The NOFOs below aim to advance our ability to study specific cell types and circuits by developing, validating, and disseminating cutting-edge technologies to the broader neuroscience community.
Did you know that BRAIN-funded researchers can receive administrative supplements to help disseminate their new technologies and resources? Applications for this supplement will be accepted until February 28, 2022. See NOT-NS-21-014 for details.
RFA-MH-21-180 Reagent Resources for Brain Cell Type-Specific Access and Manipulation to Broaden Distribution of Enabling Technologies for Neuroscience (U24; Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
This NOFO supports the development of technologies, production efforts, and dissemination resources for a cell type-specific armamentarium to study brain function across species. Specifically, the award aims to build facilities at minority-serving and Institutional Development Award (IDeA)-eligible institutions for scaled production and distribution of brain cell type-specific access and manipulation reagents. Examples include viral vectors, nanoparticles, improved transgenic engineering methods, molecular sensors, optogenetic and chemogenetic effector proteins, and others. Please read the full NOFO or our prior blog post for more details. Applications are due on July 12, 2022.
RFA-MH-21-175 Development and Validation of Novel Tools to Probe Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in the Brain (R01; Clinical Trial Not Allowed; Reissue of RFA-MH-19-136)
This NOFO funds projects to develop and validate next-generation, innovative tools (both non-genetic and genetic) that inform and/ or exploit cell types and circuits. Successful applications should include detailed plans for validation. Examples of tools include novel methods for delivering active agents to specific cells and circuits and unique systems-level computational approaches to define cell and circuit function. Please see the full NOFO for a list of tools. Tools useable in multiple species/ model organisms are highly desired. The next application due date is June 7, 2022.
RFA-NS-22-011 Research Resource Grants for Technology Integration and Dissemination (U24; Clinical Trial Not Allowed; Reissue of RFA-NS-19-006)
This NOFO aims to accelerate the impact of the BRAIN Initiative by rapidly disseminating already developed and validated technologies and resources to the broader neuroscience research community. Proposed techniques and resources should be at a well-validated stage; proposals focused solely on technology development are not applicable. Applications are due on February 15 and October 14, 2022.
Stay tuned for two U19 funding opportunities for research teams interested in elucidating the neural circuitry of behavior. For details, please see notices NOT-NS-21-062 and NOT-NS-21-063.
Neurobiology of Pain and Endogenous Opioids
The BRAIN Initiative aims to understand how neural circuit activity translates to sensory, emotional, and cognitive functions, all of which are closely related to or controlled by pain circuits or endogenous opioid systems. As such, BRAIN recently began funding projects to elucidate the basic neurobiology and circuits of pain processing, analgesia, and mechanisms implicated in opioid use. Please see notices NOT-NS-18-008 (pain) and NOT-DA-10-046 (opioids) 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.
Visit the BRAIN Initiative’s Funding Opportunities webpage for more details on these and other awards. Did you miss earlier posts this week? If so, check out the main BRAIN blog page here.