Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA EB 17 004
The BRAIN Initiative: Development of Next Generation Human Brain Imaging Tools and Technologies (U01) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed) funding opportunity (RFA-EB-17-004) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement designed to push noninvasive human brain imaging beyond the current state of the art. The central goal is not incremental improvement, but full-scale development of entirely new or clearly next generation imaging tools and methods that can produce genuinely transformative gains in how the human brain is measured and understood. This announcement is positioned as a later-stage development mechanism: it targets projects that are already sufficiently mature to move into intensive engineering, integration, and validation work, with the explicit expectation that they will deliver functional, working tools on a timeline aligned with the BRAIN 2025 Scientific Vision.
A key emphasis is readiness for full development. In other words, the FOA is not primarily meant for early brainstorming, basic feasibility demonstrations, or speculative concepts without a credible pathway to deployment. It is meant for teams that have a breakthrough concept in hand and need the resources, structure, and coordinated NIH involvement that comes with a U01 cooperative agreement to turn that concept into an imaging tool or method that can realistically be used by researchers. The focus on noninvasive human brain imaging signals an interest in technologies applicable to human participants without surgical implantation, and the “Clinical Trials Not Allowed” designation clarifies that the funded work should not be structured as a clinical trial, even if it involves human data collection for tool development or evaluation.
This FOA also fits into a longer NIH BRAIN funding trajectory. It is described as the second stage of a tool and technology development effort that began with earlier related opportunities (RFA-MH-14-217 and RFA-MH-15-200). That context matters because it implies a pipeline: earlier rounds supported creation and proof-of-concept, while this opportunity supports the heavier lift of building robust, scalable, and usable systems. Applicants are generally expected to propose concrete development milestones, credible engineering plans, and clear strategies for demonstrating performance, reliability, and practical utility in research settings. Because the mechanism is a cooperative agreement, awardees should also expect substantial scientific and programmatic involvement from NIH staff compared with a standard grant, often including coordination, milestone-driven management, and collaboration expectations typical of large tool-building efforts.
Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive. Beyond standard applicants like public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and various levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts, and independent school districts), the FOA explicitly highlights a wide range of other eligible applicants. These include Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with tribal governments and tribal organizations, faith-based or community-based organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) entities and regional organizations. This breadth reflects the BRAIN Initiative’s interest in drawing from diverse technical strengths and institutional perspectives to accelerate innovation.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity falls under the NIH and is categorized as discretionary funding using the Cooperative Agreement instrument (U01). It is listed under multiple CFDA numbers (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), indicating alignment across several NIH institutes and program areas that contribute to BRAIN-related neurotechnology development. The original posting date is October 4, 2017, with an original closing date of December 11, 2018. While the record does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided data, the overall design and U01 structure strongly suggest that NIH anticipated supporting a limited set of high-impact, well-managed development programs rather than a large number of small exploratory projects.
In practical terms, this FOA is for applicants who can credibly argue that their imaging approach could change what can be measured in the living human brain, how it can be measured, or the quality, scale, or interpretability of those measurements, and who can also show a realistic plan to deliver a usable tool within the BRAIN Initiative timeframe. The spirit of the announcement is to move bold neuroimaging ideas out of the lab-prototype stage and into working technologies that can be adopted by the broader neuroscience community to enable new kinds of human brain discovery.Apply for RFA EB 17 004
- 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 Trials 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 2017-10-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-12-11. (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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is "The BRAIN Initiative: Development of Next Generation Human Brain Imaging Tools and Technologies (U01) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" (RFA-EB-17-004). It is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement intended to advance noninvasive human brain imaging beyond the current state of the art.
What is the main goal of RFA-EB-17-004?
The central goal is not incremental improvement. The goal is full-scale development of entirely new or clearly next generation noninvasive human brain imaging tools and methods that can deliver transformative gains in how the human brain is measured and understood.
What does "next generation" mean in the context of this FOA?
In this FOA, "next generation" refers to tools and methods that move beyond small refinements of existing approaches and instead deliver major leaps in measurement capability, data quality, scale, interpretability, or the kinds of signals that can be measured in the living human brain.
Is this FOA intended for early-stage ideas or brainstorming?
No. This FOA is positioned as a later-stage development mechanism. It targets projects that are already mature enough to enter intensive engineering, integration, and validation, with an expectation of producing functional, working tools.
What level of readiness is expected from applicants?
The emphasis is on readiness for full development. Applicants are expected to have a breakthrough concept in hand and a credible pathway to deployment, rather than speculative concepts without a realistic plan to deliver a usable tool.
What kinds of projects is this FOA trying to support?
The FOA is designed to support the heavy lift of building robust, scalable, and usable noninvasive human brain imaging systems or methods, including engineering, integration, and validation work that moves a concept into a working technology researchers can use.
What does "noninvasive human brain imaging" imply for proposed work?
It signals interest in technologies applicable to human participants without surgical implantation. The focus is on imaging approaches that can be used to study the living human brain noninvasively.
Are clinical trials allowed under this opportunity?
No. The FOA is labeled "Clinical Trials Not Allowed," meaning the funded work should not be structured as a clinical trial, even if human data are collected for tool development or evaluation.
Can a project involve collecting data from human participants?
The information provided indicates that human data collection may occur for tool development or evaluation, but the work should not be structured as a clinical trial due to the "Clinical Trials Not Allowed" designation.
What grant mechanism is used for this opportunity?
This opportunity uses the NIH U01 cooperative agreement mechanism, which is a form of discretionary funding where NIH staff typically have substantial scientific and programmatic involvement compared with a standard grant.
What does it mean that this is a "cooperative agreement" (U01)?
It means awardees should expect substantial involvement from NIH staff, often including coordination, milestone-driven management, and collaboration expectations that are typical for large tool-building efforts.
What kinds of planning elements are applicants expected to propose?
Applicants are generally expected to propose concrete development milestones, credible engineering plans, and clear strategies to demonstrate performance, reliability, and practical utility in research settings.
How does this FOA relate to the broader BRAIN Initiative?
This FOA is part of the NIH BRAIN Initiative and is described as a later-stage tool and technology development effort aligned with the BRAIN 2025 Scientific Vision, aiming to deliver working tools on that timeline.
Is this FOA connected to earlier funding opportunities?
Yes. It is described as the second stage of a development effort that began with earlier related opportunities (RFA-MH-14-217 and RFA-MH-15-200), suggesting a pipeline from proof-of-concept to robust tool development.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and multiple levels of government (state, county, city/township, special districts, and independent school districts).
Are minority-serving institutions explicitly included as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights eligibility for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes tribal governments and tribal organizations among eligible applicants.
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations as eligible applicants.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are explicitly included among eligible applicants.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) entities eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA explicitly notes that non-U.S. (foreign) entities and regional organizations are eligible applicants.
Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered under the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
How is this opportunity categorized from a funding perspective?
It is categorized as discretionary funding using the Cooperative Agreement instrument (U01).
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under 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 opportunity originally posted?
The original posting date is October 4, 2017.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date is December 11, 2018.
Does the provided information list an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The provided data do not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards.
What type of impact is NIH looking for from funded projects?
NIH is looking for projects that can credibly argue their imaging approach could change what can be measured in the living human brain, how it can be measured, or the quality, scale, or interpretability of those measurements, and can deliver a usable tool within the BRAIN Initiative timeframe.
What is the intended end result of supported projects?
The intended outcome is functional, working imaging tools or methods that move beyond lab prototypes and can be adopted by the broader neuroscience community to enable new kinds of human brain discovery.
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