Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience

The Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) program is a joint initiative led by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in collaboration with several other U.S. federal agencies, foreign governmental bodies, and binational organizations. Key U.S. partners include multiple institutes within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), such as the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and the National Institute of Mental Health, along with the Department of Energy (DOE). International participation includes Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), France’s National Research Agency (ANR), the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF), Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), and Spain’s State Research Agency (AEI). The CRCNS program supports collaborative research that applies computational approaches to understand brain function. It focuses on advancing theoretical models and computational tools that address the structural and functional mechanisms of the nervous system. The program encourages interdisciplinary collaborations that bridge computer science, neuroscience, biology, engineering, and the social and behavioral sciences. Two proposal categories are supported: Research Proposals, which describe interdisciplinary and collaborative projects, and Data Sharing Proposals, which focus on developing and distributing datasets and computational tools that support broader neuroscience research. The solicitation allows for domestic and international proposals. International projects can pursue parallel funding from foreign agencies through a unified proposal, ensuring aligned efforts and shared resources across borders. Eligible applicants include accredited U.S.-based institutions of higher education, nonprofit non-academic organizations, U.S. commercial organizations including small businesses, and U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories. Each principal investigator is limited to participating in no more than two proposals per review cycle. Applications must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov and follow the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Letters of Intent and preliminary proposals are not required. Proposals must adhere to specific formatting and content guidelines, including a Coordination Plan and documentation of prior support. Special topics like cloud computing and high-throughput computing access can be requested as supplementary resources. The CRCNS program is funded at approximately $5 to $30 million annually, with an estimated 20 to 30 awards distributed each year. Individual awards typically range from $100,000 to $250,000 in direct costs annually, for durations of three to five years. No cost-sharing is required. Proposals are reviewed jointly by a panel of experts coordinated by the NSF and its partner agencies, with funding decisions based on merit review criteria and agency-specific goals. Proposals for the FY 2025 cycle are due November 13, 2024, and those for FY 2026 are due November 12, 2025. Awardees are expected to attend an annual Principal Investigators’ meeting, and all projects must include a data management plan. Contact points for the CRCNS program include Kenneth Whang (kwhang@nsf.gov) and Heather Carroll (crcnshelp@nsf.gov), both at the NSF.