BRAIN Initiative: New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA NS 25 018

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 25 018

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), under the BRAIN Initiative, is offering an R01 grant opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-NS-25-018). The core purpose of this funding announcement is to push neuroscience technology forward by supporting proof-of-concept development and testing of entirely new or significantly improved ways to record and manipulate activity in the central nervous system (CNS). The emphasis is on understanding dynamic brain circuit function, meaning the real-time signaling and interactions that occur within and across neural and non-neural cell populations that ultimately drive behavior and physiology.

The opportunity is aimed at exceptionally creative, potentially high-risk projects that tackle major technical barriers in measuring and controlling CNS activity. NIH is explicitly looking for technologies that can work at or near cellular resolution, operate across multiple spatial and/or temporal scales, and function in any brain region, including deep structures throughout the full thickness of the brain. In practical terms, the program is trying to enable researchers to see and influence brain activity with far greater precision and coverage than is currently routine, with the understanding that some approaches may be exploratory but could be transformative if they succeed.

A key expectation is that proposed tools and methods must be compatible with experiments in behaving animals and should be validated under in vivo conditions rather than remaining purely theoretical or limited to simplified preparations. The intent is not only to invent clever devices or assays, but to produce enabling technologies that actually reduce major obstacles to conducting neurobiological experiments and that open the door to new discoveries about how the CNS works. The "recording and modulation" scope is broad and includes stimulation or activation, inhibition, and other forms of manipulation, and it applies to both neuronal and non-neuronal cells as well as networks. Importantly, the FOA encourages moving beyond traditional electrical recordings alone, welcoming modalities such as optical, magnetic, acoustic, and genetic approaches for sensing and intervention, as well as hybrid strategies.

The announcement encourages applicants to integrate multiple approaches when appropriate, for example combining a new sensor with a complementary modulation method, pairing hardware advances with computational modeling, or uniting novel materials and fabrication with biological targeting strategies. Projects are also expected, when suitable, to bring together the needed multidisciplinary expertise spanning biological, chemical, and physical sciences; engineering; computational modeling; and statistical analysis. This signals that NIH is looking for teams capable of both building the technology and rigorously demonstrating performance, limitations, and practical utility under realistic experimental conditions.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant using the NIH R01 mechanism, and it explicitly does not allow clinical trials. The original closing date listed for applications is January 20, 2026. While the award ceiling and the expected number of awards are not specified in the provided listing, the opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting the cross-cutting relevance of the BRAIN Initiative across several NIH institutes and programs.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and government entities, such as state, county, city, township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled and private institutions of higher education; independent school districts; and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. It also includes federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations, nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. In addition, the FOA highlights expanded eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, regional organizations, and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities where applicable. Overall, the program is designed to attract a wide range of applicants who can deliver breakthrough technology concepts and demonstrate real-world feasibility for recording and modulating CNS activity in vivo, especially in behaving animal models.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-09-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-01-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA NS 25 018

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