Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 15 003
Apply for RFA NS 15 003
- 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 Technologies and Novel Approaches for Large Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01)" 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 93.213 Research and Training in Complementary and Integrative Health 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 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research 93.866 Aging Research 93.867 Vision Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 5, 2014 and posted on Nov 5, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 10, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities For profit organizations other than small businesses Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments State governments Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Small businesses City or township governments Special district governments Independent school districts.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIH BRAIN Initiative funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Large Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-NS-15-003) is a government research grant designed to push neuroscience tool-building forward in a big way. The core aim is to support proof-of-concept testing and early development of brand-new technologies and unconventional approaches that can record and manipulate neural activity at large scale, ideally at or near cellular resolution. The motivation behind the call is straightforward but ambitious: if scientists can measure and control neural circuit activity with far greater reach and precision, the field can make major leaps in understanding how the nervous system dynamically processes information.
This opportunity specifically emphasizes creativity and boldness. NIH is looking for exceptionally innovative concepts that tackle longstanding barriers in recording and modulating neural activity across multiple spatial and/or temporal scales. The announcement highlights the need to work in any brain region and, importantly, across the full depth of the brain, which is one of the toughest technical constraints for many existing methods. The projects are expected to be high-risk in the sense that they may involve unproven ideas, but they should be grounded enough to make a credible case that, if successful, the resulting technology could be transformative and broadly enabling for neuroscience.
A key expectation is that the proposed technologies should be compatible with experiments in behaving animals, not just simplified preparations. In other words, the tools should be designed with real neuroscience use cases in mind, where behavior and brain activity are measured together. NIH also signals that they want technologies that either enable hypothesis-driven experiments that are currently not feasible or substantially reduce major bottlenecks that slow those experiments down. The FOA is not restricted to traditional electrophysiology or basic spike recording; it explicitly welcomes tools that can capture and influence diverse types of biological signaling beyond neuronal electrical activity, as long as they support large-scale analysis of nervous system function.
In terms of technical approaches, the call is deliberately open-ended. Applicants may use optical, electrical, magnetic, acoustic, genetic, or other modalities for recording and manipulation, and proposals that integrate multiple approaches are encouraged. This is essentially a broad invitation to combine disciplines and toolsets in ways that deliver capabilities that a single modality cannot. Along those lines, NIH expects applicants to assemble the right mix of expertise when appropriate, including biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, computational modeling, and statistical analysis, reflecting the reality that modern neurotechnology typically requires tight integration across these areas.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using the Cooperative Agreement mechanism (U01), which generally implies substantial NIH involvement during the project compared to a standard research grant. The estimated total funding listed is $6,000,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted November 5, 2014, with an original (and current) closing date of February 10, 2015, and an archive date of March 13, 2015. The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the program is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning neuroscience and related health research areas, reflecting its cross-cutting relevance (including neurology, mental health, substance use, aging, vision, child health, and technology innovation programs).
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations: public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses as a distinct category), small businesses, state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, school districts, special district governments, and various community-based or faith-based organizations. The FOA also permits applications from non-U.S. entities and foreign institutions, as well as foreign components of U.S. organizations, consistent with NIH policy definitions. It additionally calls out a wide range of institution types as eligible, such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and U.S. territories or possessions.
For applicants or readers looking for the full official announcement, the FOA points to the NIH grants page at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NS-15-003.html. For technical access issues, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster (FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH BRAIN Initiative funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "BRAIN Initiative New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Large Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-NS-15-003.
What type of grant mechanism is being used?
This opportunity uses the Cooperative Agreement mechanism (U01), which generally implies substantial NIH involvement in the project compared to a standard research grant.
What is the overall purpose of this funding opportunity?
The core purpose is to push neuroscience tool-building forward by supporting proof-of-concept testing and early development of brand-new technologies and unconventional approaches that can record and manipulate neural activity at large scale, ideally at or near cellular resolution.
What kinds of projects is NIH trying to encourage through this FOA?
NIH is explicitly encouraging exceptionally innovative, creative, and bold concepts that address longstanding barriers in large-scale recording and modulation of neural activity across multiple spatial and/or temporal scales, including work that can operate across the full depth of the brain.
Is this opportunity focused only on recording neural spikes or electrophysiology?
No. The FOA is not restricted to traditional electrophysiology or basic spike recording. It welcomes tools that can capture and influence diverse types of biological signaling beyond neuronal electrical activity, as long as they support large-scale analysis of nervous system function.
What level of technical risk is NIH expecting?
Projects are expected to be high-risk in the sense that they may involve unproven ideas, but they should be grounded enough to make a credible case that, if successful, the resulting technology could be transformative and broadly enabling for neuroscience.
Does NIH require the technology to be useful in behaving animals?
Yes. A key expectation is compatibility with experiments in behaving animals, not just simplified preparations, so that the tools align with real neuroscience use cases where behavior and brain activity are measured together.
What kinds of capabilities should the proposed technologies enable?
NIH signals interest in technologies that either enable hypothesis-driven experiments that are currently not feasible or substantially reduce major bottlenecks that slow those experiments down.
Does the FOA specify particular brain regions?
The announcement highlights the need for approaches that can work in any brain region and, importantly, across the full depth of the brain.
What modalities or technical approaches are allowed?
The call is deliberately open-ended. Applicants may propose optical, electrical, magnetic, acoustic, genetic, or other modalities for recording and manipulation.
Are multi-modal or integrated approaches encouraged?
Yes. Proposals that integrate multiple approaches are encouraged, reflecting NIH interest in combining disciplines and toolsets to deliver capabilities that a single modality cannot.
What kinds of expertise or disciplines does NIH expect teams to include?
NIH expects applicants to assemble the right mix of expertise when appropriate, including biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, computational modeling, and statistical analysis.
What is the estimated total funding amount for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding listed is $6,000,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.
Which federal agency is sponsoring this funding opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Is this opportunity connected to multiple program areas or CFDA listings?
Yes. The program is associated with multiple CFDA numbers spanning neuroscience and related health research areas, reflecting cross-cutting relevance (including neurology, mental health, substance use, aging, vision, child health, and technology innovation programs).
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on November 5, 2014.
What was the application closing date?
The original (and current) closing date listed is February 10, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date is March 13, 2015.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses as a distinct category); small businesses; state and local governments; tribal governments and tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; school districts; special district governments; and various community-based or faith-based organizations.
Are non-U.S. organizations or foreign institutions eligible?
Yes. The FOA permits applications from non-U.S. entities and foreign institutions, as well as foreign components of U.S. organizations, consistent with NIH policy definitions.
Are minority-serving institutions and U.S. territories explicitly included?
Yes. The FOA calls out a wide range of eligible institution types, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Where can applicants find the official FOA announcement?
The FOA directs readers to the official NIH grants page at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NS-15-003.html.
Who should be contacted for technical access issues related to the FOA web posting?
For technical access issues, the contact listed is the NIH Office of Extramural Research webmaster at FBOWebmaster@OD.NIH.GOV.
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| Empirical Research on Ethical Issues Related to Central IRBs and Consent for Research Using Clinical Records and Data (R01) Apply for RFA OD 15 002 Funding Number: RFA OD 15 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Jointly Sponsored Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Institutional Predoctoral Training Program in the Neurosciences (T32) Apply for PAR 15 178 Funding Number: PAR 15 178 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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