Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 23 023
The BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Planning Projects (TargetedBCPP) opportunity (RFA-NS-23-023) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement for an R34 planning grant that supports early, feasibility-focused work in brain circuit research. It is explicitly a "Clinical Trials Not Allowed" mechanism, meaning proposals should not be designed as clinical trials. This notice of funding opportunity is a reissue of earlier versions (RFA-NS-18-014 and RFA-NS-21-014, and most recently RFA-NS-22-027) and was reissued to comply with the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy (DMSP). Importantly, the reissue does not add any new due dates; the listed closing date remains 2024-10-02.
The purpose of this R34 is to fund exploratory, limited-scope projects that generate the kinds of technically qualifying results needed to justify and enable a larger, subsequent project. In practice, this means the application should focus on establishing feasibility, demonstrating validity, producing pilot data, or resolving key technical uncertainties that would make a future full-scale study realistic and competitive. The end goal is to lay the groundwork for a potential follow-on application to the companion Targeted BRAIN Circuits Projects R01 program (TargetedBCP), described in the companion NOFO RFA-NS-22-026. In other words, this is meant to be a planning and de-risking step: applicants are expected to propose tightly defined aims that clarify whether an integrated approach will work and what it can reliably measure or manipulate in neural circuits.
Scientifically, the announcement emphasizes innovative and methodologically integrated strategies to understand how brain circuit activity produces mental experience and behavior. That framing points to projects that combine complementary tools or data streams to link circuit dynamics to cognition, perception, emotion, decision-making, or other behavioral outputs. The expectation is not to complete a comprehensive circuit theory or a definitive mechanistic story within the R34 period, but to show that the approach is workable and informative enough to support a subsequent, more ambitious R01 effort under the companion announcement.
From an administrative and funding perspective, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant program under NIH, with funding activity spanning areas that include health and related research domains (as reflected in the multiple CFDA numbers listed: 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867). The award ceiling is $450,000, which signals a relatively constrained budget consistent with a planning grant focused on feasibility and pilot work rather than large-scale execution. While the listing does not specify the expected number of awards, the overall structure suggests NIH intends to fund projects that are well-justified, technically rigorous, and clearly positioned to transition into an R01-scale TargetedBCP application if the planning milestones succeed.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicants. Eligible entities include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); eligible federal government agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; regional organizations; and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects an intent to attract strong, innovative circuit-planning proposals from a diverse range of institutions and organizational types.
Taken together, this opportunity is best viewed as a stepping-stone BRAIN Initiative mechanism for researchers who have a promising, modern circuit-focused idea but need a focused planning phase to prove that the concept, tools, integration strategy, and measures are feasible and valid. A competitive application under this R34 would typically read like a careful feasibility plan: narrow aims, clear technical milestones, a strong rationale for the integrated methods, and a convincing explanation of how successful completion would directly enable a subsequent TargetedBCP R01 application under the companion funding announcement.Apply for RFA NS 23 023
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Planning Projects TargetedBCPP (R34 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-04-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-10-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $450,000.00 in funding.
- 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.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Projects- TargetedBCP (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 23 024 Funding Number: RFA NS 23 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Development of Novel Tools to Probe Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in Human and Non-Human Primate Brain (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA MH 23 295 Funding Number: RFA MH 23 295 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Development and Validation of Novel Tools to Probe Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 23 290 Funding Number: RFA MH 23 290 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative Partnerships to Advance INterdisciplinary (PAIN) Training in Clinical Pain Research: The HEAL PAIN Cohort Program (T90/R90 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 24 015 Funding Number: RFA NS 24 015 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ClinGen Genomic Curation Expert Panels (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 199 Funding Number: PAR 23 199 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $220,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Toward Developing Quantitative Imaging and Other Relevant Biomarkers of Myofascial Tissues for Clinical Pain Management (R61/R33, Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA AT 24 003 Funding Number: RFA AT 24 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Development and Validation of Novel Tools to Probe Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 24 280 Funding Number: RFA MH 24 280 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Novel Targets for Opioid Use Disorders and Opioid Overdose (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 24 064 Funding Number: RFA DA 24 064 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Novel Targets for Opioid Use Disorders and Opioid Overdose (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 24 063 Funding Number: RFA DA 24 063 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Understanding Individual Differences in Human Pain Conditions (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NS 24 021 Funding Number: RFA NS 24 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Understanding and Mitigating Health Disparities experienced by People with Disabilities caused by Ableism (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 24 007 Funding Number: RFA HD 24 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| HEAL Initiative: HEAL KIDS (Knowledge, Innovation and Discovery Studies) Pain Program Resource and Data Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA HD 24 012 Funding Number: RFA HD 24 012 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Justice Community Overdose Innovation Network (JCOIN) - Phase II Coordination and Translation Center (U2C Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA DA 24 069 Funding Number: RFA DA 24 069 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Justice Community Overdose Innovation Network (JCOIN) - Phase II Methodology and Advanced Analytics Resource Center (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 24 068 Funding Number: RFA DA 24 068 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL INITIATIVE: Development and validation of remote or patient wearable device derived objective biosignatures or functional assessments to monitor pain for use as endpoints in clinical trials (UG3/UH3 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NS 24 023 Funding Number: RFA NS 24 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early-Stage Research for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA EY 23 001 Funding Number: RFA EY 23 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Health and Health Care Disparities Among Persons Living with Disabilities (R01 - Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for PAR 23 309 Funding Number: PAR 23 309 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Career Enhancement Award to Advance the Study of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in the Context of Maternal Morbidity and Mortality Research (K18 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 24 001 Funding Number: RFA OD 24 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| R25 for Short Courses on Techniques for Measuring Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in Different Populations (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 24 002 Funding Number: RFA OD 24 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Understanding the Impact of Healthcare System and Clinician Factors on Disparities in Maternal Morbidity and Mortality (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 24 059 Funding Number: PAR 24 059 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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