National Institutes of Health · United States

BRAIN Initiative: Development and Validation of Novel Tools and New Approaches for Neuroscience Research

Forecast — expected to open 10 Feb 2027

National Institutes of Health expects to make 10 awards, from a total budget of $12 million. This is a forecast: the funder has announced the opportunity but it is not open yet; posting is expected around 10 Feb 2027 and the estimated deadline is 10 Jun 2027. Eligible applicant types include private institutions of higher education, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, county governments and 12 more.

Deadline: Estimated 10 Jun 2027 (not yet confirmed)
Opens: 10 Feb 2027
Grant amount: ≈ $1.2 million per award (estimate: total ÷ 10 awards)
Total budget: $12 million
Funding rate: No mandatory cost sharing stated; funding percentage not stated
Total budget: $12 million
Expected awards: 10
Cost sharing: Not required
Likely applicant types: Universities & research, Public bodies, SMEs / start-ups, Companies, Non-profits From source categories or programme rules; the call decides.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Reference: RFA-MH-28-110
Assistance listing: 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants
Last checked: 15 Nov 2026

Open the official call ↗

About this call

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)

Read the full text

• 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 resolution

• Develop 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 system

• approaches that utilize any modality, such as optical, electrical, magnetic, or acoustic recording/manipulation

• approaches 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.

Who can apply

Private institutions of higher education
Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
County governments
State governments
Small businesses
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
City or township governments
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Special district governments
Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Independent school districts
Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
For profit organizations other than small businesses
Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.

Topics

Health

How to apply

Read the full notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) linked from the official page: eligibility, cost sharing and evaluation criteria.
Make sure your organisation has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID (UEI); registration can take several weeks.
For NIH: the organisation and the principal investigator also need eRA Commons accounts; applications are usually submitted through Grants.gov (for example with ASSIST).
Prepare the required forms, narrative, budget and attachments exactly as the NOFO specifies.
Submit before the deadline and keep the tracking number. Check for amendments before you submit.

From the call text

Who can apply: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
Company stage: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
Single applicant or consortium: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
Where applicants must be based: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
Where to apply: Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Contact

BRAIN Initiative · Please contact via e-mail

Where these facts come from

Fact	Value	How we know	Taken from the source
Deadline	10 June 2027	official data field	15 Nov 2026
Amount per applicant	Unknown — not stated in the source we hold	unknown	—
Total budget	$12 million	official data field	15 Nov 2026
Funding rate	No mandatory cost sharing stated; funding percentage not stated	read from the official text	15 Nov 2026
Who can apply	Private institutions of higher education; Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; County governments; State governments; Small businesses; Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than…	official data field	15 Nov 2026
Where to apply	Unknown — not stated in the source we hold	unknown	—

Official sources

Official call page

Facts on this page come from the funder’s official data, taken on 15 Nov 2026. The funder's own documents, including later amendments, always take precedence.