NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience: Coordination Center for Interoception Research (BPCCIR) (U24, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research initiative. This opportunity, titled NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience: Coordination Center for Interoception Research (BPCCIR), is structured as a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism. The program does not allow clinical trials and is designed to advance multidisciplinary interoception research. Interoception is defined as the processes by which an organism senses, interprets, integrates, and regulates internal bodily signals, with implications for mental health, chronic disease, and overall wellness. The NIH seeks to establish a coordination center to bridge the gap between brain and body research, facilitate collaboration, and develop sustainable practices for advancing the field. The funding opportunity is supported by multiple NIH Institutes and Centers, including the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), the National Eye Institute (NEI), the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Additional co-funding may be provided by the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research and the Office of Research on Women’s Health. These organizations aim to jointly accelerate discoveries in neuroscience, reduce the burden of nervous system disorders, and promote integrative research. The scope of the program includes forming a multidisciplinary governance board, organizing at least one annual scientific investigator meeting, producing major publications on interoception challenges and opportunities, and developing standardized terminology and data elements. Other requirements include creating a centralized communication hub to foster collaboration and providing sustainability plans to ensure the long-term vitality of the interoception research community. Applications must include all five required elements—governance board, annual investigator meetings, required publications, a communication hub, and a metrics-based plan—otherwise they will be deemed nonresponsive and withdrawn without review. The funding available for this NOFO is approximately $700,000 in total costs annually, with one award anticipated. The maximum project period is five years, and applications must demonstrate budgets aligned with actual project needs. NIH policies, as outlined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, apply to this opportunity. Awards are provided under cooperative agreements, meaning NIH staff will play a significant role in guiding, coordinating, and evaluating the funded project. Applicants must carefully consider governance structures, meeting planning, sustainability strategies, and publication requirements to demonstrate their ability to meet program goals. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions (both public and private), nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations including small businesses, and various levels of government (state, county, city, township, and special district governments). Other eligible entities include independent school districts, housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations, and faith-based or community-based organizations. Foreign organizations are not eligible, but foreign components of U.S.-based organizations are allowed. All applicant organizations must complete required registrations, including SAM.gov, Grants.gov, eRA Commons, and NCAGE for foreign entities. Program Directors/Principal Investigators must have an eRA Commons account prior to submission. Applications open on October 10, 2025, with the same date serving as the due date for Letters of Intent. Full applications are due November 10, 2025, by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. The review process will take place in March 2026, followed by Advisory Council review in May 2026, and the earliest start date is projected for July 2026. The NOFO expires on November 11, 2025. Applicants are required to follow all NIH submission instructions, including specific page limits, data management and sharing plans, and post-submission requirements. Non-compliant applications will not be reviewed. Applications will be evaluated on significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and environment. Reviewers will assess the ability to establish effective multidisciplinary teams, develop user-friendly digital platforms for collaboration, host impactful annual meetings, and generate valuable publications. Sustainability, reproducibility, and long-term impact will also weigh heavily in evaluations. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NIH scientific staff at least 30 days prior to submission for guidance. Scientific contacts include Dr. Wen G. Chen (NCCIH), Dr. Melissa Ghim (NIDCR), Dr. Leslie Osborne (NINDS), Dr. Elena Gorodetsky (ORWH), and others across participating Institutes. For grants management inquiries, contacts include Debbie Chen (NCCIH), Gabriel Hidalgo (NIDCR), and officials at NINDS, NIA, NIAAA, NIEHS, and NEI.