Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 15 215
Apply for RFA MH 15 215
- The National Institutes of Health in the education health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative Short Courses in Computational Neuroscience (R25)" 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 Dec 19, 2014 and posted on Dec 19, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 18, 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 $1,500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Special district governments City or township governments State governments Private institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Small businesses 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 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, are not allowed.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The BRAIN Initiative Short Courses in Computational Neuroscience (R25) funding opportunity (RFA-MH-15-215) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research education grant designed to build practical, job-ready expertise in computational neuroscience across the neuroscience workforce. It sits under the NIH Research Education Program (R25), which funds education activities that strengthen the nations biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research capacity. In this specific announcement, the BRAIN Initiative focus is on supporting short, intensive training experiences that help researchers keep pace with modern neuroscience, especially the growing reality that many experiments now produce complex, high-dimensional datasets that require specialized computational approaches to interpret.
The core purpose of the program is to fund short courses that teach computational neuroscience perspectives and techniques, with an emphasis on skills development rather than long-term degree training. Computational neuroscience is defined broadly here and can include theoretical neuroscience, computational and mathematical modeling of neural systems, and statistical frameworks and methods. The key theme is enabling participants to analyze and make sense of sophisticated neuroscience data in ways that directly advance BRAIN Initiative goals. In practical terms, the funded courses are expected to go beyond lectures alone and include a blend of didactic instruction and in-person, hands-on experiences, reflecting an expectation that participants will actively work with methods, tools, and data rather than only hearing about them.
The intended learners are early-stage and transitioning scientists who can quickly apply these skills in research settings. The FOA targets graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral scholars, medical residents, and early career faculty. That audience choice signals that NIH wants the training to reach people at a point where adding computational capability can immediately change the kinds of questions they can ask and the kinds of datasets they can handle, whether they are coming from experimental neuroscience and need stronger quantitative tools, or from quantitative backgrounds and need deeper immersion in neuroscience applications.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant in the education category, offered by NIH. The opportunity was posted December 19, 2014, with an application deadline of March 18, 2015, and an archived date of April 18, 2015. The estimated total funding for the FOA was $1.5 million, and the listed award ceiling was $200,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which generally makes it easier for institutions to propose courses without needing to commit additional mandatory funds.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses are explicitly listed, and small businesses are also included), and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district governments, and independent school districts). The FOA also explicitly includes organizations that often serve specific communities or have specialized missions, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based and community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. Non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components are not allowed under NIH policy as referenced in the announcement.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as NIH funding for well-structured, high-impact short courses that can rapidly expand the computational neuroscience skill base of the neuroscience research community. The program is tightly aligned with the BRAIN Initiatives need for researchers who can handle modern neuroscience data and use computational, statistical, and modeling approaches to extract insight from complex neural measurements.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BRAIN Initiative Short Courses in Computational Neuroscience (R25) funding opportunity?
It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Education Program (R25) funding opportunity focused on supporting short, intensive training experiences (short courses) that build practical computational neuroscience skills across the neuroscience workforce. The specific announcement is titled "BRAIN Initiative Short Courses in Computational Neuroscience (R25)" and is identified as RFA-MH-15-215.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The main purpose is to fund short courses that teach computational neuroscience perspectives and techniques, emphasizing hands-on skills development that participants can apply directly in research settings. The intent is to help researchers keep pace with modern neuroscience, where experiments increasingly generate complex, high-dimensional datasets requiring specialized computational approaches to interpret.
Is this a research grant or an education/training grant?
This is an education/training-focused grant under NIH's Research Education Program (R25). It supports education activities designed to strengthen the nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research capacity, rather than long-term degree training.
What kinds of training activities are expected in funded courses?
The funded short courses are expected to go beyond lectures alone and include a blend of didactic instruction and in-person, hands-on experiences. The expectation is that participants will actively work with methods, tools, and data, not only listen to presentations.
What does NIH mean by "computational neuroscience" in this opportunity?
Computational neuroscience is defined broadly and can include theoretical neuroscience, computational and mathematical modeling of neural systems, and statistical frameworks and methods. The unifying theme is enabling participants to analyze and interpret sophisticated neuroscience data using computational, statistical, and modeling approaches.
How does this opportunity connect to the BRAIN Initiative?
