Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 23 024
The BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Projects (TargetedBCP) funding opportunity (RFA-NS-23-024) is an NIH discretionary grant program using the R01 mechanism, with clinical trials not allowed. It is a reissue of earlier announcements (including RFA-NS-22-026 and originally RFA-NS-18-030) and was updated to comply with NIH data management and sharing policy requirements, with no new submission dates added beyond what was already established. The central purpose of the program is to fund ambitious but tractable neuroscience projects that can deliver a meaningful, clearly defined outcome within a 5-year project period.
At the scientific level, the opportunity is focused on understanding how activity in neural circuits produces mental experience and behavior. NIH is specifically looking for projects that go beyond single-method studies and instead use innovative, methodologically integrated approaches. In practice, that means applicants are expected to combine elements like experimental design, theory, and rigorous data analysis in a way that each component informs the others. A key expectation is that projects will generate predictive models as explicit deliverables, not just descriptive findings. The emphasis is on circuit function within well-defined neural systems tied to core brain operations, including (but not limited to) sensation, perception, attention, reasoning, intention, decision-making, emotion, navigation, communication, and homeostatic regulation.
The research approach NIH is trying to catalyze is one where investigators systematically control stimuli and/or behavior while actively recording and/or manipulating dynamic patterns of neural activity. In other words, the program favors tightly designed experiments that can establish interpretable links between controlled inputs (stimuli, task demands, behavioral states), circuit-level dynamics (recording), causal perturbations (manipulation), and observed outputs (behavior or measurable mental/physiological states). The goal is to improve understanding of central nervous system circuits in a way that supports generalizable principles and testable predictions, rather than isolated observations.
Species choice is intentionally flexible: projects may use non-human species, human participants, or a combination, as long as the application explains why that species (or set of species) provides especially strong conditions for revealing general principles about the circuit basis of the specific behavior being studied. This places some responsibility on applicants to justify the model system in terms of circuit accessibility, behavioral relevance, available tools for recording/manipulation, and how findings will translate into broader understanding of brain function.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health, with the Funding Opportunity Title listed as "BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Projects- TargetedBCP (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)." It is categorized as a grant under a discretionary opportunity category, with activity areas spanning education and health and related social service domains as reflected in the listing. The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity include 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867. The original closing date provided is 2024-05-06, and the posting creation date is 2023-04-26; award ceiling and expected award count are not specified in the provided source details.
Eligibility is broad and includes many common applicant types such as 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; tribal organizations not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories, 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); eligible federal agencies; faith-based or community-based organizations; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; tribal governments other than federally recognized; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations. Overall, the program is designed to attract well-justified, integrated circuit neuroscience projects that can produce predictive, model-based outcomes within five years, grounded in carefully controlled experimental logic and strong links between data, theory, and mechanism.Apply for RFA NS 23 024
- 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 Projects- TargetedBCP (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, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-04-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-06. (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.
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FAQs: BRAIN Initiative - Targeted BRAIN Circuits Projects (TargetedBCP) (RFA-NS-23-024)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the NIH BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Projects (TargetedBCP) program under Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) RFA-NS-23-024. It is an NIH discretionary grant program that uses the R01 mechanism and does not allow clinical trials.
What is the main goal of the TargetedBCP program?
The central purpose is to support ambitious but tractable neuroscience projects that deliver a meaningful, clearly defined outcome within a 5-year project period. Scientifically, the program aims to advance understanding of how activity in neural circuits produces mental experience and behavior.
What type of research is NIH looking for in this program?
NIH is looking for projects focused on circuit function within well-defined neural systems tied to core brain operations. The program emphasizes studies that can establish interpretable links between controlled inputs (stimuli, task demands, behavioral states), circuit-level dynamics (recording), causal perturbations (manipulation), and measurable outputs (behavior or mental/physiological states).
What brain functions or behavioral domains are included?
The FOA highlights core brain operations including (but not limited to) sensation, perception, attention, reasoning, intention, decision-making, emotion, navigation, communication, and homeostatic regulation.
Are single-method or purely descriptive studies a good fit?
