Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 24 041
The NIH BRAIN Initiative funding opportunity titled "Brain-Behavior Quantification and Synchronization: Transformative and Integrative Models of Behavior at the Organismal Level (U01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" (RFA-DA-24-041) supports cooperative agreement projects aimed at dramatically improving how scientists measure, synchronize, and computationally model behavior in whole organisms. The core idea is to move beyond coarse or single-channel behavioral readouts and instead capture behavior as a high-resolution, multi-dimensional phenomenon that unfolds across time, context, and environment, in ways that can ultimately be aligned with neural measurements and brain-based models supported by the BRAIN Initiative.
Projects are expected to address two major scientific and technical goals. First, applicants should develop, validate, and apply advanced tools and methods for minimally invasive measurement of organismal behavior at high resolution and across multiple dimensions. This is not just about tracking movement; it is about capturing richer behavioral structure while simultaneously recording meaningful changes in the organism's physical and/or social environment. In practice, this could include approaches that quantify posture, kinematics, vocalizations, physiological proxies related to behavior, social interactions, or other detailed behavioral features, while also recording contextual variables like spatial setting, objects, sensory stimuli, group dynamics, or environmental conditions. A key requirement is synchronization: the behavioral measurement must be time-aligned with environmental changes so the resulting dataset reflects how behavior and context co-evolve.
Second, the NOFO emphasizes building computational methods that can integrate complex behavioral and environmental datasets spanning multiple timescales into a conceptual and/or computational model of behavior as a dynamic system. The intention is to support modeling frameworks that treat behavior as structured, state-dependent, and context-sensitive, rather than as isolated events or simple summary metrics. These computational components should be capable of fusing high-dimensional streams of behavioral features with environmental signals, capturing temporal structure across short and long windows, and producing models that help explain, predict, or simulate behavior in a way that is useful for neuroscience. Importantly, the work should be designed so it can either integrate synchronously recorded neural data (for example, neural activity recorded in parallel with behavior and environment) and/or inform and connect to existing neurobehavioral models developed through prior BRAIN Initiative efforts.
This opportunity is explicitly not for clinical trials. Any proposed research that meets the NIH definition of a clinical trial is not allowed under this NOFO. For teams interested in mechanistic research in humans that relates to the same overall scientific goals, NIH points applicants to a companion U01 opportunity, RFA-DA-24-040, rather than this one. That distinction matters during application planning because it affects allowable study designs, review expectations, and compliance requirements.
A notable application requirement is the Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP). The PEDP is not optional: it will be evaluated during scientific and technical peer review, and applications that do not include a PEDP will be considered incomplete and withdrawn. In practical terms, applicants need to describe concrete, project-relevant steps to broaden perspectives and contributions, which may involve team composition, collaborations, training and mentorship structures, stakeholder engagement, recruitment and inclusion practices for participating researchers, or other strategies aligned with the project goals. NIH strongly encourages applicants to follow the NOFO instructions closely and consult the official PEDP guidance materials to ensure the plan is responsive and review-ready.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using the cooperative agreement mechanism (U01), which generally means NIH staff will have substantial programmatic involvement compared to a standard research project grant. The agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the original closing date listed for this opportunity is 2026-10-09. The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (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 research.
Eligibility is broad. In addition to typical academic and nonprofit applicants, eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) as well as small businesses; and additional categories specifically highlighted in the NOFO. These highlighted groups include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. The overall message is that NIH is looking for strong, integrative teams wherever they are located organizationally, as long as they can meet the scientific scope and program requirements.
In summary, this NOFO targets transformative, tool-and-model-driven research that can measure behavior and environment together at high resolution, integrate these data across timescales, and produce dynamic models that are designed to connect to neural data and neurobehavioral theory. It is geared toward building the next generation of behavior-quantification and modeling infrastructure for neuroscience, while excluding clinical trials and requiring a carefully prepared PEDP as a condition of a complete application.Apply for RFA DA 24 041
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Brain-Behavior Quantification and Synchronization Transformative and Integrative Models of Behavior at the Organismal Level (U01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-09. (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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and number of this NIH BRAIN Initiative funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Brain-Behavior Quantification and Synchronization: Transformative and Integrative Models of Behavior at the Organismal Level (U01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and the NOFO number is RFA-DA-24-041.
What funding mechanism is being used?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement mechanism (U01). That generally means NIH staff will have substantial programmatic involvement compared with a standard research project grant.
What is the overall purpose of this NOFO?
The NOFO supports projects that aim to dramatically improve how scientists measure, synchronize, and computationally model behavior in whole organisms. The emphasis is on capturing behavior as a high-resolution, multi-dimensional phenomenon unfolding over time and across context and environment, in ways that can be aligned with neural measurements and brain-based models supported by the BRAIN Initiative.
What kinds of projects does NIH want to support under this NOFO?
Projects are expected to be transformative and integrative, combining (1) advanced, minimally invasive tools and methods for high-resolution organismal behavior measurement across multiple dimensions, with (2) computational approaches that integrate behavioral and environmental data across multiple timescales into dynamic models of behavior.
What are the two major scientific and technical goals applicants are expected to address?
The NOFO highlights two central goals: (1) develop, validate, and apply advanced tools and methods for minimally invasive measurement of organismal behavior at high resolution across multiple dimensions, while also recording meaningful changes in the physical and/or social environment; and (2) build computational methods that integrate complex behavioral and environmental datasets across multiple timescales into a conceptual and/or computational model of behavior as a dynamic system.
What does "behavior at high resolution and across multiple dimensions" mean in this context?
