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Understanding how behavior emerges from the dynamic patterns of electrical and chemical activity of brain circuits is universally recognized as one of the great, unsolved mysteries of science. Advances in recent decades have elucidated how individual elements of the nervous system and brain relate to specific behaviors and cognitive processes. However, there remains much to discover to attain a comprehensive understanding of how the healthy brain functions, specifically, the general principles underlying how cognition and behavior relate to the brain's structural organization and dynamic activities, how the brain interacts with its environment, and how brains maintain their functionality over time. Achieving an understanding of brain structure and function that spans levels of organization, spatial and temporal scales, and the diversity of species requires an international, transdisciplinary collaborative effort to not only integrate discipline-specific ideas and approaches but also extend them to stimulate new discoveries, and innovative concepts, theories, and methodologies.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to support the efficient pilot testing of novel psychosocial therapeutic and preventive interventions for mental disorders in adults and children, using an experimental therapeutics approach. Under this FOA, trials must be designed so that results, whether positive or negative, will provide information of high scientific utility and will support go/no-go decisions about further development or testing of the intervention. This FOA supports the development and testing of innovative psychosocial intervention approaches where the target and/or the intervention strategy are novel. Targets might include, but are not limited to, potentially modifiable behavioral, cognitive, affective and/or interpersonal factors or processes, neural circuits or neural activity subserving specific behaviors or cognitive processes, and/or other neurobiological mechanisms associated with risk for, causation of, or maintenance of a mental disorder. Eligible psychosocial intervention strategies might include in-person or technology-assisted delivery, provided the target and/or the intervention strategy is novel. This FOA supports the development and testing of novel psychosocial interventions, as defined above, as monotherapies or as augmentations to standard treatment. Support will be provided for up to 3 years for studies to replicate previous target engagement findings, and relate change in the intervention target/mechanism to clinical benefit. Ultimately, this FOA is intended to speed the translation of emerging basic science findings of mechanisms and processes underlying mental disorders into novel interventions that can be efficiently tested for their promise in restoring function and reducing symptoms for those living with mental disorders, or for preventing mental disorders among those at risk.

We are looking for ideas that can lead to new multi-grant research portfolios on human flourishing. We are particularly interested in ideas for interdisciplinary scientific research towards discoveries that can promote physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being. We welcome ideas that bridge gaps between empirical science and the humanities. Such ideas may include (but are not limited to):  Experimental testing of philosophically grounded models of human flourishing; Research on biological complexity in humans, including genetics, epigenetics, and microbiome research; Investigation of key psychological, neuroscientific, or human developmental concepts, such as (but not limited to) altruism, creativity, imagination, narrative, and meta-cognition; Research on cognitive, affective, or social capacities of individuals or groups; Studies of human biological or cultural evolution.

The complexities of brain and behavior pose fundamental questions in many areas of science and engineering, drawing intense interest across a broad spectrum of disciplinary perspectives while eluding explanation by any one of them. Rapid advances within and across disciplines are leading to an increasingly interconnected fabric of theories, models, empirical methods and findings, and educational approaches, opening new opportunities to understand complex aspects of neural and cognitive systems through integrative multidisciplinary approaches. This program calls for innovative, integrative, boundary-crossing proposals that can best capture those opportunities. NSF seeks proposals that are bold, risky, and transcend the perspectives and approaches typical of single-discipline research efforts

The Collaborative Research on Addiction at the NIH (CRAN) - composed of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and - along with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) intend to jointly fund the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study Consortium using the cooperative agreement award mechanism.  The objective of the consortium is to establish a national, multisite, longitudinal cohort study to prospectively examine the neurodevelopmental and behavioral effects of substance use from early adolescence (approximately age 9-10) through the period of risk for substance use and substance use disorders.

