BRAIN Initiative: Engineering and optimization of molecular technologies for functional dissection of neural circuits (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA MH 22 245

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 22 245

The funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Engineering and optimization of molecular technologies for functional dissection of neural circuits (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (RFA-MH-22-245) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) BRAIN Initiative solicitation that focuses on building better molecular tools for neuroscience research in experimental animals. The core goal is to push forward high-impact, cell-type-targetable molecular technologies that let researchers monitor and manipulate neural circuit activity with greater precision. Rather than simply supporting the first creation of a tool, the emphasis is on iterative engineering and optimization: improving performance, specificity, robustness, and usability over multiple development cycles so the resulting molecular payloads become truly enabling technologies for the broader research community.

This FOA sits within the BRAIN Initiative Armamentarium for Brain Cell Access transformative project, which is aimed at expanding the toolkit for accessing and controlling defined brain cell populations. In practical terms, the opportunity supports work on molecular "payloads" that can report neural activity (monitoring) or alter neural activity (manipulation), paired with delivery and targeting approaches that direct those payloads into specific brain cell types. The scientific intent is to make it easier to dissect how neural circuits function by providing tools that can reliably reach the intended cells and produce clear, interpretable readouts or controlled perturbations in vivo. The announcement is explicitly "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the supported research should be preclinical and focused on technology development and demonstration in experimental animal systems rather than testing interventions in human clinical trial frameworks.

The award mechanism is a UM1 cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial NIH involvement during the project. Cooperative agreements are typically used when the agency expects to have an active partnership role, such as coordinating milestones, steering development priorities, or facilitating integration with other BRAIN Initiative efforts. The funding instrument type listed is a cooperative agreement, and the opportunity is categorized as discretionary. While the listing does not provide an award ceiling or an expected number of awards, the UM1 mechanism and the BRAIN Initiative context usually signal support for ambitious, multi-disciplinary development efforts that may require coordinated engineering, validation, and dissemination planning.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, spanning many sectors. Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, and special district governments), public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, and various Native American tribal governments and organizations (including federally recognized tribes and other tribal entities). The FOA also allows nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) organizations), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. In addition, the opportunity explicitly calls out other eligible applicant types, including 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-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). Taken together, this eligibility language signals NIH interest in drawing from a diverse applicant pool and encouraging participation from institutions that broaden geographic reach and representation in neuroscience technology development.

Administratively, the sponsoring agency is NIH, and the original closing date shown is October 17, 2024. The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting the multi-institute nature of NIH participation and the cross-cutting relevance of the tool-development mission to different neuroscience and health research domains. Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted investment in next-generation molecular neurotechnology: engineering improved, cell-type-specific, deliverable tools that make it possible to read out and control neural circuit activity more effectively in animal models, thereby accelerating mechanistic discovery across the neuroscience community.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Engineering and optimization of molecular technologies for functional dissection of neural circuits (UM1 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, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-08-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-10-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• 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 22 245

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