BRAIN Initiative: Brain Behavior Quantification and Synchronization- Next Generation Sensor Technology Development (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) | RFA MH 26 140

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.

• 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.

Apply for RFA MH 26 140

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