brain function.
Is this focused on tool-building or hypothesis-driven biology?
This opportunity emphasizes tool and technology development rather than traditional hypothesis-driven biology projects. The intent is to build enabling technologies that other researchers can use, not primarily to test a biological hypothesis as the central deliverable.
What kinds of technologies does the FOA prioritize?
The FOA prioritizes innovations that can record and manipulate neural activity at or near cellular resolution and at large scale. It highlights approaches that can monitor many neurons at once, precisely control activity, and capture signals across multiple spatial and temporal scales.
Does the FOA mention applicability across brain regions and depth?
Yes. The announcement highlights the need for technologies that can work in any brain region and throughout the entire depth of the brain, reflecting a desire for tools that are not limited to surface-accessible structures.
What stage of development is NIH looking to support?
The FOA supports work from early invention and proof-of-concept through optimization, validation, and usability improvements. It places strong weight on iterative refinement so that the end result is a tool that can be used reliably by researchers.
What does "optimization, validation, and usability" mean in this context?
In this FOA, it means the project should go beyond a clever prototype. Applicants are encouraged to refine performance, validate that the tool works as intended, and improve practical usability so the technology can be deployed in real-world neuroscience experiments.
Are applicants expected to collaborate with end users?
Yes. The FOA encourages iterative refinement in collaboration with end users, typically neuroscientists who can test prototypes, provide feedback, and help shape features that matter for real experiments.
What is the expected end product of an award?
The FOA emphasizes delivering a tool or technology that can be manufactured and disseminated reliably and sustainably, at a scale that enables broad adoption by the neuroscience research community.
Does the FOA emphasize scaling and dissemination?
Yes. The announcement explicitly signals that applicants should think early about robustness, reproducibility, manufacturability, and practical deployment in typical neuroscience labs, not only in specialized engineering environments.
What funding mechanism does this opportunity use?
It uses the SBIR mechanism with the phased R43/R44 structure. This structure is specifically designed to support early-stage feasibility work and then more advanced development that pushes a technology toward a usable product or platform.
What is the difference between Phase I and Phase II under this FOA?
Phase I generally supports early feasibility and proof-of-concept. Phase II generally supports further development, refinement, and validation steps that move the technology closer to a market-ready research product.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to small businesses because this is an SBIR solicitation. The FOA also specifies that non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible.
Are any foreign activities allowed?
The FOA notes that foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, may be allowable in some circumstances. This typically refers to limited, well-justified parts of a project performed outside the U.S. under NIH policy.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The listing indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to provide matching funds as a condition of the award.
What type of grant is this categorized as?
It is categorized as a discretionary grant.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on January 16, 2015. The original and current closing date listed is January 5, 2018. It was archived on February 5, 2018.
Is this FOA currently open for applications?
No. The FOA is archived, which indicates it is not currently open in that specific form.
Does the archived FOA still provide useful guidance?
Yes. Even though it is archived, the description remains an example of NIH priorities for BRAIN Initiative tool-building efforts through small businesses, especially around developing, validating, and disseminating neuroscience research technologies.
Is this opportunity associated with multiple NIH program areas?
Yes. The program is associated with multiple NIH-related CFDA numbers spanning areas such as neuroscience, mental health, aging, substance use, and technology innovation programs, reflecting that supported tools could have broad relevance across brain and behavioral health research.
Where can applicants find the official announcement?
The official NIH announcement link provided is: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-15-091.html
Who should be contacted for access or technical issues related to the announcement?
NIH listed NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts for access and technical issues at: FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV
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Previous opportunity: BRAIN Initiative Development, Optimization, and Validation of Novel Tools and Technologies for Neuroscience Research (STTR) (R41/R42)
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