Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 25 171
The NIH BRAIN Initiative is offering an R21 grant opportunity (clinical trial optional) focused on the ethical implications that come with rapid advances in neurotechnology and modern brain science. The program is anchored in the priorities laid out in "BRAIN 2025: A Scientific Vision" and further shaped by recommendations from the NIH Advisory Council to the Director Working Group on BRAIN 2.0, particularly its Neuroethics Subgroup. The central idea is to fund research that directly tackles core ethical questions arising from human brain research and from emerging tools and technologies that the BRAIN Initiative has helped accelerate. Rather than treating ethics as an add-on, this NOFO emphasizes work that connects with, complements, and meaningfully integrates into the broader ecosystem of transformative neuroscience research supported by BRAIN.
This opportunity specifically invites applications from multidisciplinary teams, reflecting the reality that neuroethics problems often sit at the intersection of neuroscience, clinical practice, engineering, data science, law, philosophy, sociology, psychology, and public policy. Projects supported under this NOFO are expected to focus on "key ethical issues" tied to BRAIN-relevant research areas, meaning applicants should be prepared to show a clear link between the ethical question being studied and the kinds of neurotechnologies or brain research trajectories being advanced through BRAIN. While the summary text does not list specific topics, the scope strongly implies issues that commonly emerge with cutting-edge neurotechnology, such as informed consent in complex neurodevice research, privacy and governance of neural data, risks of stigma or discrimination based on brain-based measures, equitable access and inclusion in neurotechnology development, patient autonomy and agency with closed-loop or adaptive systems, responsible communication of brain findings, and downstream societal implications of technologies that can measure, predict, or modulate brain activity. Because it is an R21 mechanism, the program is well-suited to early-stage, exploratory, or high-risk/high-reward studies that generate evidence, frameworks, or methods that can later scale into larger efforts.
Administratively, this is a discretionary federal grant from the National Institutes of Health, released under Funding Opportunity Number RFA-MH-25-171. It falls under the broad activity category of Health, Income Security and Social Services, and is associated with multiple NIH CFDA numbers (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), signaling participation across multiple NIH components that support BRAIN-related work. The application deadline listed is 2026-10-09, and the award ceiling is $275,000. The posting was created on 2024-02-15.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicants across the public, private, nonprofit, and educational sectors. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; and other entities as allowed by NIH policy. The NOFO also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving institutions, HBCUs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) organizations, reflecting an intent to bring diverse institutional perspectives into neuroethics research and to broaden participation in shaping how neurotechnology is developed and governed.
Overall, this funding opportunity is aimed at generating practical, research-based ethical insight that keeps pace with fast-moving neurotechnology. The emphasis is on producing work that is not isolated from neuroscience innovation, but instead helps guide it by identifying ethical risks early, developing tools and frameworks to manage them, and supporting responsible, socially responsive progress in brain research.Apply for RFA MH 25 171
- The National Institutes of Health in the 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 (R21 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, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-15.
- 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.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $275,000.00 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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