BRAIN Initiative: Reagent Resources for Brain Cell Type-Specific Access to Broaden Distribution of Enabling Technologies for Neuroscience (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA MH 26 120

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 26 120

The NIH BRAIN Initiative funding opportunity RFA-MH-26-120 is a cooperative agreement (U24, clinical trial not allowed) designed to build and support reagent production and distribution facilities at minority-serving institutions (MSIs) and IDeA-eligible institutions. The core goal is to broaden access to enabling neurotechnology by creating capacity to manufacture, scale, quality-control, and distribute specialized reagents that let researchers selectively access and manipulate defined brain cell types. Rather than focusing on a single lab's research program, this opportunity is centered on building shared resource infrastructure that can reliably serve the wider neuroscience community.

The reagents to be produced are tied to the BRAIN Initiative Armamentarium effort, where pilot projects are developing tools for brain cell type-specific access and manipulation across vertebrate species. Awardees funded through this NOFO are expected to coordinate closely with other Armamentarium awardees so that promising pilot reagents can move from early development into standardized, scalable production and broad distribution. In practical terms, the funded facilities would act as a bridge between innovation and adoption, taking reagents that have demonstrated utility and making them available in forms, quantities, and quality levels that typical neuroscience users can readily obtain and use.

The scope of supported reagents is intentionally broad and can include (but is not limited to) viral vectors, nucleic acid constructs, and nanoparticles engineered for selective targeting and manipulation of specific brain cell populations. These kinds of reagents are foundational for modern circuit neuroscience because they enable precise labeling, monitoring, and perturbation of neural cell types in experimental animals, as well as in ex vivo human tissues and cells. By improving availability and standardization, the program aims to reduce bottlenecks that often limit reproducibility and slow dissemination of new tools, helping more investigators probe circuit function with higher precision and consistency.

A key expectation is active engagement beyond simple production. The NOFO anticipates that awardees will work both with the Armamentarium consortium and with end users in the broader research community to optimize reagent use. That generally implies attention to user-facing needs such as documentation, recommended protocols, validation data, handling and storage guidance, and feedback loops that improve reliability and performance over time. Because the mechanism is a cooperative agreement, NIH program staff typically have substantial involvement, and awardees should be prepared for coordinated planning, shared milestones, and community-oriented deliverables.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations, including state and local governments, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, tribal governments and organizations, and other entities. The emphasis, however, is on establishing these facilities at MSIs and IDeA-eligible institutions, with explicit inclusion of groups such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISI institutions, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, but foreign components (as defined in NIH policy) may be allowed under the award.

Administratively, the opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health under the BRAIN Initiative umbrella and spans 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, cross-cutting nature of BRAIN-related support. The original closing date listed is June 15, 2027. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided summary, and the expected number of awards is not listed, so applicants would need to consult the full NOFO for budget guidance, project period expectations, review criteria, and required components such as production standards, distribution plans, governance, and coordination structures.

Overall, this NOFO is about expanding national capacity and equity of access in neurotechnology by placing scalable reagent resource hubs at institutions that have historically had fewer opportunities to serve as major distribution centers. The intended impact is a more diverse and resilient infrastructure for producing and sharing cutting-edge, cell type-specific neuroscience tools, accelerating discovery by making high-precision reagents easier to obtain, easier to use correctly, and more consistently validated across labs.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Reagent Resources for Brain Cell Type-Specific Access to Broaden Distribution of Enabling Technologies for Neuroscience (U24 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 2024-09-25.
• 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 26 120

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