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BRAIN Initiative: Exploratory Research Opportunities Using Invasive Neural Recording and Stimulating Technologies in the Human Brain (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

National Institutes of Health · Opportunity number RFA-DC-27-004

View the official notice on Grants.gov
118 days left (deadline Feb 11, 2027)

Details summarized from the official notice as of Oct 16, 2026. Always confirm eligibility, deadlines and requirements in the official notice before applying.

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Key facts

Opportunity numberRFA-DC-27-004
AgencyNational Institutes of Health
Department of Health and Human Services
Assistance listing (ALN, formerly CFDA)93.242, 93.173, 93.286, 93.866, 93.273, 93.279, 93.865, 93.853, 93.213, 93.867
PostedMay 4, 2026
DeadlineFeb 11, 2027
Award ceiling$700,000
Expected number of awards5
Estimated total program funding$6,000,000
Cost sharing or matching requiredNo
Funding typeGrant
CategoryHealth
Last updated hereOct 16, 2026

Summary from the notice

Invasive surgical procedures in humans offer the unique opportunity to intracranially record and stimulate neuronal activity within precisely localized brain structures, enabling high-impact human neuroscience investigations. This NOFO seeks exploratory research projects, from newly formed or established multi-disciplinary teams, to understand how dynamic activity of single cells and ensembles of neurons in spatially organized networks gives rise to the internal states we experience as sensations, perceptions, emotions, thoughts, and memories, and to observable motor and social behaviors. The research should be proposed as exploratory research and planning activities to establish feasibility and early-stage development that, if successful, would support, enable, and/or lay the groundwork for a potential, subsequent research project grant applications using invasive neural recording and stimulation technologies in the human brain. Projects should maximize opportunities to conduct innovative in vivo human neuroscience research made available by direct access to the brain from invasive surgical procedures. Projects should employ approaches guided by specified theoretical constructs and by quantitative, mechanistic models where appropriate. Recipients will join a consortium working group, coordinated by the NIH, to identify consensus standards of practice, including neuroethical considerations, to collect and provide data for ancillary studies, and to aggregate and standardize data for dissemination among the wider scientific community.

Who can apply

The official notice lists these applicant types as eligible:

  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than colleges)
  • County governments
  • Public and state colleges and universities
  • Others named in the notice (see the eligibility text)
  • For-profit organizations other than small businesses
  • City or township governments
  • Private colleges and universities
  • Public and Indian housing authorities
  • Small businesses
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than colleges)
  • Federally recognized tribal governments
  • Independent school districts
  • Other Native American tribal organizations
  • State governments
  • Special district governments

Who should take a closer look

  • Small businesses
  • Nonprofits
  • Colleges and universities
  • State governments
  • Local governments
  • Tribal governments and organizations
  • Larger for-profit companies

Not listed as eligible

  • Individuals

Unless the eligibility text in the notice names you, this opportunity is probably not for you.

Eligibility details from the notice

Refer to Section III. Eligibility Information in the NOFO for additional information on eligibility.Foreign Organizations/International Collaborations:Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Registrations you will likely need

Most applications submitted through Grants.gov need the following. Registration can take several weeks, so start early. The notice lists the exact requirements.

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