BRAIN Initiative: Theories, Models and Methods (TMM) — RFA-DA-27-004

The TMM program supports development and validation of innovative, rigorous theories, models, and methods that advance quantitative and predictive understanding of brain function across scales, including behavior. The emphasis is on novel approaches for analyzing, integrating, and interpreting the large-scale, complex datasets emerging from the BRAIN Initiative — cell-type-specific physiological, anatomical, connectivity, and behavioral data.

Applications should address one or more of:

• New or significantly advanced theories of brain function

• Mechanistic and/or predictive models of neural circuit activity and behavior grounded in empirical data

• Novel computational or statistical methods for analyzing neural and behavioral datasets

Requirements to note before applying:

• Tools for analyzing brain activity must use data with cellular and sub-second temporal resolution (single-unit recordings, cellular imaging, connectomics) or integrate information across multiple clearly defined temporal scales, from synaptic events to learning.

• Approaches relying solely on non-invasive, low-resolution signals such as scalp EEG or fMRI BOLD must be directly integrated with and constrained by cellular/circuit-level data.

• Tools for analyzing behavior must incorporate neural data and span multiple relevant temporal scales.

• Experimental work must be limited to estimating model parameters or testing the validity of the TMM tools being delivered.

• Work using disease or treatment paradigms is not responsive unless used to understand underlying function and brain circuits.

Deadlines: new submissions October 6, 2026; resubmissions and renewals November 6, 2026.

Program staff are available to consult on fit. Send specific aims pages and inquiries to BRAINTheoriesFOA@ninds.nih.gov.

BRAIN Initiative: Integrative Team-Research BRAIN Circuits Program (iBCP) — RFA-NS-27-002 (RM1, Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

This newly published NOFO supports transdisciplinary teams developing integrative, mechanistic, and biologically grounded explanations of how neural circuits and their cellular building blocks give rise to CNS function. Teams of 3–6 MPIs work on a single specific aim, spanning molecular and cellular through systems neuroscience, with strong collaboration between experimental and computational investigators.

Applications must explicitly connect three core elements:

1. Characterization of circuit components, such as cell types and/or connectivity

2. Measurement of dynamic circuit activity, including in vivo CNS recordings at cellular and sub-second temporal resolution

3. Analysis of a tractable behavior or functional output

Successful programs will deliver both mechanistic insight and broadly useful solutions to the challenge of bridging these three levels of analysis.

Deadlines: October 7, 2026; June 23, 2027; June 23, 2028.

For questions about fit, send one specific aim to braincircuits@nih.gov and include it when booking a meeting with Dr. Karen David (karen.david@nih.gov).