This week, a series of daily blog posts will highlight 28 new and reissued BRAIN Initiative notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs) for 2021. Today’s post focuses on awards for training, equity, and inclusion; technology dissemination; and small business.
Welcome to NOFO week! In recent years, BRAIN-funded scientists have developed new tools and technologies that now allow us to uncover the complexities of the brain in incredible detail. Next year’s funding will continue to accelerate neuroscience discovery by building upon the early successes of the Initiative. In this blog series, we’re excited to highlight several BRAIN 2.0 transformative project NOFOs, which will support the development and dissemination of resources and data to the research community.
This week, we will guide you through each of the 28 BRAIN Initiative NOFOs for 2021. These awards support training, small business programs, and span across all seven BRAIN priority areas: from developing and validating innovative tools for studying cells and circuits, to mapping the brain across species and advancing human neuroscience.
Training, Equity, and Inclusion
RFA-NS-19-043 BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00; Clinical Trial Not Allowed) RFA-NS-19-044 (K99/R00; Clinical Trial Required)
This NOFO aims to enhance workforce diversity in neuroscience and foster a strong cohort of highly skilled, well-trained independent investigators working in BRAIN Initiative research areas. This program is intended for members of underrepresented racial or ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and women. Applications are due on February 10, 2021; June 9, 2021; and October 6, 2021.
K99/R00 applicants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for an extension for both new and resubmitted applications. Please see the notice of eligibility extension (NOT-NS-21-004) for this award, as well as the previous blog post on this extension.
RFA-MH-20-620 BRAIN Initiative Fellows: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Reissue of RFA-MH-18-510; F32)
This NOFO seeks to enhance the research training of promising postdoctoral scientists who are conducting work on BRAIN Initiative research. Applications that align with any of the BRAIN Initiative research priority areas are encouraged, including neuroethics. This program encourages individuals who have not yet completed their terminal doctoral degree and who expect to do so within 12 months of the application receipt date to apply. The application due dates are August 10, 2021; April 11, 2022; and December 9, 2022.
Did you know that BRAIN awardees can request additional funds to train and mentor individuals from groups underrepresented in biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences? To learn more, please see the notice (NOT-MH-19-038) to encourage applications for research supplements to promote diversity in health-related research (PA-21-071).
Technology Dissemination
RFA-NS-19-006 Research Resource Grants for Technology Integration and Dissemination (Reissue of NS-18-005; U24)
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 to this NOFO. Applications are due on June 27, 2021.
Small Business
PA-18-871 (SBIR) Development Optimization, and Validation of Novel Tools and Technologies for Neuroscience Research (Reissue of PAR-18-501; R43/R44); PA-18-870 (STTR) (Reissue of PAR-18-515; R41/R42)
This pair of small business NOFOs support the development of novel tools and technologies through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program. In addition to tool development, these NOFOs encourage the commercialization of neurotechnologies. Funding can support the refinement of tools and technologies with the end-goal of escalating manufacturing and integrating them into regular neuroscience practice. Applications for both awards are due on January 5, 2021; April 5, 2021; and September 5, 2021.
RFA-NS-18-022 Next-Gen Invasive Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human CNS (Reissue of RFA-NS-17-007; SBIR U44)
This NOFO encourages investigators involved in small businesses to pursue translational and clinical projects focused on using recording and/or stimulating neural devices in humans via the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. Funding can support non-clinical testing and one small clinical trial designed to assess the function and final design of a device prior to more advanced clinical trials and market approval. Projects must focus on a single disorder that falls within the mission of the BRAIN Initiative. The application receipt date is February 22, 2021.
Please visit the BRAIN Initiative’s Funding Opportunities webpage for more details on these and other awards.