Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 26 140
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering a BRAIN Initiative funding opportunity called "Brain Behavior Quantification and Synchronization - Next Generation Sensor Technology Development (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-MH-26-140). It is a discretionary, cooperative agreement mechanism (U01), which typically means NIH program staff will have substantial involvement during the project, beyond what is common for a standard research grant. The central aim is to accelerate the development of next generation sensors and bioelectronic devices that can be synchronized in time with neural recording technologies, so that behavioral and physiological measurements can be aligned precisely with brain activity.
The scientific motivation behind the opportunity is that, despite major advances in brain recording methods, the field still lacks equally robust, quantitative ways to capture and model behavior in realistic, naturalistic settings. Traditional behavioral measures are often coarse, indirect, or difficult to compare across labs, species, tasks, or environments. This NOFO is positioned to close that gap by supporting technology development that can collect richer streams of behavioral, environmental, or physiological data and synchronize those data streams with simultaneous brain recordings. The expectation is that pairing high-quality sensor outputs with neural data will enable researchers to build new computational models of behavior that better reflect real-world complexity, in both humans and animal models.
From a project focus standpoint, the emphasis is on sensor and device development, especially tools that can produce data suitable for computational modeling when aligned with brain recordings. The sensors may be wearable, implantable, or externally mounted, and may include bioelectronic approaches, as long as the output can be reliably time-locked or otherwise synchronized with neural signals. The end goal is not simply to collect more data, but to create measurement systems that make it possible to generate, test, and refine computational descriptions of behavior with a level of detail and fidelity that has been hard to achieve using existing approaches.
Clinical trial involvement is listed as optional, meaning applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial component if it is justified and appropriate for validating or deploying the technology, but a clinical trial is not required. This gives teams flexibility to tailor their validation pathway, whether that is engineering-focused development, preclinical testing, human feasibility work, or a combination, as long as the work remains aligned with the NOFO's central purpose of synchronized brain-and-behavior measurement for computational modeling.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township 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; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The NOFO 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), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). In practical terms, this broad eligibility signals an interest in multi-sector technology development teams, including collaborations that combine engineering, neuroscience, computation, and translational expertise.
Key administrative details include an original closing date of 2027-06-15 and a creation date of 2024-10-23. The opportunity is listed under multiple CFDA numbers (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting the cross-cutting NIH institutes and programs that support BRAIN-related work. An award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source data, which often means applicants should rely on the full NOFO and NIH guidance for budget expectations, scope alignment, and program priorities.
Overall, this opportunity is geared toward teams that can build and validate sensor technologies capable of capturing nuanced behavioral and related signals in real-world conditions and synchronizing them tightly with neural recordings. The intended payoff is a new generation of computational models that link brain activity to behavior with greater precision and ecological validity than has been possible with conventional behavioral assays or unsynchronized measurement systems.Apply for RFA MH 26 140
- The National Institutes of Health in the health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Brain Behavior Quantification and Synchronization- Next Generation Sensor Technology Development (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-06-15.
- 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 BRAIN Initiative funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Brain Behavior Quantification and Synchronization - Next Generation Sensor Technology Development (U01 Clinical Trial Optional)."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (NOFO/RFA number)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA-MH-26-140.
Which agency is offering this grant opportunity?
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering this funding opportunity under the BRAIN Initiative.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central aim is to accelerate development of next generation sensors and bioelectronic devices that can be synchronized in time with neural recording technologies, so behavioral and physiological measurements can be aligned precisely with brain activity.
What problem is this program trying to address?
Despite major advances in brain recording methods, the field still lacks equally robust, quantitative ways to capture and model behavior in realistic, naturalistic settings. Traditional behavioral measures are often coarse, indirect, or hard to compare across labs, species, tasks, or environments.
What types of technologies are being supported?
The emphasis is on sensor and device development, including next generation sensors and bioelectronic devices that produce outputs that can be reliably time-locked or otherwise synchronized with neural signals.
Do the sensors need to work alongside neural recording systems?
Yes. The opportunity is specifically focused on technologies whose behavioral, environmental, or physiological measurements can be synchronized with simultaneous brain recordings to enable precise alignment of data streams.
What kinds of sensor form factors are in scope?
Sensors may be wearable, implantable, or externally mounted. Bioelectronic approaches are also within scope, as long as the output can be reliably synchronized with neural recording data.
Is the goal simply to collect more behavioral data?
No. The end goal is to create measurement systems that make it possible to generate, test, and refine computational descriptions of behavior with a higher level of detail and fidelity than existing approaches, when aligned with brain recordings.
What types of data are emphasized beyond behavior?
The NOFO highlights richer streams of behavioral, environmental, or physiological data, with a strong emphasis on synchronizing those data streams with brain activity measurements.
How does computational modeling fit into the purpose of this opportunity?
The expectation is that pairing high-quality sensor outputs with neural data will enable researchers to build new computational models of behavior that better reflect real-world complexity, in both humans and animal models.
Does this opportunity support work in humans, animals, or both?
Both are within the stated motivation and expected impact. The opportunity references improved modeling in both humans and animal models.
What does "U01" mean for this opportunity?
This is a discretionary, cooperative agreement mechanism (U01). In general, a U01 indicates NIH program staff will have substantial involvement during the project, beyond what is typical for a standard research grant.
Is a clinical trial required?
No. The opportunity is listed as "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning a clinical trial component may be proposed if justified and appropriate, but it is not required.
When might a clinical trial be included under this opportunity?
Applicants may propose a clinical trial component if it is justified and appropriate for validating or deploying the technology, but the work should remain aligned with the central purpose of synchronized brain-and-behavior measurement for computational modeling.
What kinds of project pathways does the program allow?
The description indicates flexibility to tailor a validation pathway, including engineering-focused development, preclinical testing, human feasibility work, or a combination, as long as it supports synchronized brain-and-behavior measurement technology development.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry, including (but not limited to) state, county, city or township 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; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The NOFO explicitly highlights additional eligible categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; AANAPISIs; Hispanic-serving Institutions; HBCUs; TCCUs; and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligible applicants include eligible federal agencies.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The NOFO includes U.S. territories or possessions among the explicitly highlighted eligible applicant categories.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).
Does this opportunity encourage multi-sector teams?
The broad eligibility is described as signaling interest in multi-sector technology development teams, including collaborations combining engineering, neuroscience, computation, and translational expertise.
What is the application due date (closing date) provided?
The original closing date listed is 2027-06-15.
What is the creation date for the opportunity?
The creation date provided is 2024-10-23.
Are the award ceiling and expected number of awards known?
They are not specified in the provided information. The description notes that applicants may need to rely on the full NOFO and NIH guidance for budget expectations, scope alignment, and program priorities.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under multiple CFDA numbers: 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867.
Why are multiple CFDA numbers listed?
The provided description indicates that multiple CFDA numbers reflect cross-cutting NIH institutes and programs that support BRAIN-related work.
What kind of outcomes is NIH aiming for with this program?
The intended payoff is a new generation of computational models linking brain activity to behavior with greater precision and ecological validity than conventional behavioral assays or unsynchronized measurement systems.
What does "synchronization" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Synchronization refers to aligning behavioral, environmental, or physiological sensor data streams in time with neural recording technologies so that measurements can be precisely matched to brain activity.
Is the opportunity focused on basic science, translational work, or both?
Based on the description, the focus is technology development with flexibility in validation approaches (engineering development, preclinical testing, and/or human feasibility work), as long as the core purpose is synchronized brain-and-behavior measurement that supports computational modeling.
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