This Notice of Special Interest encourages eligible BRAIN Initiative awardees to apply for supplemental funds that will promote diversity in health-related research.
The NIH BRAIN Initiative announces the reissue of its Notice encouraging existing BRAIN awardees to apply for supplemental funds to promote diversity (NOT-NS-22-012). NIH is deeply invested in the diversity of the NIH-funded workforce (see NOT-OD-20-031) and encourages inclusion by supporting the participation of individuals from groups identified as underrepresented in the biomedical sciences.
The NIH BRAIN Initiative is firmly committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity in the research community. BRAIN investigators should strive to compose teams richly diverse in perspectives, backgrounds, and academic disciplines, and provide full opportunity and participation to individuals and groups underrepresented in neuroscience. The NIH diversity supplement offers an opportunity for BRAIN awardees to request additional funds to train and mentor the next generation of diverse researchers (from high school students to the faculty level), who will contribute to advancing the goals of the NIH BRAIN Initiative. The program also aligns with the Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP) for BRAIN research programs.
Existing awardees of NIH BRAIN Initiative grants are eligible to apply and must include “NOT-NS-22-012" (without quotation marks) in the Agency Routing Identifier field (box 4B) of the SF424 R&R form. Applications without this information in box 4B will not be considered for this initiative. Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with their Program Official to confirm eligibility or for assistance. Applications for diversity supplements must be submitted through PA-21-071 (Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
The BRAIN Diversity Supplements are reviewed on a rolling basis and decisions can take up to 8-10 weeks after the application is received. Applications for this Notice can be submitted after September 30, 2021.