Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA EB 19 002
The BRAIN Initiative: Development of Next Generation Human Brain Imaging Tools and Technologies (U01 Clinical Trial not allowed) funding opportunity (RFA-EB-19-002) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement program designed to push forward major advances in noninvasive imaging of the human brain. Its central purpose is to fund the full-scale development of entirely new or clearly next-generation brain imaging tools, technologies, and methods that have the potential to be genuinely transformative for understanding how the human brain is organized and functions. The emphasis is not on small, incremental improvements, but on breakthroughs that can change what researchers are able to measure, map, or interpret in the living human brain without invasive procedures.
This FOA specifically targets projects that are ready to move into a complete development phase, meaning applicants should be beyond early conceptual exploration and positioned to build and deliver working tools. In practical terms, the program is looking for proposals with a clear path to producing usable, validated imaging technologies or methodological platforms rather than simply generating preliminary data or exploring feasibility. The intended outcome is the delivery of tools that can be used by the research community to enable new discoveries about the human brain, including aspects of structure, function, connectivity, and dynamics that are difficult or impossible to access with current noninvasive approaches.
The award mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement, which signals that NIH expects substantial involvement from program staff during the project. Compared to a traditional research grant, a cooperative agreement generally involves closer coordination with NIH, milestone-driven development expectations, and an emphasis on deliverables. The FOA also explicitly states that clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement, so the work should focus on technology and method development rather than testing clinical interventions or running trials designed to establish clinical efficacy.
This announcement is described as the second stage of a broader tool and technology development effort that began with earlier BRAIN Initiative funding opportunities (RFA-MH-14-217 and RFA-MH-15-200). That positioning matters because it implies NIH is building a pipeline: earlier stages supported initial development and proof-of-concept work, and this FOA is meant to carry the most promising ideas into robust, full development aimed at producing deployable imaging capabilities. In other words, it is meant for technologies mature enough to justify major development investment, with a realistic plan to reach a functioning, well-characterized end product.
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types across the public, private, nonprofit, and academic sectors. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also highlights additional eligible applicants 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, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) entities as well as regional organizations. This wide eligibility reflects the reality that next-generation imaging breakthroughs often come from cross-sector engineering, physics, computation, and neurobiology collaborations, not only from traditional academic neuroscience labs.
Administratively, the opportunity falls under NIH and is listed as discretionary funding using the cooperative agreement instrument. The activity category is noted broadly under areas that include education, health, and social services, and it is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting NIH’s cross-institute participation in BRAIN Initiative efforts. The FOA was created on 2019-06-27, and the original closing date was 2021-09-03. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA text for budget expectations, scope guidance, and any stated limits or program priorities.
Overall, this grant opportunity is best understood as a development-focused BRAIN Initiative program for teams that already have a compelling, innovative noninvasive human brain imaging approach and are prepared to engineer it into a robust, working, community-impact tool. The strongest-fit projects would typically combine technical innovation with a credible development and validation plan, clear milestones, and a strategy for producing an imaging capability that meaningfully expands what can be measured in the living human brain.Apply for RFA EB 19 002
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Development of Next Generation Human Brain Imaging Tools and Technologies (U01 Clinical Trial 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 2019-06-27.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-09-03. (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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FAQs: The BRAIN Initiative - Development of Next Generation Human Brain Imaging Tools and Technologies (RFA-EB-19-002)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) BRAIN Initiative funding opportunity titled "Development of Next Generation Human Brain Imaging Tools and Technologies" (RFA-EB-19-002). It uses the U01 cooperative agreement mechanism and is focused on advancing noninvasive imaging of the human brain.
What is the main goal of this program?
The goal is to support full-scale development of entirely new or clearly next-generation noninvasive human brain imaging tools, technologies, and methods that could be genuinely transformative for understanding how the human brain is organized and functions.
What kinds of projects are encouraged?
Projects that aim for major advances (not small, incremental improvements) in noninvasive human brain imaging. The emphasis is on breakthroughs that change what researchers can measure, map, or interpret in the living human brain without invasive procedures.
What does "next generation" mean in the context of this FOA?
Based on the description provided, "next generation" refers to imaging tools and methods that go beyond incremental upgrades and instead represent new capabilities or clearly advanced approaches that can significantly expand what is possible in noninvasive human brain research.
Is this opportunity focused on early-stage ideas or mature technologies?
This FOA targets projects ready to move into a complete development phase. Applicants are expected to be beyond early conceptual exploration and positioned to build and deliver working tools, technologies, or methodological platforms.
What does NIH mean by "full-scale development" here?
It means proposals should present a clear path to producing usable and validated imaging technologies or methods, rather than primarily generating preliminary data or only exploring feasibility.
What outcomes is NIH expecting from funded projects?
The intended outcome is delivery of tools that can be used by the broader research community to enable new discoveries about the human brain, including structure, function, connectivity, and dynamics that are difficult or impossible to access with current noninvasive approaches.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
The award mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement.
What is a U01 cooperative agreement and why does it matter?
A U01 cooperative agreement indicates NIH expects substantial involvement from NIH program staff during the project. Compared to a traditional research grant, this typically involves closer coordination with NIH, milestone-driven development expectations, and an emphasis on deliverables.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. The FOA explicitly states that clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement.
If clinical trials are not allowed, what should projects focus on instead?
The work should focus on developing imaging tools, technologies, and methods (including development and validation activities), rather than testing clinical interventions or conducting trials intended to establish clinical efficacy.
How does this FOA relate to earlier BRAIN Initiative funding opportunities?
This announcement is described as the second stage of a broader tool and technology development effort that began with earlier BRAIN Initiative funding opportunities (RFA-MH-14-217 and RFA-MH-15-200). It is positioned to carry the most promising ideas into robust, full development aimed at producing deployable imaging capabilities.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
Are non-U.S. organizations eligible?
Yes. The information provided states that non-U.S. (foreign) entities are eligible, and regional organizations are also listed as eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly listed among eligible applicants.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. Faith-based or community-based organizations are included in the list of additional eligible applicants.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility for organizations such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, and other similar entities.
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are listed as eligible, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
Can government agencies apply?
Yes. The eligible applicant types include state, county, and local governments, and the FOA also mentions eligible federal agencies.
Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is offered under the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as part of the BRAIN Initiative.
What type of funding is this considered?
It is listed as discretionary funding using the cooperative agreement instrument.
What topic areas does this opportunity fall under?
The activity category is noted broadly under areas including education, health, and social services.
Are there CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
Yes. The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers: 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867.
When was this FOA created?
The FOA was created on 2019-06-27.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date provided is 2021-09-03.
Does the provided information include an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided source data does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards.
What does it imply if the award ceiling and number of awards are not specified in the provided data?
It typically means applicants would need to consult the full FOA text for budget expectations, scope guidance, and any stated limits or program priorities.
What kind of approach is likely to be a strong fit for this FOA?
Teams with a compelling and innovative noninvasive human brain imaging approach that is mature enough for major development investment, combined with a credible development and validation plan, clear milestones, and a strategy to deliver a robust tool with community impact.
Is the program interested in tools that can be used beyond a single lab?
Yes. The intended outcome emphasizes delivery of tools that can be used by the research community to enable new discoveries.
What is the overall emphasis: research questions or tool-building?
The emphasis is development-focused: building, advancing, and delivering imaging tools, technologies, and methods with the potential to transform what can be measured or interpreted in the living human brain noninvasively.
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