Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 22 027
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a discretionary grant opportunity under the BRAIN Initiative titled "BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Planning Projects - TargetedBCPP (R34 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number: RFA-NS-22-027). This announcement is a reissue of earlier versions (RFA-NS-18-014 and RFA-NS-21-014) and is structured as an R34 planning grant. In practical terms, it is meant to fund early-stage, tightly focused projects that generate the kinds of feasibility and technical groundwork needed before a team is ready to pursue a larger, full research project award. The intent is to help applicants produce convincing preliminary evidence that a future, more comprehensive Targeted BRAIN Circuits Project application (the companion R01 described in RFA-NS-22-026) would be realistic, well-justified, and technically executable.
The scientific purpose of the program is to support exploratory, innovative research that improves understanding of how brain circuit activity produces mental experience and behavior. The FOA emphasizes "methodologically-integrated approaches," meaning proposals are expected to combine complementary methods rather than relying on a single technique in isolation. The planning nature of the award signals that NIH is looking for work that proves out key elements of an approach: for example, demonstrating that a circuit can be identified and accessed reliably, that measurements are valid and interpretable, that a proposed manipulation or recording strategy works as intended, or that a data integration pipeline can connect circuit-level signals to behavioral or experiential readouts. The overall theme is circuit function and its relationship to cognition, perception, emotion, and behavior, with a strong push toward approaches that are both creative and technically rigorous.
Because this is an R34 "Clinical Trials Not Allowed" FOA, applicants need to design their work so it does not meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial. That generally means avoiding studies in humans where participants are prospectively assigned to an intervention to assess effects on health-related or behavioral outcomes. Applicants can still often work with human data or human participants in non-trial ways (for example, observational research or use of existing datasets), but they must be careful to stay within the non-clinical-trial boundaries described by NIH. The "planning projects" framing also implies that the scope should be limited and milestone-driven: the project should be focused on answering specific technical or feasibility questions that remove major barriers to a later R01-scale TargetedBCP application.
The opportunity is broad in who can apply. Eligible applicants include many types of U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private colleges and universities, and a wide range of nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education where applicable). For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also eligible, as are public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities and federally recognized tribal governments, plus tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional categories of eligible organizations, reflecting NIH's interest in broad participation: 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 agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
On funding specifics, the award ceiling listed is $225,000, indicating a relatively modest budget consistent with a feasibility and planning mechanism rather than a full-scale research program. The assistance instrument is a grant, and the activity categories span NIH-relevant public purposes, including education and health. Multiple CFDA numbers are associated with the announcement (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting the involvement of NIH institutes and programs that support neuroscience and related research areas under the broader BRAIN Initiative umbrella.
Timing details in the source information show an original closing date of 2024-02-13 and a creation date of 2022-02-10. Applicants considering this opportunity should treat the posted close date and any subsequent updates as controlling, and should expect the application to be evaluated in the context of whether it can credibly deliver the technical validation or feasibility outcomes needed to justify a later-stage R01 TargetedBCP proposal. Overall, this FOA is best viewed as a stepping-stone: it funds carefully bounded, high-value preparatory work that strengthens the foundation for ambitious circuit-level studies aimed at explaining how brain activity drives experience and behavior.Apply for RFA NS 22 027
- 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 2022-02-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-13. (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 $225,000.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Planning Projects - TargetedBCPP (R34 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-NS-22-027.
What type of grant mechanism is this?
This is an NIH R34 planning grant mechanism. It is designed to support early-stage, tightly focused planning and feasibility work rather than a full research project.
What is the main purpose of an R34 planning project under this FOA?
The purpose is to fund preparatory work that builds feasibility and technical groundwork so a future, larger Targeted BRAIN Circuits Project application is realistic, well-justified, and technically executable.
How does this FOA relate to a later-stage award?
This FOA is intended as a stepping-stone toward a more comprehensive Targeted BRAIN Circuits Project application. The companion R01 is referenced as RFA-NS-22-026.
Is this announcement new or a reissue?
