OARS funding Neuroscience

The National Football League (NFL) and Football Research, Inc. (FRI), have partnered with Duke University's Clinical and Translational Science Institute (Duke CTSI) to create the HeadHealthTECH Challenges, a series of innovation and crowdsourcing initiatives intended to deepen understanding of and advance solutions in the areas of injury prevention, head protection, materials science, head kinematics, among others.

Projects proposed for the BYI program should be truly innovative, high-risk, and show promise for contributing to significant advances in chemistry and the life sciences. They should represent a departure from current research directions rather than an extension or expansion of existing programs. Proposed research that cuts across traditional boundaries of scientific disciplines is encouraged. Proposals that open new avenues of research in chemistry and life sciences by fostering the invention of methods, instruments and materials will be given additional consideration. The BYI program funds promising young scientists early in their careers who have not yet received a major award from another organization. Proposals that already have substantial funding will not be considered for the BYI award (see eligibility for more information). Projects are normally funded for a period of four years. Grants are in the range of $600,000 over the term of the project, contingent upon demonstrated progress after the second year of the award.

AFTD Clinical Research Pilot Grants provide seed funding for innovative research projects in the preliminary stages of development that have the potential to address the unmet medical needs of frontotemporal degeneration. FTD disorders include behavioral variant FTD, primary progressive aphasia, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal syndrome, and FTD-ALS/MND.

The purpose of this FOA is to support investigator-initiated R01 applications that will inform our understanding of the typical and atypical patterns of language and literacy development of dual language learners (DLLs) in the United States. Applicants are encouraged to take advantage of advances in the language sciences and related fields to identify and clarify specific cognitive, linguistic, neurobiological, and sociocultural factors associated with normal and impaired language and literacy acquisition in young DLL populations.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages administrative supplements for the NINDS Research Education Program for Residents and Fellows in Neurology, Neurosurgery, Neuropathology, Neuroradiology and Emergency Medicine (R25, PAR-13-384 and subsequent reissuances)  

AFTD Basic Science Pilot Grants provide seed funding for innovative research projects that expand our understanding of the biology or pathophysiology of frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). The FTD disorders include: behavioral variant FTD, primary progressive aphasia, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal syndrome, and FTD-ALS/MND. Applications are welcome from investigators at not-for-profit institutions or biotechnology startup organizations. Pilot Grant funded projects are intended to generate data that will support follow-on grant applications to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other public or private agencies.

Clinical trials for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias have been hindered, in part, by the limited number of biomarkers available to (1) accurately diagnose these diseases, (2) enrich and stratify patient cohorts, (3) demonstrate target engagement for novel therapeutics, and (4) reliably monitor disease progression and response to treatment. While currently available biomarkers have helped to accelerate clinical trials, most are either expensive, invasive, or both, and provide information on a small number of disease targets. Thus, additional biomarkers are needed to provide a more complete picture of the disease.

The PRARP Convergence Science Research Award (CSRA) mechanism was first offered in FY12. Since then, 195 CSRA applications have been received, and 36 have been recommended for funding. The intent of the FY17 PRARP CSRA is to support efforts to generate research resources, tools, or novel research efforts for researchers and/or practitioners in health sciences related to the PRARP's mission (see Section II.A, Program Description). The FY17 PRARP CSRA is open to Principal Investigators (PIs) at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) from any field or discipline. As part of the application, the PI should demonstrate that the study team has experience in both TBI and AD/ADRD research. Preliminary data, while not required, are encouraged. Preliminary data may come from the PI's published work, pilot data, or from peer-reviewed literature. The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY17 PRARP CSRA will not exceed $500,000. The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

The PRARP New Investigator Research Award (NIRA) mechanism is being offered for the first time in FY17. The intent of the FY17 PRARP NIRA is to support early-career investigators interested in novel research efforts or new technologies within TBI and AD/ADRD in support of the PRARP's mission (see Section II.A, Program Description). The FY17 PRARP NIRA is open to Principal Investigators (PIs) within 3 years of their first independent faculty position, from any field or discipline. As part of the application, the PI should demonstrate that the study team has experience in both TBI and AD/ADRD research. Preliminary data, while not required, are encouraged. Preliminary data may come from the PI's published work, pilot data, or from peer-reviewed literature. Note that PIs will be required to verify their eligibility for this award. The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY17 PRARP NIRA will not exceed $225,000. The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

The PRARP Quality of Life Research Award (QUAL) mechanism was first offered in FY13. Since then, 38 QUAL applications have been received, and 16 have been recommended for funding. The intent of the research funded through this award is to (1) support research to alleviate, stabilize, or characterize the symptoms or deficits common to TBI and AD/ADRD, and (2) reduce the burden of care on the caregiver for individuals living with the common symptoms of TBI and AD/ADRD. Research may be proposed to either facet of the intent. Both are equally important. As part of the research strategy, all applications must include cognitive, neuropsychological, or otherwise appropriate measures. The FY17 PRARP QUAL is open to Principal Investigators (PIs) at or above the level of Assistant Professor (or equivalent) from any field or discipline. As part of the application, the PI should demonstrate that the study team has experience in both TBI and AD/ADRD research. Preliminary data, while not required, are encouraged. Preliminary data may come from the PI's published work, pilot data, or from peer-reviewed literature. Applications should also address how all of the included study measures address the research strategy and the study's hypothesis or hypotheses. The anticipated direct costs budgeted for the entire period of performance for an FY17 PRARP QUAL will not exceed $500,000. The maximum period of performance is 3 years.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) intends to support investigators who have interest and capability to join efforts for the discovery of cell-based chemical probes for novel brain targets. It is expected that applicants will have in hand the starting compounds (validated hits) for chemical optimization and bioassays for testing new analog compounds. Through this FOA, NIH wishes to stimulate research in: 1) discovery and development of novel, small molecules for their potential use in understanding biological processes relevant to the missions of NIMH, NIA, and/or NIDCD; and 2) discovery and/or validation of novel, biological targets that will inform studies of brain disease mechanisms. Emphasis will be placed on projects that provide new insight into important disease-related biological targets and biological processes. The main emphasis of projects submitted under this FOA should be in the discovery of cell-based chemical probes. Applicants interested in developing in vivo chemical probes may wish to apply using the companion R01 mechanism (PAR-17-336).

