BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early-Stage Research for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21)
Funding organization: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Total funding ceiling: $400,000
Maximum project duration: 3 years
To support innovative recording and modulation technologies in the early stages of development.
Aim to enhance understanding of neural circuits and brain functions.
Researchers in neuroscience and related fields.
Organizations involved in the development of neurotechnologies.
Eligible organization types include higher education institutions, nonprofits, small businesses, and government entities.
Nonprofits can be either with or without 501(c)(3) IRS status.
Eligible applicants include both domestic and non-domestic (foreign) entities.
Focus on developing unique and innovative technologies for neural recording and modulation.
Projects must be in the earliest stages of development.
Application budgets may not exceed $400,000 total direct costs over a maximum three-year funding period.
No more than $200,000 in direct costs may be requested in any single year.
Application deadline: June 15, 2026.
No restrictions on prior grant funding mentioned.
Applications must follow the instructions in the Research (R) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide.
Applications will be evaluated based on significance, innovation, rigor, and feasibility.
Applications will undergo peer review and will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit.
Applications that propose novel technologies and interdisciplinary collaborations are particularly encouraged.
Applications must not propose clinical trials.
Technologies must be compatible with experiments in humans or behaving animals.
Encouragement for interdisciplinary collaborations across various scientific fields.
Focus on early-stage technologies may limit competition from established methods.
Innovative and unique approaches to neural recording and modulation.
Submitting applications that do not comply with the specific instructions outlined in the application guide.
Consider multi-PD/PI applications to integrate diverse expertise.
Highlight the novelty and potential impact of proposed technologies.