This week, we will highlight BRAIN Initiative notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) for fiscal year 2022. This post features funding opportunities to develop, test, and utilize next-gen neural devices to advance our knowledge about the brain.
These NOFOs encourage translational and clinical studies for innovative invasive recording and/ or stimulating devices in humans (e.g., Early Feasibility Studies). These awards are part of the BRAIN Public-Private Partnership Program (BRAIN PPP), which fosters collaborative clinical studies between investigators and manufacturers of novel Class III (invasive, risky) neural devices. Researchers, institutions, or businesses working with manufacturers and/ or those developing neural devices to treat pain (see NOT-NS-052) are encouraged to apply.
RFA-NS-21-023 Next-Generation Invasive Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human Central Nervous System (UG3/UH3; reissue of RFA-NS-18-021) and RFA-NS-21-024 (UH3; Reissue of RFA-NS-18-022)
These two awards support non-clinical testing of a neural device and one small clinical trial designed to assess the function and final design of a device before full-scale clinical trials and market approval. Projects must focus on a single disorder that falls within the mission of the BRAIN Initiative. Investigators involved in small business pursuits should consider the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) U44 grant RFA-NS-18-022. Applications for both awards are due on February 18, June 20, and October 18, 2022.
RFA-NS-21-024 Clinical Studies to Advance Next-Generation Invasive Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human Central Nervous System (UH3; Reissue of RFA-NS-18-023)
This NOFO encourages investigators to pursue a small clinical trial to obtain essential information about the function and design of a neural device. Applications are due on February 18, June 20, and October 18, 2022.
Stay tuned for an upcoming U01 funding opportunity for research teams interested in pursuing high-impact research questions using invasive recording and stimulating technologies in humans (see NOT-NS-21-064 for details).
Many BRAIN grant applications require plans for data sharing (NOT-MH-19-010) and a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP; NOT-MH-21-310). Please carefully review each NOFO to see if an award falls under one or both policies.
Please visit the BRAIN Initiative’s Funding Opportunities webpage for more details on these and other awards. Did you miss earlier posts this week on FY2021 NOFOs? If so, check out the main BRAIN blog page here.