Initiative: Optimization of Instrumentation and Device Technologies for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions and organizations developing instrumentation and device technologies for recording and modulating neural activity in the central nervous system. Applicants must demonstrate proof-of-concept and be ready for technology refinement and dissemination. Eligible applicants include academic institutions, research centers, federal agencies, tribal governments, faith-based organizations, and non-U.S. entities.
Projects must focus on hardware, devices, and associated software—not primarily on molecular reagent development. Proposed technologies should reduce barriers to neuroscience research through improved cost and accessibility. All technology validation must include in vivo experiments in behaving animals during the project period.
This grant is for institutions and organizations developing instrumentation and device technologies for recording and modulating neural activity in the central nervous system. Applicants must demonstrate proof-of-concept and be ready for technology refinement and dissemination. Eligible applicants include academic institutions, research centers, federal agencies, tribal governments, faith-based organizations, and non-U.S. entities.
Projects must focus on hardware, devices, and associated software—not primarily on molecular reagent development. Proposed technologies should reduce barriers to neuroscience research through improved cost and accessibility. All technology validation must include in vivo experiments in behaving animals during the project period.
Program description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) seeks applications to optimize instrumentation and device technologies for recording and modulation of neural cells and circuits, to address major challenges and to enable transformative understanding of dynamic signaling in the central nervous system. It is expected that the proposed technologies and approaches have previously demonstrated their transformative potential through initial proof-of-concept testing, and are ready for accelerated refinement through iterative engineering and end-user feedback, appropriate for a path towards sustainable dissemination and user-friendly incorporation into routine neuroscience research. Applications may propose development of instrumentation hardware and/or devices and associated software. Approaches may utilize any modality such as optical, electrical, magnetic, or acoustic recording/manipulation, to target neuronal electrical signals or other forms of neural activity, including intracellular signaling and engagement of non-neuronal cells in circuit function. This NOFO is a re-issue of RFA-NS-21-027, but unlike the previous NOFO the focus is narrowed to technologies associated with recording/manipulation instrumentation and devices, and excludes projects primarily focused on development of molecular reagents. Potential applicants primarily optimizing molecular constructs should consider RFA-MH-22-245 (or its reissue), BRAIN Initiative: Engineering and optimization of molecular technologies for functional dissection of neural circuits (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). For projects at an earlier stage of development of molecular reagents, potential applicants should consider the companion FOA (RFA-NS-25-018) or alternative BRAIN Initiative announcements including RFA-MH-21-175 and RFA-EY-21-001 (or their reissues). For this and the companion NOFO, the aim of the proposed technologies should be to reduce major barriers to conducting neurobiological experiments, including considerations of cost and ease of access, and to enable new discoveries for understanding neural circuit function. Technologies should address major challenges associated with recording and modulating CNS activity, at cellular or circuit resolution, and should contribute to an overall ecosystem of technologies spanning multiple spatial and temporal scales in any region throughout the CNS. The approaches should be compatible with experiments in behaving animals, with an expectation that they will be validated with in vivo experiments during the course of the project. Proposed validation experiments must focus on demonstrating the capabilities and potential impact of the technology, rather than advancing the state of biological knowledge as the primary project goal. Applications are encouraged to integrate multiple approaches, and where appropriate, to leverage a variety of domains of expertise from biological, chemical, and physical sciences, engineering, computational modeling, and statistical analysis.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Details
This grant is for institutions and organizations developing instrumentation and device technologies for recording and modulating neural activity in the central nervous system. Applicants must demonstrate proof-of-concept and be ready for technology refinement and dissemination. Eligible applicants include academic institutions, research centers, federal agencies, tribal governments, faith-based organizations, and non-U.S. entities.
Projects must focus on hardware, devices, and associated software—not primarily on molecular reagent development. Proposed technologies should reduce barriers to neuroscience research through improved cost and accessibility. All technology validation must include in vivo experiments in behaving animals during the project period.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) application form
- Project Narrative and Specific Aims
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Biographical sketches (for key personnel)
- Letters of support from collaborators/end-users
- Facilities and resources information
- Proof-of-concept data or publications demonstrating feasibility
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.279 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$128,078,833
-
$126,585,435
-
$79,333,238
-
$78,351,755
-
$74,806,844
-
$71,588,047
-
$61,578,651
-
$50,344,757
-
$41,820,011
-
$39,479,041
Top States by Funding
- NY 4 awards $260.8M
- CT 2 awards $155.8M
- CA 3 awards $90.2M
- KY 1 awards $79.3M
- MA 1 awards $78.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.279). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,245,503,136 | |
| 2025 | $1,343,517,098 | |
| 2026 est. | $20,194,375 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Universities, research institutions, federal agencies, HBCUs, tribal colleges, faith-based organizations, and international entities are eligible. Most domestic research institutions can apply.
What types of projects are eligible?
Projects optimizing instrumentation and devices for neural recording or modulation. Molecular reagent development is not eligible; see companion FOAs instead.
Is proof-of-concept required before applying?
Yes. Technology must have demonstrated transformative potential through initial proof-of-concept testing before application.
What is the deadline?
The fixed deadline is June 16, 2026. Plan applications accordingly.
What does the award support?
Hardware development, device prototyping, associated software, and iterative engineering. All projects require validation with in vivo animal experiments.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start with a clear description of your proof-of-concept results. Reviewers need evidence the technology already works in principle.
- Plan substantial in vivo validation experiments as a core project component, not an afterthought. Budget time and resources accordingly.
- Address major barriers to adoption (cost, ease of use, accessibility). Show how your optimizations overcome real research obstacles.
- Engage end-users early and document their feedback. Integration of user input strengthens competitiveness.
- Consider partnering across disciplines—neuroscience, engineering, computational sciences. Multi-domain teams align with NIH priorities.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications proposing primarily molecular construct development get rejected; this grant focuses on instrumentation and devices. Applicants without prior proof-of-concept or those treating in vivo validation as optional rather than central weakly score. Projects failing to demonstrate how the technology reduces barriers to adoption miss the core mission.
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