GENERALLY, WE FUND DISCRETE PROJECTS. Our process and forms are not designed for other types of requests such as donations, operational support, or program support. Grant consideration begins with an initial Online Funding Inquiry (OFI) and, if invited, a detailed Full Proposal. Funding areas include: Natural Sciences Human Sciences Philosophy & Theology Public Engagement Character Virtue Development Exceptional Cognitive Talent & Genius Genetics Voluntary Family Planning

The John Templeton Foundation works to catalyze discoveries relating to the deepest and most perplexing questions facing humankind and supports research on a wide range of subjects, from complexity, evolution, and emergency to creativity, forgiveness, and free will. In support of this mission, the foundation is accepting applications for its Academic Cross-Training Fellowship. With the intent to help equip recently tenured philosophers and theologians with the skills and knowledge needed to study big questions that require substantive and high-level engagement with empirical science, the fellowship will provide up to $220,000 over three years to support systematic and sustained study in an empirical science such as physics, psychology, biology, genetics, cognitive science, neuroscience, or sociology.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to facilitate research on the perceptual and cognitive processes underlying the performance of cancer image observers in radiology and pathology, in order to improve the accuracy of cancer detection and diagnosis.

Through the annual program, one grant of up to $25,000 will be awarded to support an early-career psychologist pursuing innovative work in neuropsychology, intelligence, and/or the assessment aspects of cognition. Those who work on positive applied neuropsychology are encouraged to apply. To be eligible, psychologists must hold an Ed.D., Psy.D., or Ph.D. from an accredited university and be no more than seven years postdoctoral.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) invites applications to conduct new research on automobile technology for signaling early signs of cognitive impairment in older drivers.

The prize supports research that aims to advance, both empirically and theoretically, a materialistic understanding of the human mind. The research may address any aspect of mental function (e.g., cognition, affect, motivation) and should utilize behavioral and/or neuroscientific methods. 

The Social Psychology Program at NSF supports basic research on human social behavior, including cultural differences and development over the life span.  Among the many research topics supported are: attitude formation and change, social cognition, personality processes, interpersonal relations and group processes, the self, emotion, social comparison and social influence, and the psychophysiological and neurophysiological bases of social behavior.  The scientific merit of a proposal depends on four important factors: (1) The problems investigated must be theoretically grounded. (2) The research should be based on empirical observation or be subject to empirical validation. (3) The research design must be appropriate to the questions asked. (4) The proposed research must advance basic understanding of social behavior.

The GRAMMY Foundation Grant Program awards grants to organizations and individuals to support research on the impact of music on the human condition. Examples might include the study of the effects of music on mood, cognition and healing, as well as the medical and occupational well-being of music professionals and the creative process underlying music. Priority is given to projects with strong methodological design as well those addressing an important research question.

To allow investigators time to plan and develop applications, the TSCRP is providing its strategic plan for award mechanisms to be offered in 2013 should funding become available. Congressional funds for the FY13 TSCRP have not yet been appropriated, and this document is not to be construed as an obligation by the government; there is no guarantee of funding for these planned mechanisms. Areas of Focus: The FY13 TSCRP encourages research projects applications that specifically address the critical needs of theTSC community in the following areas of focus: Genetic, epigenetic, and non-genetic modifiers of TSC. Identification and development of preclinical models and therapeutic strategies (e.g., cytotoxic agents, combination therapies). Identifying biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, and prediction of treatment outcomes (such as serum markers, imaging, electrophysiology, prenatal testing, and pharmacogenetics). Impact of TSC manifestations in adults (e.g., care management, age-specific pathogenesis, epidemiology, renal, reproductive issues, and lymphangioleiomyomatosis [LAM])). Long-term benefits and effects of mTOR inhibitors or other agents. Novel strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of TSC manifestations including those geared toward early identification and intervention. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of TSC and LAM pathogenesis. Understanding the mechanism and improving the treatment of epilepsy in TSC. Understanding the mechanism and improving treatment of TSC-associated neurocognitive disorders (TAND) including cognitive impairment, and psychiatric, behavioral, and sleep disorders.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) encourages applications from investigators that propose to study the developing brain or brain areas that play significant roles in mediating emotional and motivated behavior and in substance use and dependence.  All stages of brain development are of interest, but a new emphasis of the current reissue of this initiative is to support basic neuroscience research on fundamental mechanisms of brain development during prepuberty and the adolescent period in relation to the problems of substance abuse and co-morbidity with psychiatric disorders.  Topics of interest pertaining to brain development of this initiative include, but are not limited to, the euphoric properties of abused substances, actions of psychotherapeutic agents, and their consequences on memory, cognitive and emotional processes.  A major goal of this initiative is to understand how exposure to substances of abuse and environmental insults affects the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying nervous system development and neural circuit functions implicated in substance use and addiction. 

