The BRAIN Blog

Many of the more than 29,000 attendees of the most recent Society for Neuroscience (SfN) conference in Chicago took advantage of several opportunities to learn more about the exciting research funded by The BRAIN Initiative.

Microbubbles help lasers focus on neurons deep in the brain…New genetically encoded voltage indicator reveals individual action potentials…Scientists use RNA sequencing to classify neurons in primary visual cortex.

Microbubbles help lasers focus on neurons deep in the brain

Following the announcement of a Public-Private Partnership Program in early fall, NIH has released two notices of funding opportunities for small business concerns to develop the latest-generation implantable stimulating and/or recording devices for translational and clinical neuroscience research in humans.

NIH has issued additional Requests for Applications (RFAs) for the BRAIN Initiative that address critical components of the BRAIN 2025 Report due to their focus on tool development and mechanistic understanding of non-invasive neuromodulation techniques. Further, a re-issued opportunity expands support of early-stage research in large-scale recording and modulation. For the full list of BRAIN Initiative active funding announcements for fiscal year 2016, please visit our Active Funding Opportunities page. 

NIH has re-issued three Requests for Applications (RFAs) for the BRAIN Initiative that address critical components of the BRAIN 2025 Report due to their focus on developing tools to analyze cells and circuits and technologies for large-scale recording and modulation.

In recent weeks, the NIH BRAIN Initiative released five new requests for applications (RFAs) related to human neuroscience research that range from the development of invasive stimulating and recording devices to investigating non-invasive imaging techniques. These RFAs rely on partnerships between clinicians, laboratory scientists, device manufacturers, and also include a research agreement by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council.

Separate events on Wednesday, October 1 highlighted the awardees of the second round of NIH BRAIN Initiative grants and additional investments by the Kavli Foundation to support the BRAIN Initiative. NIH announced funding of 67 new projects to advance our understanding of neural circuit function and greatly enhance our ability to record from the brain in action.

Cori Bargmann talks with The New York Times about her research and the goals of the BRAIN Initiative

The NIH BRAIN Initiative has released three notices of funding opportunities for partnerships between clinical investigators and manufacturers of the latest-generation implantable stimulating and/or recording devices for clinical neuroscience research in humans.

A central focus of the BRAIN Initiative is development of technologies for recording and modulating neural circuits. Such technologies may be incorporated into devices to be implanted in the brain or spinal cord that can, for example, treat Parkinson’s disease or restore movement in the case of spinal cord injury.

NIH has released three new exciting Requests for Applications (RFAs) for the BRAIN Initiative, and we are encouraging researchers from across the physical and life sciences, as well as engineering and statistical disciplines, to submit applications to these and future open BRAIN Initiative funding opportunities.