New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research Grants (2026)

The NJCBIR will fund Individual Research Grants with an emphasis on the objectives and priorities stated above. Applicants are encouraged to apply for a one-year, two-year or three-year award. Maximum funding is up to $150,000 per year for direct costs and 20% applicable indirect costs. The goals of this program are (1) to encourage investigators to undertake research on neural protection, repair and regeneration after traumatic brain injury; (2) to encourage individuals to undertake research on the effectiveness of clinical interventions for traumatic brain injury; and (3) to enable researchers with novel scientific and clinical ideas to test them and develop pilot data needed to develop a programmatic area of research that can be supported by additional funding from the National Institutes of Health, and other funding sources.

Senior scientists and young investigators may serve as Principal Investigator. If the applicant is a fellow, s/he must submit a letter of support from the laboratory’s senior scientist, as well as two other appropriate letters of reference. Each funding award within the multi-year period will be contingent upon the availability of funds. Subsequent years continued grant support for all grants is contingent upon the annual submission and approval of a comprehensive progress/narrative report. All progress/narrative reports must be favorably reviewed by an independent scientific merit review panel and recommended to the NJCBIR for continued funding.

*For specific information on Individual Research Grants, please refer to the Research Program Guidelines.

Graduate Student Fellowships are three-year awards of $50,000 per annum. They provide an annual stipend of $40,000, an annual research allowance of $7,500, and an annual travel budget of $2,500. Up to $6,000 of additional funds will be provided for tuition. No part of this award may be used for institutional overhead. Institutions may supplement stipends, but not with other full-time fellowship awards or other NJCBIR monies. Applicants must be full-time graduate students in residence in a proposed course of study directly related to regeneration and repair of the damaged brain. Students must begin study in the semester following activation unless special permission is received prior to activation date. The NJCBIR prefers to support graduate student candidates who have completed the first year of graduate study and are concentrating on research projects at least 80% of their time. Applicants may not serve as teaching assistants while holding a NJCBIR Graduate Student Fellowship. Graduate Student Fellowships must submit a first-year progress report accompanied by a letter of support from the fellow’s mentor. Second year and third-year fellowship funding is contingent upon the successful review of a comprehensive progress report and a recommendation from the mentor.

*For specific information on Graduate Student Fellowship Grants, please refer to the Research Program Guidelines.

The NJCBIR is providing an opportunity for applicants who may be interested in adding an additional $5,000 to their proposal submitted during the current 2026 grant cycle. This opportunity includes all areas of research that hold promise of developing effective interventions and cures for disabilities associated with traumatic brain injury. To promote the development of brain injury researchers and their capabilities that highlight the focus of the NJCBIR Funding Priorities (refer to pg. 2 Research Program Guidelines), International Travel Is Not Allowed.

*For specific information on the Technique/Training Travel Opportunity, please refer to the Research Program Guidelines.