Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 15 220
Apply for RFA MH 15 220
- 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 Research Tools and Methods (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) City or township governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Independent school districts Private institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) 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) County governments State governments Special district governments.
- 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The BRAIN Initiative Short Courses in Research Tools and Methods (R25) funding opportunity (RFA-MH-15-220) is an NIH research education grant designed to build a stronger, better-prepared neuroscience workforce by supporting short, intensive training courses focused on cutting-edge tools and methods aligned with the goals of the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative. The central idea is to fund well-structured educational experiences that help researchers learn how to rigorously use state-of-the-art technologies and approaches that are either contributing to BRAIN Initiative priorities or were developed in response to them. Rather than supporting full degree programs, this opportunity targets short courses that can quickly and effectively raise participants' technical skills and foundational understanding, strengthening the broader pipeline of biomedical, behavioral, and clinical researchers.
The program emphasizes "Courses for Skills Development" as the primary supported activity. Proposed courses are expected to combine formal instruction (didactics such as lectures, seminars, and structured discussions) with substantial in-person, hands-on components where participants actively practice techniques, workflows, data collection, analysis methods, or tool usage under expert guidance. In practical terms, the NIH is looking for courses that do more than explain methods conceptually; they should train participants to apply methods correctly, understand limitations, follow rigorous experimental design and analysis practices, and leave with usable competence in modern research tools relevant to BRAIN priorities.
The intended participants include graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral scholars, medical residents, and early career faculty. This focus reflects a goal of reaching trainees and early-stage investigators at a point where a concentrated skills jump can have an outsized impact on their research trajectories. The courses supported by this FOA are meant to complement existing training pathways by filling gaps in access to specialized methods training, especially when the tools are rapidly evolving and not widely available through standard curricula.
Administratively, this is a discretionary NIH grant using the R25 Research Education mechanism, categorized under education and health-related funding activity areas. The announcement was posted December 19, 2014, with an application due date of March 18, 2015, and it was later archived on April 18, 2015. The estimated total funding available across awards was about $1.5 million, with an award ceiling of $250,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and a range of government entities (state, county, city/township, special district). The FOA also highlights eligibility for several mission-driven or community-based institution types, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and other designated serving institutions, as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. At the same time, the announcement clearly restricts non-U.S. participation: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
The opportunity sits within NIH and connects to multiple CFDA program areas spanning neuroscience and neurological disorders as well as mental health, substance use, aging, child health and development, vision research, and technology innovation for health. The official announcement and details were provided through the NIH Grants Guide (linked in the source as the full RFA page), and NIH provided contact information through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) web support for access or linking issues.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the BRAIN Initiative Short Courses in Research Tools and Methods (R25) opportunity?
It is an NIH research education grant opportunity (R25 mechanism) titled "BRAIN Initiative Short Courses in Research Tools and Methods (R25)" under FOA number RFA-MH-15-220. Its purpose is to strengthen the neuroscience workforce by supporting short, intensive training courses that teach cutting-edge research tools and methods aligned with the goals of the NIH BRAIN Initiative (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies).
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central goal is to fund well-structured educational experiences that quickly and effectively raise participants' technical skills and foundational understanding of state-of-the-art technologies and approaches that contribute to BRAIN Initiative priorities or were developed in response to them.
Is this funding meant for full degree programs?
No. The opportunity specifically targets short courses, not full degree programs. The intent is to provide intensive, focused training experiences that can rapidly upskill researchers.
What type of activity does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes "Courses for Skills Development" as the primary supported activity.
What should a proposed course include?
Proposed courses are expected to combine formal instruction (such as lectures, seminars, and structured discussions) with substantial in-person, hands-on components where participants actively practice techniques, workflows, data collection, analysis methods, or tool usage under expert guidance.
Does the NIH expect hands-on training, or are lectures enough?
Hands-on training is a key expectation. The program is looking for courses that do more than explain methods conceptually; participants should actively practice and learn to apply methods correctly and rigorously.
What does NIH mean by training participants to use methods "rigorously"?
Based on the opportunity description, rigor includes training participants to apply methods correctly, understand limitations, follow rigorous experimental design and analysis practices, and leave with usable competence in modern research tools relevant to BRAIN priorities.
Who are the intended participants for these short courses?
The intended participants include graduate students, medical students, postdoctoral scholars, medical residents, and early career faculty.
Why does the program focus on trainees and early-stage investigators?
The stated rationale is that reaching trainees and early-stage investigators is valuable because a concentrated jump in skills can have an outsized impact on their research trajectories.
How do these courses fit with existing training pathways?
The courses are meant to complement existing training pathways by filling gaps in access to specialized methods training, especially for rapidly evolving tools that are not widely available through standard curricula.
What is the funding mechanism and administering agency?
This is a discretionary NIH grant using the R25 Research Education mechanism, categorized under education and health-related funding activity areas.
What is the FOA number for this opportunity?
The FOA number is RFA-MH-15-220.
When was the announcement posted, and what were the key dates?
The announcement was posted on December 19, 2014. The application due date was March 18, 2015. The opportunity was later archived on April 18, 2015.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding available across awards was about $1.5 million.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $250,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations, including public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and government entities (state, county, city/township, and special district).
Are minority-serving and community-based institutions eligible?
Yes. The opportunity highlights eligibility for HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and other designated serving institutions. It also notes faith-based or community-based organizations as eligible.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The opportunity indicates eligible federal agencies may apply.
Can a non-U.S. (foreign) organization apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component?
No. The opportunity states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
What research areas or program areas does this opportunity connect to?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA program areas spanning neuroscience and neurological disorders as well as mental health, substance use, aging, child health and development, vision research, and technology innovation for health.
Where were the official announcement details published?
The official announcement and details were provided through the NIH Grants Guide (referenced as the full RFA page in the source description).
Who was listed as a point of contact for access or linking issues?
NIH provided contact information through the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) web support for access or linking issues.
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Previous opportunity: BRAIN Initiative Short Courses in Computational Neuroscience (R25)
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