The research impact for the FY17 ERP ERFA will benefit the military, Veteran, and civilian communities. To this end, applications should address at least one of the following FY17 ERP ERFA Focus Areas. An application that proposes research outside of these FY17 ERP ERFA Focus Areas is acceptable, as long as the applicant provides a strong rationale. These should be carefully considered as part of the application process. * Epidemiology: Epidemiological characterization of PTE following TBI, which may include: ○ Risk factors such as demographics, genetic factors, organic head injury factors, or type of insult ○ Differentiation of PTE and psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) ○ Outcomes including latency to epilepsy, morbidities and comorbidities, and mortality ○ Pre-existing conditions including psychological and psychiatric risk factors * Markers and Mechanisms: Identifying markers or mechanisms (via clinical prospective or preclinical models) that address PTE: ○ Early detection ○ Diagnosis ○ Prognosis ○ Morbidity ○ Comorbidity ○ Mortality ○ Risk stratification Note: Research focusing on interventional clinical trials (e.g., pharmacological interventions) is strongly discouraged. Research Involving Human Anatomical Substances, Human Subjects, or Human Cadavers: All Department of Defense (DoD)-funded research involving new and ongoing research with human anatomical substances, human subjects, or human cadavers must be reviewed and approved by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) Office of Research Protections (ORP), Human Research Protection Office (HRPO) prior to research implementation

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) intends to support investigators who have interest and capability to join efforts for the discovery of in vivo chemical probes for novel brain targets. It is expected that applicants will have in hand the starting compounds ("validated hits") for chemical optimization and bioassays for testing new analog compounds.

A central goal of the BRAIN Initiative is to understand how electrical and chemical signals code information in neural circuits and give rise to sensations, thoughts, emotions and actions. While currently available technologies can provide some understanding, they may not be sufficient to accomplish this goal. For example, non-invasive technologies are low resolution and/or provide indirect measures such as blood flow, which are imprecise; invasive technologies can provide information at the level of single neurons producing the fundamental biophysical signals, but they can only be applied to tens or hundreds of neurons, out of a total number in the human brain estimated at 85 billion.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage basic or clinical research applications that investigate central neural mechanisms of age-related hearing loss in older adults and/or in relevant animal models. This FOA is driven by the need to address a major gap in our understanding of the central pathways and neural networks that are involved in hearing loss, and how these may be altered in the context of the aging brain, as well as how natural aging influences central auditory plasticity.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage basic or clinical research applications that investigate central neural mechanisms of age-related hearing loss in older adults and/or in relevant animal models. This FOA is driven by the need to address a major gap in our understanding of the central pathways and neural networks that are involved in hearing loss and how these may be altered in the context of the aging brain, as well as how natural aging influences central auditory plasticity.

A central goal of the BRAIN Initiative is to understand how electrical and chemical signals code information in neural circuits and give rise to sensations, thoughts, emotions and actions. While currently available technologies can provide some understanding, they may not be sufficient to accomplish this goal. For example, non-invasive technologies are low resolution and/or provide indirect measures such as blood flow, which are imprecise; invasive technologies can provide information at the level of single neurons producing the fundamental biophysical signals, but they can only be applied to tens or hundreds of neurons, out of a total number in the human brain estimated at 85 billion.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications to design and implement research infrastructure that will enable the monitoring of cognitive abilities and age, state, context, or health condition-related changes in cognitive abilities on mobile devices. This effort will include the development (or support for development) of apps on the Android and iOS platforms, the validation of tests and items to be used on the two leading smartphone platforms in age groups ranging from 20 to 85, and the norming of successfully validated measures to nationally representative U.S. population samples that will also receive gold standard measures, including the NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Behavioral and Neurological Function. A goal of this project is to also support data collection efforts from participants enrolled in projects awarded through this FOA as well as other NIH-funded studies though FY2022, and enable the widespread sharing of both the collected data and the test instruments.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications to design and implement research infrastructure that will enable the monitoring of cognitive abilities and age, state, context, or health condition-related changes in cognitive abilities on mobile devices. This effort will include the development (or support for development) of apps on the Android and iOS platforms, the validation of tests and items to be used on the two leading smartphone platforms in age groups ranging from 20 to 85, and the norming of successfully validated measures to nationally representative U.S. population samples that will also receive gold standard measures, including the NIH Toolbox® for Assessment of Behavioral and Neurological Function. A goal of this project is to also support data collection efforts from participants enrolled in projects awarded through this FOA as well as other NIH-funded studies though FY2022, and enable the widespread sharing of both the collected data and the test instruments.

Funding from this award will support the first year of a sub-study involving 5 of the 21 ABCD sites to include measures of delinquency and victimization in their investigations. The sub-study will address key questions on the interactions between substance use, brain development, delinquency, and victimization. The ABCD Study is the largest longitudinal study of brain development and child health in the US, following approximately 10,000 children (ages 9-10) across 21 sites into their early adulthood years. The ABCD Study, which is funded by NIDA, seeks to explore the standards of normal brain development across a young person's life trajectory, as well as numerous facets of adolescent brain, cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development.