The opportunity is specifically oriented toward projects that go beyond single-method studies. A key theme is an innovative, methodologically integrated approach rather than a single technique or descriptive-only findings.
What does NIH mean by "methodologically integrated" approaches?
Based on the FOA description, applicants are expected to combine elements such as experimental design, theory, and rigorous data analysis so that each component informs the others. The intent is a coherent research strategy where data collection, modeling, and analysis are tightly linked.
Are predictive models required?
A key expectation is that projects will generate predictive models as explicit deliverables, not only descriptive results. The program emphasizes model-based outcomes that support testable predictions and generalizable principles.
How should experiments be structured to match the program's goals?
The FOA favors systematic control of stimuli and/or behavior while actively recording and/or manipulating dynamic patterns of neural activity. In practice, that means tightly designed experiments that connect controlled inputs to circuit dynamics, causal perturbations, and observed outputs in a way that supports interpretable, testable conclusions.
Does the program require neural recording, manipulation, or both?
The described approach emphasizes actively recording and/or manipulating dynamic patterns of neural activity while controlling stimuli and/or behavior. The overall goal is to link circuit-level dynamics and causal perturbations to measurable outcomes.
Are human studies allowed?
Yes. Species choice is intentionally flexible and may include human participants, non-human species, or a combination, as long as the application explains why the chosen species provides strong conditions for revealing general principles about the circuit basis of the behavior being studied.
Are animal or non-human model studies allowed?
Yes. The program allows non-human species as well as human participants (or both), provided the model system is well justified in terms of what it reveals about circuit mechanisms and general principles.
How should applicants justify their choice of species or model system?
Applicants are expected to explain why the chosen species (or set of species) is especially strong for answering the proposed circuit question. The FOA description points to considerations such as circuit accessibility, behavioral relevance, available tools for recording/manipulation, and how findings will translate into broader understanding of brain function.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The Funding Opportunity Title explicitly states "R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed," and the program is described as an R01 mechanism where clinical trials are not allowed.
What grant mechanism is used?
The program uses the NIH R01 mechanism.
How long is the project period?
The FOA emphasizes delivering a meaningful, clearly defined outcome within a 5-year project period.
Is this a new FOA or an updated/reissued announcement?
It is a reissue of earlier announcements, including RFA-NS-22-026 and originally RFA-NS-18-030. It was updated to comply with NIH data management and sharing policy requirements.
Were any new submission dates added in this reissue?
No. The information provided indicates the FOA was updated for NIH data management and sharing policy compliance, with no new submission dates added beyond what was already established.
What is the closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date provided is 2024-05-06.
When was this opportunity posting created?
The posting creation date listed is 2023-04-26.
Who is the sponsoring agency?
The opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the official funding opportunity title?
The Funding Opportunity Title is "BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Projects- TargetedBCP (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."
What is the opportunity category and instrument type?
It is categorized as a grant under a discretionary opportunity category.
What activity areas does this opportunity fall under?
The listing indicates activity areas spanning education and health and related social service domains.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed include 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The provided information includes (among others): 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; tribal organizations not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or 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 other highlighted institution types eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly highlights additional eligible categories including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; AANAPISIs; Hispanic-serving Institutions; HBCUs; TCCUs; and other categories listed in the source description.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are explicitly listed among eligible applicant categories in the provided information.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included among the eligible applicant categories listed.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The provided eligibility language includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, including foreign organizations.
Are eligible federal agencies allowed to apply?
Yes. Eligible federal agencies are explicitly included in the additional eligible applicant categories listed.
Is the award ceiling or expected number of awards provided?
No. The provided source details state that the award ceiling and expected award count are not specified.
What kind of outcomes does NIH want by the end of the project?
The program is oriented toward meaningful, clearly defined outcomes within five years, with predictive models as explicit deliverables. The broader intent is to produce generalizable principles and testable predictions about how central nervous system circuits generate behavior and mental experience.
How does this program connect theory, data, and mechanism?
The FOA description emphasizes a research style in which experimental design, theory, and rigorous data analysis are integrated so each informs the others, supporting interpretable links between controlled inputs, circuit dynamics, causal perturbations, and measurable outputs.
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