It is a reissue of earlier versions, including RFA-NS-18-014 and RFA-NS-21-014.
What scientific area does the FOA focus on?
It supports exploratory, innovative research to improve understanding of how brain circuit activity produces mental experience and behavior, including relationships to cognition, perception, emotion, and behavior.
What does "Targeted BRAIN Circuits" mean in practical terms for an application?
Based on the description provided, it points to circuit-level studies that connect brain activity to experiential or behavioral readouts, with an emphasis on validating the technical ability to identify, access, measure, and interpret circuit function.
What does NIH mean by "methodologically-integrated approaches" in this FOA?
Proposals are expected to combine complementary methods rather than relying on a single technique in isolation. The goal is an integrated approach that can connect circuit-level signals to behavior or mental experience in a technically rigorous way.
What kinds of activities are appropriate for a planning/feasibility R34 under this announcement?
Appropriate activities include focused work that proves key elements of an approach, such as demonstrating that a circuit can be identified and accessed reliably, that measurements are valid and interpretable, that a manipulation or recording strategy works as intended, or that a data integration pipeline can connect circuit signals to behavioral or experiential measures.
How should the scope of work be framed for this planning project?
The scope should be limited, tightly focused, and milestone-driven, aimed at answering specific feasibility or technical questions that remove major barriers to a later R01-scale application.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. This is an "R34 Clinical Trials Not Allowed" funding opportunity, so applicants must design work that does not meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial.
What does "Clinical Trials Not Allowed" imply for study design?
It generally means avoiding studies in humans where participants are prospectively assigned to an intervention to assess effects on health-related or behavioral outcomes. Applicants should keep the project within NIH's non-clinical-trial boundaries.
Can projects involve humans or human data if clinical trials are not allowed?
Yes, projects can often work with human data or human participants in non-trial ways (for example, observational research or use of existing datasets), as long as the study remains outside NIH's definition of a clinical trial.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is broad and includes U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private colleges and universities, many nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding higher education where applicable), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, federally recognized tribal governments, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments.
Are minority-serving institutions and other designated organization types included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and eligible federal agencies.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations).
What is the maximum award amount mentioned for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $225,000, reflecting a modest budget consistent with feasibility and planning activities.
What is the assistance instrument for this opportunity?
The assistance instrument is a grant.
What activity categories does this funding opportunity fall under?
The activity categories span NIH-relevant public purposes, including education and health.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this announcement?
The announcement lists multiple CFDA numbers: 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867.
What are the key dates provided for this opportunity?
The source information lists a creation date of 2022-02-10 and an original closing date of 2024-02-13.
If dates or details change, which information should applicants rely on?
Applicants should treat the posted close date and any subsequent updates as controlling, based on the note in the provided description.
What will NIH likely look for when evaluating whether a project is a good fit?
Fit is strongly tied to whether the application can credibly deliver technical validation or feasibility outcomes that justify a later-stage R01 Targeted BRAIN Circuits Project proposal, and whether the approach is creative, technically rigorous, and methodologically integrated.
What is the simplest way to describe the role of this FOA in a research program?
It funds carefully bounded, high-value preparatory work that strengthens the foundation for more ambitious circuit-level studies aimed at explaining how brain activity drives experience and behavior.
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| BRAIN Initiative Connectivity across Scales (BRAIN CONNECTS): Specialized Projects for Scalable Technologies (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 049 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 049 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Connectivity across Scales (BRAIN CONNECTS): Comprehensive Centers for Human and Non-Human Primate Brain (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 047 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 047 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Research on Community Level Interventions for Firearm and Related Violence, Injury and Mortality Prevention (CLIF-VP) (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 22 115 Funding Number: PAR 22 115 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Clinical Trials Development for Co-Occurring Conditions in Individuals with Down syndrome: Phased Awards for INCLUDE (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA OD 22 010 Funding Number: RFA OD 22 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| BRAIN Initiative: Team-Research BRAIN Circuit Programs - TeamBCP (U19 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 040 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 040 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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