The Mind, Machine and Motor Nexus (M3X) program supports fundamental research at the intersection of mind, machine and motor. A distinguishing characteristic of the program is an integrated treatment of human intent, perception, and behavior in interaction with embodied and intelligent engineered systems and as mediated by motor manipulation. M3X projects should advance the holistic analysis of cognition and of embodiment as present in both human and machine elements. This work will encompass not only how mind interacts with motor function in the manipulation of machines, but also how, in turn, machine response and function may shape and influence both mind and motor function.

The primary objective of this FOA is to stimulate innovative Convergent Neuroscience (CN) approaches to establish causal and/or probabilistic linkages across contiguous levels of analysis (e.g., gene, molecule, cell, circuit, system, behavior) in an explanatory model of psychopathology. In particular, applicants should focus on how specific constituent biological processes at one level of analysis contribute to quantifiable properties at other levels, either directly or as emergent phenomena.  Although not required, it is preferable that applications link at least three levels of analysis and include an emphasis on genetics. The projects under this FOA will develop novel methods, theories, and approaches through a CN team framework, bringing together highly synergistic inter/transdisciplinary teams from neuroscience and "orthogonal" fields (e.g., data/computational science, physics, engineering, mathematics, and environmental sciences). Successful teams will combine, expand upon, or develop conceptual frameworks and theoretical approaches, and build explanatory computational models that connect contiguous levels of analysis. Such frameworks, theories, and computational explanatory models should be validated through experimental approaches to elucidate biological underpinnings of complex behavioral (including cognitive and affective) outcomes in psychopathology. Additionally, a goal of this program is to advance research in CN by creating a shared community framework of resources which may be used by the broader research community to further research, as such, successful team will have robust plan for sharing data and other resources.

The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to encourage projects to generate fundamental knowledge of affective processes. Basic affective science projects should have key downstream consequences for single (e.g., genetic testing consent) and multiple (e.g., adherence to oral chemotherapy regimen) event decisions and behaviors across the cancer prevention and control continuum. The FOA is expected to encourage scientific disciplines that have not traditionally conducted cancer research such as affective and cognitive neuroscience, decision science, and consumer science to elucidate perplexing and understudied problems in basic affective and decision sciences with promise of having downstream implications for cancer prevention and control science.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is intended to stimulate model-driven research to understand the ways that people make decisions about engaging in behaviors that impact the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV, or to adhere to treatments for HIV. Decision making processes may contribute to both substance use/abuse and other HIV acquisition or transmission risks. A better understanding of decision making processes in the context of brain neural networks and their associated functions would lead to the development of better strategies to reduce the frequency of HIV-risk behaviors. Therefore, this FOA encourages applications to study 1) cognitive, motivational or emotional mechanisms and/or 2) brain neuroendocrine and reinforcement systems that related to HIV-risk behaviors or treatment non-compliance. Interdisciplinary studies that incorporate approaches from psychology, economics, anthropology, sociology, decision sciences, neuroscience and computational modeling are encouraged. This FOA for R01 applications solicits empirical, hypothesis-driven, confirmatory research and modeling approaches. Exploratory, descriptive or hypothesis-generating research are more appropriate for the complementary FOAs using the R21 or R03 mechanisms. In no cases, should research involving animals be proposed.

This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is intended to stimulate model-driven research to understand the ways that people make decisions about engaging in behaviors that impact the risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV, or to adhere to treatments for HIV. Decision making processes may contribute to both substance use/abuse and other HIV acquisition or transmission risks. A better understanding of decision making processes in the context of brain neural networks and their associated functions would lead to the development of better strategies to reduce the frequency of HIV-risk behaviors. Therefore, this FOA encourages applications to study 1) cognitive, motivational or emotional mechanisms and/or 2) brain neuroendocrine and reinforcement systems that related to HIV-risk behaviors or treatment non-compliance. Interdisciplinary studies that incorporate approaches from psychology, economics, anthropology, sociology, decision sciences, neuroscience and computational modeling are encouraged. This FOA for R21 applications is intended to encourage exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of these projects. These studies may involve considerable risk but may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that could have a major impact.