The Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) to support the BRAIN Initiative, specifically focusing on invasive neural recording and stimulation technologies in human brain studies. This initiative seeks applications from multidisciplinary teams that can address high-impact questions in human neuroscience by leveraging invasive surgical procedures for groundbreaking investigation into brain functions and disorders.
The initiative emphasizes assembling diverse, integrated teams that include clinicians, scientists, engineers, and ethics specialists to overcome the limitations posed by a small patient pool and resource constraints. The FOA outlines requirements for prospective applicants, including a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP) and consideration of neuroethical aspects in their proposals.
The NIH anticipates committing approximately $8 million for up to five awards under this FOA, which is designed for basic experimental studies rather than therapeutic or regulatory goals. Applications should address the unique challenges associated with invasive human research, propose innovative methodologies, and adhere to the rigorous review process to ensure scientific merit and compliance with ethical standards. The overall goal is to foster advancements in understanding the complex workings of the human brain while promoting inclusivity in research.