Forecasted · Grant
BRAIN Initiative: Development and Validation of Novel Tools and New Approaches for Neuroscience Research
National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services
Key facts
Copied from the official Grants.gov record. Last verified October 30, 2026.
- Program name
- BRAIN Initiative: Development and Validation of Novel Tools and New Approaches for Neuroscience Research
- Issuing agency
- National Institutes of Health (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Opportunity number
- RFA-MH-28-110
- Funding type
- Grant
- Funding purpose
- Health
- Status
- Forecasted
- Application deadline
- Forecasted · estimated close June 10, 2027 (agency estimate)
- Agency estimates
- Estimated posting: February 10, 2027. Estimated award date: April 1, 2028. Estimates can change.
- Published award range
- Not published by the agency
- Estimated total program funding
- $12,000,000
- Expected number of awards
- 10
- Cost sharing or match required
- No
- Eligible applicants (official categories)
- 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 (see Additional Information on Eligibility)
- Relevant to
- Businesses and NonprofitsHow we determined this: Grants.gov eligibility includes small businesses or for-profit organizations. Grants.gov eligibility includes nonprofit organizations.
- Geographic restrictions
- None stated in structured data (federal opportunities are often nationwide). Check the eligibility details and full announcement for any limits.
- Assistance Listing (CFDA)
- 93.242
- Official source
- View on Grants.gov ↗
- Application URL
- www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362947 ↗Apply through Grants.gov (Workspace) using the application package on the official listing, unless the full announcement names a different submission system.
- Source identifier
- Grants.gov opportunity ID 362947 · Funding opportunity number RFA-MH-28-110
- Posted
- June 24, 2026 · Source last updated June 25, 2026
- Last verified
- October 30, 2026 (against Grants.gov)
- Data completeness
- 92% of key fields published by the sourceNot published: published funding range.
- Record confidence
- mediumforecast — dates and amounts are agency estimates.
Eligibility details (from the agency)
Other Eligible ApplicantsEligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions).
Description (from the official listing)
The Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for research to develop novel tools and approaches that enable the interrogation of cell-specific and circuit-specific processes in the central nervous system. This NOFO consolidates three current BRAIN Initiative tool development programs.Projects that focus on developing a broad range of new research tools to delineate anatomical and functional connections between cells and circuits, and to expand our knowledge of brain architecture and function are encouraged, such as projects that:Develop novel tools to characterize/define cell-types, circuits, and cellular components in the nervous system with greater selectivity and sensitivity, including:new genetic or non-genetic technologies/approaches (for delivering genes, proteins, and chemicals to access and/or manipulate cells of interest)novel sensors or tracers for imaging or monitoring molecules, structures, and activities within single cells and circuits with significant advances in sensitivity, selectivity, or spatiotemporal resolutionDevelop new technologies and novel approaches for recording and modulation of neural cells and circuits, including:approaches to address major challenges and enable transformative understanding of dynamic signaling in the central nervous systemapproaches that utilize any modality, such as optical, electrical, magnetic, or acoustic recording/manipulationapproaches to target neuronal electrical signals or other forms of neural…
Read the full description
The Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for research to develop novel tools and approaches that enable the interrogation of cell-specific and circuit-specific processes in the central nervous system. This NOFO consolidates three current BRAIN Initiative tool development programs.Projects that focus on developing a broad range of new research tools to delineate anatomical and functional connections between cells and circuits, and to expand our knowledge of brain architecture and function are encouraged, such as projects that:Develop novel tools to characterize/define cell-types, circuits, and cellular components in the nervous system with greater selectivity and sensitivity, including:new genetic or non-genetic technologies/approaches (for delivering genes, proteins, and chemicals to access and/or manipulate cells of interest)novel sensors or tracers for imaging or monitoring molecules, structures, and activities within single cells and circuits with significant advances in sensitivity, selectivity, or spatiotemporal resolutionDevelop new technologies and novel approaches for recording and modulation of neural cells and circuits, including:approaches to address major challenges and enable transformative understanding of dynamic signaling in the central nervous systemapproaches that utilize any modality, such as optical, electrical, magnetic, or acoustic recording/manipulationapproaches to target neuronal electrical signals or other forms of neural activity, including intracellular signaling and engagement of non-neuronal cells in circuit function.Projects at broad stages of development are supported, from unique and innovative technologies that are in the earliest stage of development (including new and untested ideas that are in the initial stages of conceptualization) through the optimization of existing instrumentation with transformative potential in order to facilitate broad adoption. Applications that offer transformative approaches that break through existing technical barriers and substantially improve current capabilities are strongly encouraged. Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO will utilize the RP1 activity code.
Agency contact
BRAIN Initiative
BRAINTools@nih.gov.