Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 19 400
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) issued this grant opportunity under the BRAIN Initiative to fund research that examines the ethical implications of rapid advances in neurotechnology and brain science. Listed as RFA-MH-19-400, it uses the R01 research project grant mechanism and is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional," meaning applicants may propose studies that include a clinical trial if it is appropriate for the ethical questions being investigated, but a clinical trial is not required. The announcement is positioned within the broader BRAIN Initiative agenda, which is designed to accelerate transformative discoveries about how the human brain works. In this specific FOA, the emphasis is not on building the next neural device or producing a new neuroscience dataset for its own sake, but on addressing the core ethical issues that arise because those scientific and technological breakthroughs are happening quickly and are increasingly capable, scalable, and impactful.
The FOA is guided by the BRAIN Initiative's long-term plan, "BRAIN 2025: A Scientific Vision." In practical terms, NIH is looking for research that helps anticipate, clarify, and resolve ethical challenges that come with emerging tools and approaches in brain research, especially those supported or enabled by BRAIN-funded advances. The opportunity explicitly encourages work that can be complementary and integrative with ongoing neuroscience efforts, meaning the strongest projects will often connect directly to real-world research practices and technology trajectories rather than treating ethics as an abstract add-on. The goal is to generate evidence, frameworks, and actionable guidance that can inform researchers, clinicians, institutional review boards, technology developers, policymakers, and communities affected by neurotechnology.
Although the FOA text provided here does not list specific topic areas, the scope implied by "ethical implications of advancements in neurotechnology and brain science" typically includes questions such as mental privacy and the governance of neural data; informed consent challenges when technologies are complex, novel, or used with populations that may be vulnerable; risks and benefits of invasive or semi-invasive neural interfaces; responsible communication about capabilities and limitations of neurotechnologies; fairness, bias, and equitable access to emerging interventions; ownership and control of neural recordings and derived biomarkers; appropriate boundaries between clinical care, research, enhancement, and consumer uses; and broader social implications of technologies that can measure, decode, or modulate brain activity. Projects responsive to this FOA would be expected to move beyond commentary by using rigorous methods from bioethics, law, social science, neuroscience, clinical research, and related fields to produce findings that can actually guide practice.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant program administered by NIH, falling under broad federal activity categories that include education, health, and social services. Multiple CFDA numbers are associated with the opportunity (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866), reflecting NIH's structure across institutes and programs that may participate in funding or oversight. The award ceiling listed is $300,000, indicating an upper bound for requested support as represented in the source data. The original closing date in the record is October 9, 2020, and the FOA creation date is October 18, 2018, which places this announcement in the context of the BRAIN Initiative's earlier waves of ethics-focused funding.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. governmental units (state, county, city or township governments, special district governments), independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. It also includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and a wide range of nonprofit organizations, whether they have 501(c)(3) status or not. For-profit organizations are eligible as well (other than small businesses and including small businesses), and tribal entities are specifically included both as federally recognized Native American tribal governments and as Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. In addition, the FOA highlights other 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, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility signals NIH interest in ethical research that is multidisciplinary and also grounded in diverse institutional settings and community perspectives, including those historically underrepresented in biomedical research.
Overall, this grant opportunity is meant to strengthen the ethical foundation of modern brain science by supporting research that keeps pace with neurotechnology innovation. The intent is to fund projects that produce practical, evidence-informed insights into how emerging brain technologies should be developed, tested, governed, and communicated in ways that respect individuals, protect communities, and maximize societal benefit while minimizing harm.Apply for RFA MH 19 400
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Research on the Ethical Implications of Advancements in Neurotechnology and Brain Science (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)" 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.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-10-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-10-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
- 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 the focus of this NIH funding opportunity?
This funding opportunity, issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the BRAIN Initiative, supports research that examines the ethical implications of rapid advances in neurotechnology and brain science. The emphasis is on identifying, anticipating, clarifying, and helping resolve ethical challenges created by increasingly capable and scalable tools for measuring, decoding, or modulating brain activity.
What is the FOA number and title described in the announcement?
The opportunity is listed as RFA-MH-19-400. It is positioned under the BRAIN Initiative and focuses on research addressing ethical issues arising from advances in neurotechnology and brain science.
What grant mechanism does this opportunity use?
This opportunity uses the NIH R01 Research Project Grant mechanism.
Is a clinical trial required to apply?
No. The announcement is labeled "Clinical Trial Optional." Applicants may propose a study that includes a clinical trial if it fits the ethical questions being investigated, but proposing a clinical trial is not required.
How does this opportunity fit within the BRAIN Initiative?
The FOA is part of the broader BRAIN Initiative agenda, which aims to accelerate transformative discoveries about how the human brain works. This specific opportunity complements that scientific push by funding work that strengthens the ethical foundation of modern brain research and neurotechnology development as capabilities expand and real-world impacts grow.
What is the main goal NIH is trying to achieve through these awards?
The goal is to generate evidence, frameworks, and actionable guidance that can inform researchers, clinicians, institutional review boards (IRBs), technology developers, policymakers, and communities affected by neurotechnology. NIH is looking for outputs that can guide practice, governance, and communication, not just general commentary.
Does the FOA prioritize building new neurotechnology devices or datasets?