The courses are intended to directly advance BRAIN Initiative goals by preparing researchers to handle and extract insight from complex neural measurements. The focus reflects the BRAIN Initiative's need for researchers who can interpret modern, high-dimensional neuroscience datasets using appropriate computational approaches.
Who is the intended audience for these short courses?
The targeted learners are early-stage and transitioning scientists who can quickly apply new computational skills in research settings. The announcement specifically targets graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral scholars, medical residents, and early career faculty.
Is this funding meant for long-term degree programs?
No. The emphasis is on short, intensive training experiences and skills development rather than long-term degree training.
What type of grant is this from an administrative standpoint?
It is a discretionary grant in the education category offered by NIH under the R25 mechanism.
When was this opportunity posted and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted on December 19, 2014. The application deadline was March 18, 2015. The opportunity was archived on April 18, 2015.
How much funding was available under this FOA?
The estimated total funding for the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) was $1.5 million.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling was $200,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement specifies that there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special district governments, and independent school districts).
Are institutions that serve specific communities explicitly included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). Faith-based and community-based organizations are also listed as eligible, along with eligible federal agencies.
Can non-U.S. organizations apply?
No. Non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are foreign components allowed under this announcement?
No. Foreign components are not allowed under NIH policy as referenced in the announcement.
What is the overall goal or expected impact of funding these courses?
The overall goal is to support well-structured, high-impact short courses that rapidly expand computational neuroscience skills within the neuroscience research community, helping researchers analyze complex datasets and apply computational, statistical, and modeling approaches aligned with BRAIN Initiative needs.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: BRAIN Initiative Short Courses in Research Tools and Methods (R25)
Previous opportunity: Fee Collection
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA MH 15 215
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA MH 15 215) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| BRAIN Initiative Short Courses in Research Tools and Methods (R25) Apply for RFA MH 15 220 Funding Number: RFA MH 15 220 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Predictive Multiscale Models for Biomedical, Biological, Behavioral, Environmental and Clinical Research (U01) Apply for PAR 15 085 Funding Number: PAR 15 085 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Next Generation Invasive Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human Central Nervous System (UH2/UH3) Apply for RFA NS 15 006 Funding Number: RFA NS 15 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Clinical Studies to Advance Next Generation Invasive Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human Central Nervous System (UH3) Apply for RFA NS 15 008 Funding Number: RFA NS 15 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study Research Project Sites (U01) Apply for RFA DA 15 015 Funding Number: RFA DA 15 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study Coordinating Center (U24) Apply for RFA DA 15 014 Funding Number: RFA DA 15 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study Data Analysis and Informatics Center (U24) Apply for RFA DA 15 016 Funding Number: RFA DA 15 016 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) Advancing Biomedical Science Using Crowdsourcing and Interactive Digital Media (UH2) Apply for RFA CA 15 006 Funding Number: RFA CA 15 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Advancing Translational and Clinical Probiotic/Prebiotic and Human Microbiome Research (R01) Apply for PA 15 127 Funding Number: PA 15 127 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| 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 |
| Limited Competition International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) (U01) Apply for RFA AI 15 017 Funding Number: RFA AI 15 017 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH PEPFAR Collaboration on Implementation Science for HIV Towards an AIDS free Generation (R01) Apply for RFA AI 15 020 Funding Number: RFA AI 15 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| NIH PEPFAR Collaboration on Implementation Science for HIV Towards an AIDS free Generation (R21) Apply for RFA AI 15 021 Funding Number: RFA AI 15 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Developing the Therapeutic Potential of the Endocannabinoid System for Pain Treatment (R01) Apply for PA 15 188 Funding Number: PA 15 188 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Health of Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Populations (R21) Apply for PA 15 263 Funding Number: PA 15 263 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| The Health of Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Populations (R03) Apply for PA 15 262 Funding Number: PA 15 262 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| The Health of Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Populations (R15) Apply for PA 15 260 Funding Number: PA 15 260 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Health of Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Populations (R01) Apply for PA 15 261 Funding Number: PA 15 261 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Pre application Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (X02) Apply for PAR 15 286 Funding Number: PAR 15 286 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Theories, Models and Methods for Analysis of Complex Data from the Brain (R01) Apply for RFA EB 15 006 Funding Number: RFA EB 15 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA MH 15 215", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.