Over the next several years, the FAS Research Development group will track and disseminate all funding opportunities related to the BRAIN Initiative. These funding opportunities will be sent to a targeted list of faculty. That list includes faculty affiliates of the Center for Brain Science (CBS) and the Mind Brain Behavior (MBB) Interfaculty Initiative. This project is being carried out in collaboration with the Center for Brain Science. All opportunities will be archived and recipients may unsubscribe at any time.

New BRAIN Initiative Funding Opportunities from the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity and the National Institutes of Health 
  • IARPA: Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks (MICrONS) Program
  • NIH: BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early-Stage Research for Large-Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21)
  • NIH: BRAIN Initiative: Development, Optimization, and Validation of Novel Tools and Technologies for Neuroscience Research (SBIR) (R43/R44)
  • NIH: BRAIN Initiative: Development, Optimization, and Validation of Novel Tools and Technologies for Neuroscience Research (STTR) (R41/R42)

Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity
Machine Learning Intelligence from Cortical Networks (MICrONS) Program
Full Proposal Deadline: March 13, 2015 by 5PM
Award Information: The MICrONS program is envisioned as a 5-year effort. This BAA will result in awards for a Base Period for MICrONS Phase 1 (18 months), with options for Phase 2 (24 months) and Phase 3 (18 months). Funding for each Option Period will depend upon performance during the preceding period, as well as on program priorities, the availability of funding, and IARPA priorities.  

The goal of the MICrONS program is to revolutionize machine learning by reverse-engineering the algorithms of the brain. IARPA seeks multidisciplinary approaches that combine neuroscience and data science to understand the cortical computations underlying neural information processing and to deploy mathematical abstractions of these operations in novel machine learning algorithms.

The MICrONS program comprises three Technical Areas (TAs). Offerors may choose to propose to one, two, or all three TAs:
  1. TA1 - experimental design, theoretical neuroscience, computational neural modeling,machine learning, neurophysiological data collection, and data analysis;
  2. TA2 - neuroanatomical data collection; and
  3. TA3 - reconstruction of cortical circuits from neuroanatomical data and development of information technology systems to store, align, and access neural circuit reconstructions with the associated neurophysiological and neuroanatomical data.

National Institutes of Health
BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early-Stage Research for Large-Scale Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21)
Full Proposal Deadline: April 16, 2015 by 5pm
Award Information: The combined budget for direct costs for the two year project period may not exceed $300,000. No more than $200,000 may be requested in any single year. The total project period may not exceed two years. 

Applications are expected to address the development of ideas in the earliest stages for entirely new or untested approaches for large-scale neural recording and/or manipulation of neural activity. The support provided might enable calculations, simulations, computational models, or other mathematical approaches for demonstrating that the signal sources and/or measurement technologies are theoretically capable of meeting the demands of large-scale recording or manipulation of circuit activity. The support might also be used for building and testing phantoms, prototypes, in-vitro or other bench-top models in order to validate underlying theoretical assumptions in preparation for future FOAs aimed at testing in animal models.

Invasive or non-invasive approaches are sought that will ultimately enable or reduce the current barriers to large-scale recording or manipulation of neural activity, and that would be compatible with experiments in humans or behaving animals. Applications are encouraged from any qualified individuals, including physicists, engineers, theoreticians, and scientists, especially those not typically involved with neuroscience research. 

National Institutes of Health
BRAIN Initiative: Development, Optimization, and Validation of Novel Tools and Technologies for Neuroscience Research (SBIR) (R43/R44)
Full Proposal Deadline: Standard Due Dates Apply
Award Information: Total funding support (direct costs, indirect costs, fee) normally may not exceed $150,000 for Phase I awards and $1,000,000 for Phase II awards. Durations up to two years for Phase I and up to three years for Phase II may be requested. 

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support the development of novel tools and technologies through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to advance the field of neuroscience research including 1) tools to facilitate the detailed analysis of complex circuits and provide insights into cellular interactions that underlie brain function, 2) proof-of-concept testing and development of new technologies and novel approaches for large scale recording and manipulation of neural activity, at or near cellular resolution, at multiple spatial and/or temporal scales, in any region and throughout the entire depth of the brain, and 3) iterative refinement of such tools and technologies with the end-user community with an end-goal of scaling manufacture towards reliable, broad, sustainable dissemination and incorporation into regular neuroscience practice.     
National Institutes of Health
BRAIN Initiative: Development, Optimization, and Validation of Novel Tools and Technologies for Neuroscience Research (STTR) (R41/R42)
Full Proposal Deadline: Standard Due Dates Apply
Award Information: Total funding support (direct costs, indirect costs, fee) normally may not exceed $150,000 for Phase I awards and $1,000,000 for Phase II awards. Durations up to two years for Phase I and up to three years for Phase II may be requested. 

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support the development of novel tools and technologies through the through the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program to advance the field of neuroscience research, including 1) tools to facilitate the detailed analysis of complex circuits and provide insights into cellular interactions that underlie brain function, 2) proof-of-concept testing and development of new technologies and novel approaches for large scale recording and manipulation of neural activity, at or near cellular resolution, at multiple spatial and/or temporal scales, in any region and throughout the entire depth of the brain, and 3) iterative refinement of such tools and technologies with the end-user community with an end-goal of scaling manufacture towards reliable, broad, sustainable dissemination and incorporation into regular neuroscience practice.   
Additional information:

FAS Research Development BRAIN Initiative Archive

Contact Us:
Questions about this announcement or proposal submission may be directed to Jennifer Corby
(jcorby@fas.harvard.edu, 617-495-1590) or Susan Gomes (sgomes@fas.harvard.edu 617-496-9448).

 

For Research Development Support (Finding Funding, Proposal Development Resources), go to research.fas.harvard.edu/research-development-support.