No. The emphasis is not on building the next neural device or producing a new neuroscience dataset for its own sake. The focus is on the core ethical issues that arise because neurotechnology and brain science are advancing quickly and becoming more impactful.
What kinds of ethical topics are implied to be within scope?
While the provided text does not list a fixed set of topics, it indicates a scope that typically includes areas such as:
- Mental privacy and governance of neural data
- Informed consent challenges for complex, novel, or hard-to-explain technologies
- Ethical risks and benefits of invasive or semi-invasive neural interfaces
- Responsible communication about neurotechnology capabilities and limitations
- Fairness, bias, and equitable access to emerging interventions
- Ownership and control of neural recordings and derived biomarkers
- Boundaries between clinical care, research, enhancement, and consumer uses
- Broader social implications of tools that measure, decode, or modulate brain activity
What types of research approaches does the FOA appear to encourage?
The FOA suggests that competitive projects should move beyond purely conceptual discussion and use rigorous methods from relevant disciplines such as bioethics, law, social science, neuroscience, and clinical research. The aim is to produce findings and guidance that can actually inform decisions in real settings.
Does NIH expect ethics work to connect to real neuroscience and technology trajectories?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly encourages work that is complementary and integrative with ongoing neuroscience efforts. Strong projects will often connect directly to real-world research practices and the directions neurotechnology is taking, rather than treating ethics as a standalone or abstract add-on.
Who are the intended audiences or users of the research outputs?
The research is intended to inform a wide range of stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians, institutional review boards, technology developers, policymakers, and communities affected by neurotechnology.
What guiding plan or strategy is cited for this FOA?
The FOA is guided by the BRAIN Initiative's long-term plan, "BRAIN 2025: A Scientific Vision."
What is the listed award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed in the provided record is $300,000, indicating an upper bound for requested support as represented in the source data.
When was this FOA created and what was the original closing date listed?
The FOA creation date shown in the record is October 18, 2018. The original closing date listed is October 9, 2020.
What federal categories does this grant fall under?
Administratively, it is described as a discretionary grant program administered by NIH, falling under broad federal activity categories that include education, health, and social services.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with the opportunity?
Multiple CFDA numbers are associated with the opportunity: 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866. This reflects NIH's structure across institutes and programs that may participate in funding or oversight.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The provided information lists eligible applicants including:
- State, county, city or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status)
- For-profit organizations (including small businesses and other than small businesses)
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments
- 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
- Regional organizations
- U.S. territories or possessions
- Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations)
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations).
Are tribal entities specifically included in eligibility?
Yes. The eligibility list includes federally recognized Native American tribal governments as well as Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments, along with institutions such as Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Does this FOA signal interest in diverse institutional settings and community perspectives?
Yes. The very broad eligibility list, including community-based organizations and many institution types (including those historically underrepresented in biomedical research), signals interest in multidisciplinary ethics research that is grounded in diverse settings and community perspectives.
What does "Clinical Trial Optional" mean in practical terms for applicants?
It means an applicant can include a clinical trial if it is appropriate to answer the ethical research question being proposed, but the application does not need to include a clinical trial to be responsive to the FOA.
What kinds of outputs is NIH likely looking for from funded projects?
Based on the stated intent, NIH is looking for outputs like evidence, practical frameworks, and actionable guidance that can inform development, testing, governance, and communication of neurotechnologies in ways that respect individuals, protect communities, maximize societal benefit, and minimize harm.
What is the overall intent of the funding opportunity?
Overall, the opportunity is meant to strengthen the ethical foundation of modern brain science by supporting research that keeps pace with neurotechnology innovation and provides practical, evidence-informed insights into how emerging brain technologies should be developed, tested, governed, and communicated.
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| BRAIN Initiative: Research Resource Grants for Technology Integration and Dissemination (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 19 006 Funding Number: RFA NS 19 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Research Grants for Analyses of Data for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Data Resource (R03 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 19 069 Funding Number: PAR 19 069 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for PA 19 084 Funding Number: PA 19 084 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Back Pain Consortium (BACPAC) Research Program Technology Research Sites (UH2/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA AR 19 028 Funding Number: RFA AR 19 028 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Back Pain Consortium (BACPAC) Research Program: Mechanistic Research Centers (U19 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA AR 19 026 Funding Number: RFA AR 19 026 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative: Back Pain Consortium (BACPAC) Research Program Data Integration, Algorithm Development and Operations Management Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA AR 19 027 Funding Number: RFA AR 19 027 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $3,600,000 |
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| HEAL Initiative: Pragmatic and Implementation Studies for the Management of Pain to Reduce Opioid Prescribing (PRISM) (UG3/UH3, Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for RFA AT 19 004 Funding Number: RFA AT 19 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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| HEAL Initiative: Preventing Opioid Use Disorder in Older Adolescents and Young Adults (ages 1630) (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA DA 19 035 Funding Number: RFA DA 19 035 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (Parent K01 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 19 127 Funding Number: PA 19 127 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award (Parent K25 - Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 19 124 Funding Number: PA 19 124 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| NIH Pathway to Independence Award (Parent K99/R00 - Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 19 129 Funding Number: PA 19 129 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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| HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Networks Laboratory Centers (UM1 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for RFA AI 19 001 Funding Number: RFA AI 19 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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