Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 22 028
The BRAIN Initiative: Exploratory Team-Research BRAIN Circuit Programs (eTeamBCP) (U01 Clinical Trials Optional) is an NIH cooperative agreement funding opportunity (RFA-NS-22-028) that supports early-stage, high-impact team science aimed at understanding how dynamic neural circuit activity drives behavior or operates within a well-defined neural system. It is a reissue of earlier announcements (RFA-NS-18-029 and RFA-NS-20-029) and is positioned as an exploratory on-ramp for groups planning to compete later for larger, longer, or more complex BRAIN Circuit Programs awards, such as the BRAIN TargetedBCP R01 or the multi-component Team-Research BRAIN Circuit Programs (U19). The emphasis is on ambitious, boundary-crossing research questions that are difficult or impossible to solve through a single-lab approach, with the expectation that the collaboration itself creates clear scientific synergy rather than simply assembling parallel efforts.
At its core, this FOA aims to enable large-scale analysis of neural circuits in context, meaning that circuit measurements should be made while an organism performs an ethologically relevant behavior or within a real-world, biologically meaningful functional setting. The opportunity strongly encourages proposals that integrate experimental approaches with computational and theoretical frameworks, so that new data streams are paired with modeling, analysis, and conceptual structure that can generalize beyond a single dataset. Teams are expected to bridge fields and levels of analysis by combining rich information about cell types with circuit function and connectivity, and then linking those circuit-level findings to rigorous, sophisticated behavioral analysis. The end goal is a mechanistic understanding of central nervous system circuits, not just descriptive mapping, and applicants are encouraged to use cutting-edge methods for large-scale recording, manipulation, and analysis across multiple CNS regions where appropriate.
Because this is a U01 cooperative agreement, NIH anticipates an active partnership role with awardees compared with a standard research project grant. While clinical trials are listed as optional, the scientific scope is centered on circuit mechanisms and behaviorally grounded systems neuroscience, with an exploratory flavor: building experimental capabilities, establishing team-integrated workflows, and developing theoretical or analytical frameworks that make larger-scale future efforts feasible and competitive. In practical terms, a strong application would typically show why the problem demands a coordinated team, how experimental and computational pieces will be truly integrated, and how the work could be transformative or enable major advances in understanding circuit-behavior relationships.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizational types, including state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and federally recognized tribal governments as well as other tribal organizations. The FOA also calls out additional eligible applicant categories 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, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, and U.S. territories or possessions. Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply directly; however, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations may participate, and foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Key administrative details included in the listing are that the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement (U01), and the opportunity falls under the broad activity areas of education, health, and related social services domains. The original closing date shown is April 25, 2023, and the CFDA assistance listing numbers associated with the opportunity include 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867. The announcement was created on March 2, 2022.Apply for RFA NS 22 028
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative: Exploratory Team-Research BRAIN Circuit Programs - eTeamBCP (U01 Clinical Trials 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, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-03-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-04-25. (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 the eTeamBCP funding opportunity?
The BRAIN Initiative: Exploratory Team-Research BRAIN Circuit Programs (eTeamBCP) (U01 Clinical Trials Optional) is an NIH cooperative agreement funding opportunity (RFA-NS-22-028) that supports early-stage, high-impact team science to understand how dynamic neural circuit activity drives behavior or operates within a well-defined neural system.
Which NIH program is this opportunity associated with?
This opportunity is part of the NIH BRAIN Initiative and is specifically focused on Exploratory Team-Research BRAIN Circuit Programs (eTeamBCP).
What is the goal of this FOA?
The goal is to enable ambitious, boundary-crossing team research that advances mechanistic understanding of central nervous system (CNS) circuits in relation to behavior, emphasizing large-scale circuit analysis in context rather than purely descriptive mapping.
What does "Exploratory Team-Research" mean in the context of this FOA?
It indicates an early-stage, exploratory "on-ramp" designed to help teams build experimental capabilities, establish team-integrated workflows, and develop analytical or theoretical frameworks that can position them to later compete for larger or more complex BRAIN Circuit Programs awards.
How is this FOA positioned relative to other BRAIN Circuit Programs awards?
