Open · RFA-DC-27-004 · CFDA 93.173;93.213;93.242;93.273;93.279;93.286;93.853;93.865;93.866;93.867 · Discretionary

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

Federal grant opportunity posted by National Institutes of Health, cataloged on Grants.gov.

up to $700K
Award range
Open
Status
182d
Days left
5
Expected awards

The verdict

BRAIN Initiative: Exploratory Research Opportunities Using Invasive Neural Recording and Stimulating Technologies in the Human Brain (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an open discretionary opportunity from National Institutes of Health, offering Up to $700,000 across 5 expected awards. Applications close in 182 days.

up to $700K
award range
Open
182 days left
5
expected awards
93.173;93.213;93.242;93.273;93.279;93.286;93.853;93.865;93.866;93.867
CFDA program

Opportunity snapshot. This Grants.gov announcement - BRAIN Initiative: Exploratory Research Opportunities Using Invasive Neural Recording and Stimulating Technologies in the Human Brain (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - is cataloged under number RFA-DC-27-004 and tied to CFDA assistance listing 93.173;93.213;93.242;93.273;93.279;93.286;93.853;93.865;93.866;93.867, posted by National Institutes of Health. Grants.gov currently shows the opportunity as open, first posted on May 4, 2026. The funding category is Discretionary, delivered as a grant.

Award economics. The award range on file is Up to $700,000. The agency has projected $6.0 million in total estimated funding for this announcement. It expects to issue 5 awards. If the agency funds the expected 5 awards from the $6.0 million estimated pool, the average award works out to roughly $1.2 million. Cost sharing is not required, so applicants do not need to commit matching funds to be competitive on this opportunity. Federal award ranges are often upper bounds; actual allocations reflect program appropriations, the strength of the applicant pool, and the evaluation committee's scoring.

Deadline and action path. Applications close on February 11, 2027 - roughly 182 days from today. Every Grants.gov submission requires an active SAM.gov registration and a Unique Entity ID. Review the Eligibility section below carefully, federal eligibility categories (nonprofit, state or local government, tribal, individual, educational institution, small business) have distinct registration and reporting requirements. Pre-application outreach to the listed agency contact is permitted and often welcomed, it helps clarify scope and scoring priorities. Before acting on the deadline or award figures above, verify them directly on the official Grants.gov listing, amendments can change dates and amounts after this page was last refreshed.

Award Range

Up to $700,000

Close Date

February 11, 2027

Posted

May 4, 2026

Est. Total Funding

$6,000,000

Expected Awards

5

Instrument

Grant

Description

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.

Eligibility

Grants.gov lists this opportunity under eligibility category codes 00, 01, 02, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 11, 12, 13, 20, 22, 23, 25. These codes correspond to applicant types (state/local government, tribal organization, nonprofit, educational institution, individual, small business, etc.) defined in Grants.gov's own eligibility reference. See the current Grants.gov eligibility categories or check the official listing below for this opportunity's exact eligibility statement.

Official Listing on Grants.gov

View full details, application forms, and submission instructions.

View on Grants.gov

Agency Contact

Research Opportunities in Humans Program, NIDCD BRAINeROH@ninds.nih.gov

Key Dates

Posted May 4, 2026
Close Date February 11, 2027
Archive Date April 12, 2027
Last Updated May 4, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this grant opportunity?
This is a federal funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Exploratory Research Opportunities Using Invasive Neural Recording and Stimulating Technologies in the Human Brain (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)", offered by National Institutes of Health. It is associated with CFDA program 93.173;93.213;93.242;93.273;93.279;93.286;93.853;93.865;93.866;93.867. 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 neu...
Is this opportunity still open?
Yes, this opportunity is currently open for applications. The closing date is February 11, 2027.
How much funding is available?
The award range for this opportunity is Up to $700,000. Total estimated funding: $6,000,000. Expected number of awards: 5.
How do I apply?
Applications for federal grant opportunities are typically submitted through Grants.gov. Visit the official listing at grants.gov for application instructions, required documents, and submission deadlines.

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from Grants.gov and SAM.gov and is for informational purposes only. Opportunity details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly on Grants.gov before applying. PlainGrants is not affiliated with any federal agency.

Data sourced from the SAM.gov Assistance Listings and Grants.gov. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainGrants