Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 17 256
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Standards to Define Experiments Related to the BRAIN Initiative (R24)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA MH 17 256) supports projects focused on creating shared, community-driven standards for describing experimental protocols used in the NIH BRAIN Initiative. The central goal is to make it easier for researchers to compare, interpret, reproduce, and reuse data by ensuring that experiments are described in consistent and well-defined ways. Rather than funding new basic science experiments directly, this announcement is aimed at the infrastructure layer of neuroscience research: the common language and structured documentation that helps different labs and consortia align how they record what they did, how they did it, and what their data mean.
A defining feature of this opportunity is its emphasis on broad community engagement throughout the entire standards-development process. Applicants are expected to actively solicit input from relevant stakeholders at all stages, which typically includes researchers generating BRAIN-related data, technologists and method developers, data scientists, informatics experts, tool builders, and end users who will later rely on the standard. The FOA also encourages a practical starting point for building a standard: early sharing and comparison of data and metadata practices across multiple key groups in the experimental community. The reason for this recommendation is straightforward: if a standard is written based on a narrow slice of how one lab documents its protocols, it can fail when applied to the wider field. By aligning early with multiple groups, the resulting standard is more likely to capture real-world variation in experimental workflows while still providing enough structure to support interoperability.
The expected deliverable is a standard (or set of standards) that clearly describes experimental protocols relevant to BRAIN Initiative work and that is made widely available for broad adoption. In practice, "widely available" implies that the standard should be openly disseminated to the community rather than kept proprietary or limited to a closed consortium. While the announcement text provided does not list every required component, the intent is that these standards function as shared references for how experiments and protocols are documented, which can include structured metadata elements, controlled vocabularies or ontologies where appropriate, and guidance that supports consistent reporting across different sites and platforms. The R24 activity code commonly aligns with resource-related efforts, which fits the emphasis here on developing shared research standards that enable the broader scientific ecosystem.
This is a discretionary grant mechanism under the federal activity areas of education, health, income security, and social services, reflecting NIH's role in supporting health-related research infrastructure. The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), indicating that it spans or intersects with several NIH programs and institutes that participate in BRAIN-related efforts and neuroscience data ecosystems.
Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive. In addition to the typical range of U.S. applicants such as state, county, and city governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and a wide range of nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), the FOA also allows applications from for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses. It also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories that are often emphasized in NIH funding announcements to encourage inclusive participation and partnerships, including 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, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). That broad eligibility is consistent with the reality that standards development often benefits from cross-sector collaboration, including academic labs, research software teams, data resource organizations, and international partners.
Key administrative details in the provided source include an original closing date of 2017-10-11 and a creation date of 2016-09-21. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the supplied record, which typically means applicants would have needed to consult the full FOA text for budget limits, project period expectations, and review criteria. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as NIH support for building the shared protocol-description standards that help BRAIN Initiative experimental data become more interoperable, comparable across labs, and more useful to the wider neuroscience community over time.Apply for RFA MH 17 256
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Standards to Define Experiments Related to the BRAIN Initiative (R24)" 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 2016-09-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-10-11. (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)
1) What is the title and funding opportunity number for this NIH grant?
The opportunity is titled "BRAIN Initiative: Standards to Define Experiments Related to the BRAIN Initiative (R24)." The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA MH 17 256.
2) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The central goal is to support the creation of shared, community-driven standards for describing experimental protocols used in the NIH BRAIN Initiative. These standards aim to make it easier to compare, interpret, reproduce, and reuse data by ensuring experiments are described in consistent, well-defined ways.
3) What types of projects is NIH trying to fund through this FOA?
This FOA supports projects focused on developing standards (or sets of standards) that describe experimental protocols relevant to BRAIN Initiative work. It is aimed at research infrastructure: the common language and structured documentation that help different labs and consortia align how they document what they did, how they did it, and what their data mean.
4) Does this grant fund new basic science experiments?
Based on the provided description, the announcement is not intended to fund new basic science experiments directly. Instead, it focuses on standards development for describing experimental protocols and related documentation.
5) What does "standards to define experiments" mean in this context?
In this context, it refers to shared references for how experiments and protocols are documented so that different groups describe similar work in compatible ways. The standards may include structured metadata elements, controlled vocabularies or ontologies where appropriate, and guidance for consistent reporting across sites and platforms.
6) What is the expected deliverable from an awarded project?
The expected deliverable is a standard (or set of standards) that clearly describes experimental protocols relevant to BRAIN Initiative work and is made widely available for broad adoption by the community.
7) What does "widely available" imply for the standard?
"Widely available" implies the standard should be openly disseminated to the community rather than kept proprietary or restricted to a closed consortium, so it can be broadly adopted.
8) Why does the FOA emphasize community engagement?
The FOA emphasizes broad community engagement because standards are more likely to work in practice when they reflect real-world variation across many groups. If a standard is written from a narrow slice of one lab's practices, it may not translate well across the wider field.
9) Who should be involved as stakeholders during the standards-development process?
Applicants are expected to actively solicit input from relevant stakeholders at all stages. The provided examples include researchers generating BRAIN-related data, technologists and method developers, data scientists, informatics experts, tool builders, and end users who will rely on the standard.
