Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 27 002
The BRAIN Initiative: Integrative Team-Research BRAIN Circuits Program (iBCP) (RM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an NIH funding opportunity designed to support large, highly collaborative research teams that can deliver mechanistic, biologically grounded explanations for how neural circuits produce central nervous system (CNS) function. The emphasis is on moving beyond descriptive observations toward integrated accounts that link cellular building blocks, circuit dynamics, and functional outputs in a coherent, testable framework. Projects are expected to be genuinely transdisciplinary, bringing together expertise that spans molecular and cellular neuroscience through systems neuroscience, with tight integration between experimental and computational investigators so that data collection, theory, and modeling iteratively inform one another.
A central requirement is that each application explicitly connects three core scientific elements in a single, unified research plan. First, teams must characterize circuit components, which can include identifying relevant cell types, mapping connectivity, defining synaptic or microcircuit motifs, and clarifying the structural organization necessary to interpret function. Second, teams must measure dynamic circuit activity using in vivo CNS recordings with cellular-level and sub-second temporal resolution, meaning the work needs to capture fast neural dynamics at the level of individual cells or similarly fine units, rather than relying only on coarse or slow readouts. Third, teams must analyze a tractable behavior or functional output, anchoring circuit activity and cellular mechanisms to something the nervous system actually does (for example, a measurable behavioral task, physiological function, or other well-defined output). The expectation is that these elements are not presented as separate aims that loosely relate, but instead are bridged so that cell and connectivity information helps explain activity patterns, and activity patterns in turn predict or explain behavior or function.
Because the scientific challenge is to unify multiple levels of analysis, the NOFO signals a strong preference for innovative conceptual and theoretical approaches that can serve as the glue between levels. Competitive projects are expected to leverage predictive models, principled analytical frameworks, and/or cutting-edge experimental methods that allow teams to generate and test mechanistic hypotheses across cells, circuits, and behavior. In practice, that means proposals should show how computational and experimental components will be jointly designed: models should make predictions that drive experiments, and experiments should provide the kinds of measurements needed to constrain, validate, or refine the models. The program is aimed at building explanations that are both biologically realistic and mechanistically specific, rather than purely correlational.
Awardees should also anticipate active engagement with broader BRAIN Initiative community efforts. Recipients are expected to participate in BRAIN consortia activities focused on identifying and promoting standards of practice for multi-level integration, which can include shared approaches to data organization, analysis pipelines, benchmarking, rigor and reproducibility practices, and other coordination activities that help the field compare results and build cumulative knowledge across projects.
From an administrative and eligibility standpoint, the opportunity is offered as a discretionary NIH grant using the RM1 mechanism, and it is explicitly designated "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants must propose non-clinical-trial research as defined by NIH policy. Eligible applicants are broad and include many U.S.-based organization types such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and various government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as certain tribal governments and tribal organizations and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. The NOFO lists an anticipated total of about 5 awards, with an award ceiling of $8,000,000, indicating support for large-scale, team-based science.
The foreign collaboration rules are particularly important for planning team structure and budgets. Non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply under this NOFO. While foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) may be allowed in some circumstances, NIH policy described here makes clear that NIH will no longer issue awards that involve foreign subawards or subcontracts, unless the application is submitted under a NOFO specifically designated for funded international collaborations. As a result, any application proposing foreign subawards/subcontracts in response to this NOFO will be considered noncompliant and will not be reviewed for funding. The policy does not prevent unfunded international collaborations, paying foreign consultants in allowable ways, or purchasing unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors, but it does block monetary international collaborations structured as foreign subawards/subcontracts.
Key identifying details include the funding opportunity number RFA-NS-27-002, an original closing date of 2028-06-23, and NIH as the sponsoring agency. The activity aligns with NIH health research priorities and is associated with multiple CFDA listings (including 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.372, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting the cross-institute, cross-program nature typical of BRAIN Initiative efforts. Overall, iBCP is positioned for teams that can convincingly show they will integrate detailed circuit composition, fast in vivo circuit dynamics, and a concrete behavioral or functional outcome into a single mechanistic story, supported by tight experimental-computational co-development and a willingness to operate within community standards-building activities.Apply for RFA NS 27 002
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Integrative Team-Research BRAIN Circuits Program - iBCP (RM1 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, 93.372, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-08-31.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-06-23.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $8,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- 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: BRAIN Initiative Integrative Team-Research BRAIN Circuits Program (iBCP) (RM1, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is an NIH BRAIN Initiative funding opportunity to support large, highly collaborative research teams developing mechanistic, biologically grounded explanations for how neural circuits produce central nervous system (CNS) function. The focus is on integrated, testable accounts that connect cellular building blocks, circuit dynamics, and functional outputs (such as behavior or physiology).
2) What is the name of the program and the NOFO number?
The program is the BRAIN Initiative: Integrative Team-Research BRAIN Circuits Program (iBCP). The funding opportunity number is RFA-NS-27-002.
3) Which agency is sponsoring this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is NIH (National Institutes of Health).
4) What grant mechanism does this use?
The opportunity uses the NIH RM1 mechanism and is described as a discretionary NIH grant supporting large-scale, team-based science.
