BRAIN Initiative: Proof of Concept Development of Early Stage Next Generation Human Brain Imaging (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA EB 20 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA EB 20 001

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering this grant opportunity under the BRAIN Initiative to push forward early, proof-of-concept work on next-generation, noninvasive human brain imaging. The central goal is to spark transformative leaps in how researchers can measure and understand human brain function and connectivity, especially by backing ideas that are genuinely new, unusually bold, or unconventional compared to standard approaches. This is not meant to be a large, mature technology development program; it is designed for small-scale projects that can convincingly demonstrate that a high-risk, high-reward imaging concept is feasible and worth further investment.

The scientific focus is specifically on noninvasive imaging methods for the human brain. That includes proposals that introduce entirely new imaging modalities, as well as proposals that take existing noninvasive imaging methods in an unexpected direction through a novel technical twist, a radically different acquisition strategy, a new signal source, or a creative integration of disciplines (for example, combining hardware, physics, computation, and neuroscience in a way that enables capabilities that current tools cannot provide). The emphasis is on technologies that could ultimately change the field by enabling better measurement of neural activity, functional dynamics, or brain-wide connectivity in humans. The FOA language highlights transformative potential, meaning applicants should be aiming beyond incremental improvements and should instead articulate what new kind of observation or inference about the human brain their method could eventually make possible.

This funding announcement uses the R01 grant mechanism and is explicitly labeled “Clinical Trial Not Allowed,” which means projects should not be structured as clinical trials. In practical terms, applicants should design studies around technology development and early validation rather than testing clinical interventions or evaluating health outcomes in a trial framework. Human subjects research may still be possible if it is appropriate for demonstrating feasibility of the imaging approach, but it must not cross into clinical trial territory as defined by NIH. The spirit of the program is development and demonstration of the imaging technology itself rather than clinical efficacy testing.

The opportunity is identified as “BRAIN Initiative: Proof of Concept Development of Early Stage Next Generation Human Brain Imaging (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)” with Funding Opportunity Number RFA-EB-20-001. It is a discretionary grant program administered by NIH, with activity areas spanning education and health-related categories reflected in multiple CFDA listings (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867). The posted award ceiling is $300,000, signaling that budgets are expected to be modest and aligned with proof-of-concept work rather than full-scale platform buildouts. The source data does not specify the exact number of expected awards in this excerpt, but the overall framing suggests selective support for a limited set of compelling, high-innovation proposals.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can contribute to innovative technology development. Standard eligible applicants listed include state, county, and local governments; 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; tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other entities. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations), Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. This breadth reflects an intent to draw in diverse technical perspectives and institutional strengths, including organizations positioned to contribute unique engineering, computational, and neuroscience innovation.

Key administrative details from the source include an NIH creation date of June 29, 2020, and an original closing date of September 3, 2021. Overall, the program is best read as an invitation to propose a sharply defined, technically daring imaging concept for humans, backed by a realistic plan to demonstrate feasibility with a small, focused set of milestones, producing evidence that the idea can work and can open new doors for mapping or understanding brain function and connectivity.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Proof of Concept Development of Early Stage Next Generation Human Brain Imaging (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): 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-06-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-09-03. (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 $300,000.00 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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