Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 21 205
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is offering an R01 grant opportunity under the BRAIN Initiative focused specifically on the ethical implications of rapid advances in neurotechnology and brain science. This funding opportunity (RFA-MH-21-205) is a reissue of an earlier solicitation (RFA-MH-19-400) and sits within the broader NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, which is designed to accelerate transformative discoveries that deepen understanding of how the human brain functions. In this case, the emphasis is not on building the next tool or running the next neuroscience experiment for its own sake, but on addressing the ethical questions that come with new capabilities in measuring, influencing, and interpreting brain activity, especially as those capabilities move closer to real-world clinical, consumer, legal, educational, workplace, and public policy settings.
The opportunity is guided by the BRAIN Initiative long-term plan, BRAIN 2025: A Scientific Vision, and aims to support research that tackles "core ethical issues" linked to human brain research and the technologies emerging from BRAIN-supported innovation. NIH is looking for projects that can meaningfully inform responsible research practices, participant protections, norms and standards, and governance approaches as neurotechnologies evolve. The intent is that the funded ethics work will be complementary and integrative with the broader BRAIN portfolio, meaning it should connect in a practical way to the kinds of breakthroughs and tools being developed across the initiative and help ensure those advances are pursued and applied responsibly.
This is an R01 mechanism with clinical trials listed as optional, which means applicants may propose studies that do or do not meet NIH's definition of a clinical trial, as long as the work is responsive to the ethical focus of the announcement. In practice, that can include empirical bioethics research (for example, surveys, interviews, behavioral studies, or real-world evaluations of consent processes), conceptual and normative ethics scholarship grounded in realistic use cases, or multidisciplinary projects that combine ethics with neuroscience, law, sociology, anthropology, disability studies, computer science, data science, or clinical practice. The common thread is a clear connection to ethical challenges raised by advancements in neurotechnology and brain science, particularly those tied to the study of the human brain.
The administering agency is NIH, and the funding instrument is a discretionary grant. The activity categories linked to the listing include education, health, income security, and social services, reflecting that ethical questions in brain science often spill beyond the lab and clinic into broader societal systems. Multiple CFDA numbers are associated with the opportunity (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), indicating that several NIH components and program areas may be relevant to the subject matter and that proposals may intersect with different institutes interests while staying within the BRAIN ethics scope.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations and some non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local 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 that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those nonprofit categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out 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, tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. It also notes that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) may apply, signaling NIH interest in ethical scholarship and evidence that can incorporate international perspectives, comparisons, or collaborations when appropriate.
Key administrative details included in the source data are a creation date of July 14, 2021, and an original closing date of September 1, 2023. The listed award ceiling is $300,000 (as provided in the opportunity data), which suggests NIH expected projects of a moderate size within the R01 framework for this specific announcement. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided fields, so applicants would typically look to the full FOA and any NIH notices for the most current budget guidance, anticipated award counts, and program priorities.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as NIH investing in ethics research that keeps pace with fast-moving brain science. Rather than treating ethics as an afterthought, the FOA positions ethical inquiry as a core piece of the BRAIN Initiative ecosystem, with the goal of producing practical, research-informed guidance on issues that emerge as neurotechnologies become more powerful and more widely used.Apply for RFA MH 21 205
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Research on the Ethical Implications of Advancements in Neurotechnology and Brain Science (R01 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, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-07-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- 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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| BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN): Specialized Collaboratory on Human, Non-human Primate, and Mouse Brain Cell Atlases (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 21 236 Funding Number: RFA MH 21 236 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN): Comprehensive Center on Human and Non-human Primate Brain Cell Atlases (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 21 235 Funding Number: RFA MH 21 235 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN): Coordinating Unit for Biostatistics, Informatics, and Engagement (CUBIE) (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 21 237 Funding Number: RFA MH 21 237 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| American Women: Assessing Risk Epidemiologically (AWARE) (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA AI 21 058 Funding Number: RFA AI 21 058 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Blueprint MedTech Translator (UG3/UH3 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 21 315 Funding Number: PAR 21 315 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Blueprint MedTech: Incubator Hubs (U54 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 21 314 Funding Number: PAR 21 314 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Interventions for Stigma Reduction to Improve HIV/AIDS Prevention, Treatment and Care in Low- and Middle- Income Countries (R01 - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 21 344 Funding Number: PAR 21 344 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE (INCLUDE) Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA OD 21 007 Funding Number: RFA OD 21 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness and Isolation on Health, Wellbeing, Illness, and Recovery (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 21 350 Funding Number: PAR 21 350 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness and Isolation on Health, Wellbeing, Illness, and Recovery (R01 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PAR 21 349 Funding Number: PAR 21 349 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on Biopsychosocial Factors of Social Connectedness and Isolation on Health, Wellbeing, Illness, and Recovery (R01 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 21 352 Funding Number: PAR 21 352 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Pre-application: Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (X02 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 21 342 Funding Number: PAR 21 342 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Opportunities for Collaborative Research at the NIH Clinical Center (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 21 343 Funding Number: PAR 21 343 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Research Resource Grants for Technology Integration and Dissemination (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 011 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN) Operations and Collaborations Center (UM2 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 23 021 Funding Number: RFA HD 23 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $6,250,000 |
| Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions (ATN) Scientific Leadership Center (UM2 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 23 020 Funding Number: RFA HD 23 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $6,875,000 |
| BRAIN Initiative-Related Research Education: Short Courses (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA EY 21 003 Funding Number: RFA EY 21 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: National K12 Clinical Pain Career Development Program (K12 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 045 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 045 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 21 357 Funding Number: PAR 21 357 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Advancing Health Equity in Pain and Comorbidities (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA NS 22 037 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 037 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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