It is positioned as a preparatory step for groups planning to compete later for larger, longer, or more complex awards, such as the BRAIN TargetedBCP R01 or the multi-component Team-Research BRAIN Circuit Programs (U19).
Is this FOA new or a continuation of prior announcements?
It is a reissue of earlier announcements, specifically RFA-NS-18-029 and RFA-NS-20-029.
What kinds of scientific questions are encouraged?
The FOA emphasizes ambitious research questions that are difficult or impossible to solve through a single-lab approach, where the collaboration itself creates clear scientific synergy rather than simply placing parallel projects under one umbrella.
What does "scientific synergy" mean here?
Based on the description, synergy means the team approach should create added scientific value through true integration across disciplines and project components, rather than multiple labs conducting separate, loosely connected efforts.
What is meant by "large-scale analysis of neural circuits in context"?
Circuit measurements are expected to be made while the organism performs an ethologically relevant behavior or within a real-world, biologically meaningful functional setting, rather than under conditions that strip away behavioral or functional context.
Does the FOA focus more on mapping circuits or on mechanisms?
The end goal is a mechanistic understanding of CNS circuits. The description explicitly emphasizes moving beyond descriptive mapping toward explanations of how circuit dynamics relate to behavior or function within a defined neural system.
Are proposals expected to integrate computational or theoretical approaches?
Yes. The opportunity strongly encourages integrating experimental approaches with computational and theoretical frameworks, pairing new data streams with modeling, analysis, and conceptual structure that can generalize beyond a single dataset.
What levels of analysis should teams aim to connect?
Teams are expected to bridge fields and levels of analysis by combining rich information about cell types with circuit function and connectivity, and linking those circuit-level findings to rigorous and sophisticated behavioral analysis.
Does the FOA encourage studying multiple CNS regions?
Yes. Applicants are encouraged to use cutting-edge methods for large-scale recording, manipulation, and analysis across multiple CNS regions where appropriate.
What kind of research approach is described as a strong fit?
A strong fit would typically show: (1) why the scientific problem requires a coordinated team, (2) how experimental and computational pieces will be truly integrated, and (3) how the proposed work could be transformative or enable major advances in understanding circuit-behavior relationships.
What is the funding mechanism and why does it matter?
The funding mechanism is a U01 cooperative agreement. This matters because NIH anticipates an active partnership role with awardees compared with a standard research project grant.
What does "cooperative agreement" imply for NIH involvement?
The description indicates NIH expects to play a more active partnership role with awardees than it would under a standard research project grant, consistent with the U01 cooperative agreement mechanism.
Are clinical trials required?
No. Clinical trials are listed as optional, and the scientific scope is centered on circuit mechanisms and behaviorally grounded systems neuroscience.
Is this opportunity limited to U.S. applicants?
Foreign institutions (non-U.S. entities) are not eligible to apply directly. However, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations may participate, and foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizational types, including state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and federally recognized tribal governments as well as other tribal organizations.
Are specific institution types explicitly called out as eligible?
Yes. The FOA calls out additional eligible applicant categories, 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; and U.S. territories or possessions.
Who is the sponsoring agency?
The sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the FOA identifier?
The FOA identifier is RFA-NS-22-028.
What activity areas does the listing associate with this opportunity?
The listing places the opportunity under broad activity areas including education, health, and related social services domains.
What was the original closing date shown for this opportunity?
The original closing date shown is April 25, 2023.
When was the announcement created?
The announcement was created on March 2, 2022.
What assistance listing (CFDA) numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA (assistance listing) numbers include 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867.
Is this opportunity aimed at single-lab projects?
No. The FOA emphasizes team science and research questions that are difficult or impossible to solve through a single-lab approach, with a clear expectation of meaningful collaboration-driven synergy.
What kind of behavioral context is expected in proposed studies?
The FOA emphasizes ethologically relevant behavior or a real-world, biologically meaningful functional setting, with circuit measurements taken in that context.
What is the practical purpose of this award for a research team?
It is described as an exploratory on-ramp to help teams build integrated capabilities and frameworks that make larger-scale future efforts feasible and more competitive, especially for later BRAIN Circuit Programs opportunities such as TargetedBCP R01 or U19 awards.
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