5) Are clinical trials allowed under this NOFO?
No. This opportunity is explicitly designated "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," so applicants must propose research that is not a clinical trial as defined by NIH policy.
6) What kinds of projects are the best fit for iBCP?
Projects that go beyond descriptive observations and instead deliver coherent, mechanistically specific explanations linking: (1) circuit components, (2) fast in vivo circuit dynamics with cellular-level resolution, and (3) a tractable behavior or functional output. Strong applications are genuinely transdisciplinary and integrate experimental and computational work so that modeling and data collection iteratively inform each other.
7) What does NIH mean here by moving beyond descriptive observations?
Based on the description provided, the program is seeking more than correlations or cataloging. The emphasis is on mechanistic, biologically realistic explanations where cellular and connectivity features help explain neural activity patterns, and those activity patterns predict or explain behavior or other functional outputs in a testable framework.
8) What are the three required scientific elements that must be connected in one unified plan?
Each application is expected to explicitly connect all three of the following in a single, unified research plan:
- Characterize circuit components: identify relevant cell types, map connectivity, define synaptic or microcircuit motifs, and/or clarify structural organization needed to interpret function.
- Measure dynamic circuit activity: use in vivo CNS recordings with cellular-level and sub-second temporal resolution (capturing fast neural dynamics at the level of individual cells or similarly fine units).
- Analyze behavior or functional output: anchor circuit activity and cellular mechanisms to a tractable, well-defined behavior, physiological function, or other measurable output.
9) Can these three elements be presented as separate aims that loosely relate?
No. The expectation is that these elements are bridged rather than siloed. Cell and connectivity information should help explain activity patterns, and activity patterns should predict or explain behavior or function, all within a coherent and testable framework.
10) What kinds of neural activity measurements does the NOFO emphasize?
The NOFO emphasizes in vivo CNS recordings with cellular-level and sub-second temporal resolution. The description indicates that relying only on coarse or slow readouts would not meet this expectation, because the goal is to capture fast neural dynamics at fine resolution.
11) What does "tractable behavior or functional output" mean in this context?
It means the project should include a well-defined output that the nervous system produces and that can be measured and analyzed, such as a measurable behavioral task, a physiological function, or another clearly specified functional output that can be linked to circuit activity and cellular mechanisms.
12) How important is computational work in iBCP applications?
Computational and theoretical approaches are described as strongly preferred for integrating levels of analysis. Competitive projects are expected to leverage predictive models, principled analytical frameworks, and/or cutting-edge methods that enable mechanistic hypothesis generation and testing across cells, circuits, and behavior.
13) What does "tight integration between experimental and computational investigators" imply?
It implies joint design and iterative feedback between modeling and experiments: models should make predictions that drive experiments, and experiments should provide measurements that constrain, validate, or refine the models. The program aims for co-development rather than parallel, loosely connected computational and experimental components.
14) What level(s) of neuroscience expertise are expected on a team?
The opportunity expects genuinely transdisciplinary teams spanning expertise from molecular and cellular neuroscience through systems neuroscience, with integrated experimental and computational investigators.
15) How many awards are anticipated, and what is the award ceiling?
The NOFO anticipates a total of about 5 awards, and it lists an award ceiling of $8,000,000.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad among U.S.-based organization types, including:
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses)
- Government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts)
- Certain tribal governments and tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities / Indian housing authorities
17) Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. (foreign) organizations are not eligible to apply under this NOFO.
18) Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply under this NOFO.
19) Are foreign subawards or foreign subcontracts allowed?
No. The information provided states that NIH will no longer issue awards that involve foreign subawards or subcontracts unless the application is submitted under a NOFO specifically designated for funded international collaborations. Therefore, any application proposing foreign subawards/subcontracts in response to this NOFO will be considered noncompliant and will not be reviewed for funding.
20) Does this NOFO prohibit all forms of international collaboration?
No. The policy described does not prevent unfunded international collaborations, paying foreign consultants in allowable ways, or purchasing unique equipment or supplies from foreign vendors. It specifically blocks monetary international collaborations structured as foreign subawards/subcontracts under this NOFO.
21) What is expected regarding standards, rigor, and community participation?
Awardees are expected to engage with broader BRAIN Initiative community efforts, including participation in BRAIN consortia activities focused on identifying and promoting standards of practice for multi-level integration. Examples listed include shared approaches to data organization, analysis pipelines, benchmarking, rigor and reproducibility practices, and other coordination activities that help the field compare results and build cumulative knowledge across projects.
22) What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date provided is 2028-06-23.
23) What CFDA listings are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA listings: 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.372, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
24) What makes an application "integrative" under iBCP?
Based on the description, "integrative" means the proposal links cellular and connectivity descriptions to measured fast circuit dynamics, and then ties those dynamics to a tractable behavioral or functional output, using conceptual/theoretical approaches (often computational models) as the glue so the overall story is coherent, predictive, and testable.
25) What kind of scientific output is the program ultimately trying to fund?
The program is positioned to fund teams that can produce mechanistic explanations that are biologically realistic and mechanistically specific, rather than purely correlational, and that unify multiple levels of analysis (cells, circuits, and behavior/function) within a single framework.
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