10) What practical approach does the FOA encourage for getting started on a standard?
The FOA encourages early sharing and comparison of data and metadata practices across multiple key groups in the experimental community. This approach helps ensure the standard captures meaningful variation in workflows while still enabling interoperability.
11) How does this opportunity support data interoperability and reuse?
By standardizing how experimental protocols are described, the opportunity supports interoperability by making documentation more consistent across labs and platforms. That consistency helps researchers compare datasets, interpret them correctly, reproduce findings, and reuse data with more confidence.
12) What does the R24 activity code suggest about the nature of the work?
The R24 activity code commonly aligns with resource-related efforts. In this FOA, it fits the focus on developing shared research standards that enable the broader neuroscience ecosystem.
13) What federal activity areas is this grant associated with?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant mechanism under the federal activity areas of education, health, income security, and social services.
14) Which CFDA numbers are associated with this FOA?
The FOA is associated with multiple CFDA numbers: 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. The provided information indicates eligible applicants include state, county, and city governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses.
16) Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The information provided explicitly includes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) as eligible applicant types.
17) Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly includes U.S. territories or possessions.
18) Are minority-serving institutions and other specifically named institution types eligible?
Yes. The provided eligibility list explicitly highlights Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, and TCCUs.
19) Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The provided eligibility list explicitly includes faith-based or community-based organizations.
20) Are eligible federal agencies included in the eligible applicant categories?
Yes. The eligibility list explicitly mentions eligible federal agencies.
21) Are award amounts (award ceiling) and number of awards stated in the provided information?
No. The provided record does not specify the award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
22) What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date provided is 2017-10-11.
23) What is the creation date listed for this opportunity?
The creation date provided is 2016-09-21.
24) Where would an applicant typically find budget limits, project period expectations, and review criteria?
Because the supplied record does not provide award ceilings, number of awards, or other administrative specifics, applicants would typically need to consult the full FOA text for budget limits, project period expectations, and review criteria.
25) What is the overall purpose of this opportunity in the BRAIN Initiative ecosystem?
Overall, it supports the development of shared protocol-description standards that make BRAIN Initiative experimental data more interoperable, comparable across labs, and more useful to the neuroscience community over time.
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA MH 17 256) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| BRAIN Initiative: Integration and Analysis of BRAIN Initiative Data (R24) Apply for RFA MH 17 257 Funding Number: RFA MH 17 257 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Large-Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01) Apply for RFA NS 17 003 Funding Number: RFA NS 17 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Optimization of Transformative Technologies for Large Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01) Apply for RFA NS 17 004 Funding Number: RFA NS 17 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Next-Generation Invasive Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human Central Nervous System (U44) Apply for RFA NS 17 007 Funding Number: RFA NS 17 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Clinical Studies to Advance Next-Generation Invasive Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human Central Nervous System (UH3) Apply for RFA NS 17 006 Funding Number: RFA NS 17 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Next-Generation Invasive Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human Central Nervous System (UG3/UH3) Apply for RFA NS 17 005 Funding Number: RFA NS 17 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: SBIR Direct to Phase II Next-Generation Invasive Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human Central Nervous System (U44) Apply for RFA NS 17 008 Funding Number: RFA NS 17 008 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Research Career Enhancement Award for Investigators to Build Skills in a Cross-Disciplinary Area (K18) Apply for RFA DA 17 022 Funding Number: RFA DA 17 022 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) - Specialized Center on Human and Non-Human Primate Brain Cell Atlases (U01) Apply for RFA MH 17 210 Funding Number: RFA MH 17 210 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) - Specialized Center on Mouse Brain Cell Atlas (U01) Apply for RFA MH 17 230 Funding Number: RFA MH 17 230 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) Brain Cell Data Center (U24) Apply for RFA MH 17 215 Funding Number: RFA MH 17 215 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) Comprehensive Center on Mouse Brain Cell Atlas (U19) Apply for RFA MH 17 225 Funding Number: RFA MH 17 225 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Proof of Concept Development of Early Stage Next Generation Human Brain Imaging (R01) Apply for RFA EB 17 001 Funding Number: RFA EB 17 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Research on the Ethical Implications of Advancements in Neurotechnology and Brain Science (R01) Apply for RFA MH 17 260 Funding Number: RFA MH 17 260 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Development of Next Generation Human Brain Imaging Tools and Technologies (U01) Apply for RFA EB 17 002 Funding Number: RFA EB 17 002 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Research Opportunities Using Invasive Neural Recording and Stimulating Technologies in the Human Brain (U01) Apply for RFA NS 17 019 Funding Number: RFA NS 17 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Team-Research BRAIN Circuit Programs - TeamBCP (U19) Apply for RFA NS 17 018 Funding Number: RFA NS 17 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Targeted BRAIN Circuits Projects - TargetedBCP (R01) Apply for RFA NS 17 014 Funding Number: RFA NS 17 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revision Applications for U.S-South Africa Program for Collaborative Biomedical Research (R01) Apply for RFA AI 16 082 Funding Number: RFA AI 16 082 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Revision Applications for U.S.-South Africa Program for Collaborative Biomedical Research (U01) Apply for RFA AI 16 083 Funding Number: RFA AI 16 083 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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