It means moving beyond coarse, single-channel readouts (for example, simple activity counts or isolated events) and instead capturing richer behavioral structure. The NOFO describes behavior as multi-dimensional and time-evolving, potentially including detailed features such as posture, kinematics, vocalizations, physiological proxies related to behavior, and social interactions.
Is this opportunity only about tracking movement?
No. The NOFO explicitly frames the work as more than movement tracking. It emphasizes quantifying richer behavioral structure and capturing context and environment in parallel, so behavior can be understood as a dynamic, state-dependent, context-sensitive process.
What types of environmental or contextual measurements are expected?
The NOFO expects applicants to record meaningful changes in the organism's physical and/or social environment alongside behavior. Examples mentioned include spatial setting, objects, sensory stimuli, group dynamics, and environmental conditions.
What does "synchronization" mean for this NOFO?
Synchronization refers to time-aligning behavioral measurements with environmental changes. A key requirement is that behavior and context are recorded in a synchronized way so the resulting dataset reflects how behavior and environment co-evolve over time.
What is expected on the computational modeling side?
The NOFO emphasizes computational methods that can fuse high-dimensional streams of behavioral features with environmental signals, capture temporal structure across short and long windows, and yield models that explain, predict, or simulate behavior as a dynamic system. The intent is to treat behavior as structured, state-dependent, and context-sensitive, rather than a set of isolated events or simple summary metrics.
Do projects need to include neural data collection?
The NOFO indicates projects should be designed so they can either integrate synchronously recorded neural data and/or inform and connect to existing neurobehavioral models developed through prior BRAIN Initiative efforts. In other words, the work should be positioned to align with neural measurements and brain-based models, even if neural data are not necessarily the only focus described.
How should the project connect to the BRAIN Initiative?
The NOFO is framed as part of the NIH BRAIN Initiative and emphasizes behavioral quantification and modeling approaches that can be aligned with neural measurements and brain-based models supported by BRAIN. It also notes the importance of connecting to existing neurobehavioral models from prior BRAIN efforts.
Are clinical trials allowed under this NOFO?
No. This NOFO is explicitly "Clinical Trials Not Allowed." Any proposed research that meets the NIH definition of a clinical trial is not allowed under RFA-DA-24-041.
What if a team wants to do mechanistic research in humans related to these goals?
The NOFO notes that for mechanistic research in humans that relates to the same overall scientific goals, NIH points applicants to a companion U01 opportunity, RFA-DA-24-040, rather than this one.
Why does the "clinical trials not allowed" restriction matter for application planning?
The NOFO highlights that this distinction affects allowable study designs, review expectations, and compliance requirements. Applicants need to ensure their proposed research does not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial for this specific opportunity.
What is the Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP)?
The PEDP is a required application component. Applicants must describe concrete, project-relevant steps to broaden perspectives and contributions, potentially involving team composition, collaborations, training and mentorship structures, stakeholder engagement, recruitment and inclusion practices for participating researchers, or other strategies aligned with project goals.
Is the PEDP optional?
No. The PEDP is not optional. It will be evaluated during scientific and technical peer review, and applications that do not include a PEDP will be considered incomplete and withdrawn.
How will the PEDP be used in review?
The NOFO states that the PEDP will be evaluated during scientific and technical peer review. Applicants are encouraged to follow the NOFO instructions closely and consult official PEDP guidance materials so the plan is responsive and review-ready.
Who can apply (eligibility)?
Eligibility is broad and includes academic, nonprofit, and many other organization types. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and additional categories highlighted in the NOFO.
Are minority-serving institutions and tribal entities included in the eligibility described?
Yes. The NOFO specifically highlights eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and other tribal organizations.
Are faith-based and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are specifically highlighted among eligible applicant categories in the NOFO description provided.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The NOFO description provided specifically highlights non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as eligible, along with regional organizations and U.S. territories or possessions.
What is the application due date mentioned for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed for this opportunity is 2026-10-09.
Which agency is offering this grant opportunity?
The agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), under the NIH BRAIN Initiative context described.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers: 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867. The description notes this reflects the multi-institute, cross-cutting nature of BRAIN-related research.
What does "organismal level" mean in the scope described?
Based on the description provided, the focus is on whole-organism behavior (not just isolated signals), measured in a way that captures rich behavioral structure over time, along with synchronized environmental and contextual variables.
What does "minimally invasive measurement" imply for proposed tools and methods?
The NOFO calls for minimally invasive approaches to measure behavior at high resolution across multiple dimensions. While the description does not prescribe specific techniques, it sets an expectation that measurement approaches should minimize invasiveness while still enabling rich, synchronized behavioral and environmental data collection.
What is meant by modeling behavior as a "dynamic system" in this NOFO?
It means conceptualizing and modeling behavior as structured, state-dependent, and context-sensitive, with temporal structure across multiple timescales. The goal is to move beyond isolated events or summary metrics and instead develop frameworks that integrate behavior and environment to explain, predict, or simulate behavioral dynamics.
What does it mean to integrate data "across multiple timescales"?
The NOFO indicates the computational components should capture temporal structure across short and long windows, integrating complex behavioral and environmental datasets spanning multiple timescales into coherent models of behavior.
What is the core scientific shift this NOFO is trying to enable?
The described shift is from coarse or single-channel behavioral readouts to high-resolution, multi-dimensional, time-synchronized measurement of behavior and environment, paired with computational models that treat behavior as a dynamic system that can align with neural measurements and neurobehavioral theory.
What is the key message about teams and collaborations?
The description emphasizes that NIH is looking for strong, integrative teams wherever they are located organizationally, as long as they can meet the scientific scope and program requirements, including the clinical trial restriction and the required PEDP.
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