BRAIN Initiative: Proof of Concept Development of Early Stage Next Generation Human Brain Imaging (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | RFA EB 17 003

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA EB 17 003

The NIH BRAIN Initiative funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Proof of Concept Development of Early Stage Next Generation Human Brain Imaging (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-EB-17-003) is a discretionary grant program designed to jump-start brand-new, noninvasive human brain imaging technologies. The central idea is to fund early, high-risk work that could dramatically change what is possible in human brain measurement, rather than incremental upgrades to existing tools. The program is intentionally aimed at unusually bold concepts, including original, unconventional, or disruptive approaches that may not yet have extensive preliminary data but have a credible scientific rationale and a clear path to proving feasibility.

This FOA specifically emphasizes small-scale, proof-of-concept development. In practical terms, it is meant to help teams build and demonstrate the core working elements of a next-generation imaging method: showing that a novel physical principle, sensing strategy, acquisition approach, or analytic method can actually capture meaningful signals from the human brain in a noninvasive way. The focus is on early-stage development rather than late-stage validation, broad deployment, or clinical effectiveness testing. Consistent with that intent, clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, meaning applicants should not propose clinical trial designs intended to test health outcomes or interventions; instead, projects should remain in the technology and methods development lane.

The opportunity sits within the broader NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative, which prioritizes transformative neurotechnology development to accelerate understanding of brain function. In this context, "transformative advances" generally means capabilities that would substantially expand what researchers can measure or infer about human brain activity, structure, or connectivity, potentially improving spatial resolution, temporal resolution, depth sensitivity, coverage, interpretability, portability, accessibility, or other key performance dimensions. While the FOA text is brief here, the overall emphasis is clear: NIH is looking for imaging concepts that could create new classes of noninvasive measurement rather than simply refining standard modalities.

Administratively, this is an NIH grant using the R01 mechanism (a research project grant) and falls under the broad funding activity areas of education and health-related research and services. The listed CFDA numbers (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867) indicate that multiple NIH institutes or programs may be involved or that the program aligns with several NIH funding catalogs. The agency is the National Institutes of Health, and the FOA was created on 2017-10-04 with an original closing date of 2018-12-11.

In terms of budget, the source data lists an award ceiling of $300,000. That ceiling aligns with the proof-of-concept nature of the program: it is meant to fund focused work that demonstrates feasibility and de-risks a concept enough to justify later-stage, larger-scale development. The expected number of awards is not provided in the source data, so applicants would typically assume a competitive process with limited slots, as is common for targeted BRAIN Initiative FOAs.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that can contribute to technology innovation. Eligible applicants include state, county, and 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; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; 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 FOA also highlights 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, U.S. territories or possessions, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments that are not federally recognized, and even non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects the reality that breakthrough imaging ideas can come from many sectors, including academia, industry, engineering-focused teams, and interdisciplinary partnerships.

Overall, this FOA is best understood as a targeted BRAIN Initiative investment in early, daring innovation: it supports teams willing to take scientifically grounded risks to create entirely new noninvasive human brain imaging methods, with a clear expectation that the immediate deliverable is a convincing proof of concept rather than a clinical trial or a mature, widely validated platform.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Proof of Concept Development of Early Stage Next Generation Human Brain Imaging (R01 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): 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-10-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-12-11. (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.

Apply for RFA EB 17 003

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