BRAIN Initiative: Promoting Health for All Through BRAIN Technology Partnerships (R34 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, is offering a funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Promoting Health for All Through BRAIN Technology Partnerships (R34 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)." This funding opportunity is coordinated by several NIH components including the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Eye Institute (NEI), National Institute on Aging (NIA), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and other institutes focused on neurological, mental health, and sensory disorders. The opportunity aligns with agency priorities as of March 31, 2025, and supports the broader BRAIN Initiative effort funded under the 21st Century Cures Act. The program encourages the development and dissemination of innovative neurotechnologies to better understand brain function and, ultimately, improve treatments for neurological and mental health conditions. The goal of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to support research partnerships between investigators at resource-limited institutions (RLIs) and experienced disseminators of BRAIN Initiative technologies. Eligible RLIs are those that have received less than $7.5 million per year in NIH Research Project Grants in four of the last seven fiscal years. These collaborations must focus on the adoption and integration of well-validated technologies, tools, or resources listed under NIH BRAIN U24 programs or BRAIN Initiative Alliance Developed Resources. This is a planning grant (R34 mechanism) and does not support clinical trials or the development of unproven technologies. Projects must demonstrate mutual benefit between the RLI investigator and the technology disseminator, emphasizing knowledge transfer and the integration of the technology into ongoing research or training programs. The funding opportunity limits direct costs to $225,000 annually, with a total project period of up to three years and a maximum of $450,000 in funding. The expected number of awards is four, with an estimated total program budget of $1.8 million. Eligible expenses may include travel, training, reagents, and student participation in research activities. Minor enhancements to the technology to suit local needs are permitted but must not be the main focus. Proposals should clearly outline feasibility studies or training plans designed to enable long-term use and dissemination of the selected technology within the RLI and potentially across other institutions. Applications must be submitted electronically using NIH’s ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution. A letter of intent is encouraged but not required and must be submitted 30 days before the application deadline. The earliest submission date is May 17, 2025, with application deadlines falling on June 17 of both 2025 and 2026. Reviews and awards will follow NIH’s standard peer review and advisory council procedures, with the earliest award start date expected in February of the following year. The NOFO is set to expire on June 18, 2026. Applications will be evaluated based on three main criteria: the importance of the research, the rigor and feasibility of the proposed methods, and the expertise and institutional support of the investigators. Reviewers will also consider plans for bidirectional feedback between the RLI and the technology disseminator, the novelty and sustainability of the partnership, and any plans for integrating students and trainees into the project. While preliminary data is not required, applications must clearly describe the intended outcomes and milestones, especially if training is a central focus. For inquiries, applicants are encouraged to contact Dr. Natalie Trzcinski at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) via email at natalie.trzcinski@nih.gov. Technical assistance for electronic submission is available through the eRA Service Desk and Grants.gov support lines. All applicants must comply with NIH registration requirements, including registration with eRA Commons, Grants.gov, SAM.gov, and obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The NIH emphasizes that the selection process will not consider race, ethnicity, age, or sex in any aspect of the evaluation or funding decision.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult the scientific contact and strictly follow all application formatting and content guidelines.