Funding Opportunities
Each month, we distribute a curated selection of federal (NIH) and non-federal (private and nonprofit) funding opportunities relevant to neuroscience, brain health, and mental health research.
Below are the featured RFAs for January 2026.
Use the search box to filter by keyword.
NIH Funding Opportunities
| Title | Release Date | Expiry Date | Activity Code | Organization | Document Number | Clinical Trials | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitochondrial-associated Mechanisms of Neuropathological and Immunodeficient Aging in the Context of HIV and SUD (R21 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | 9/30/24 | 3/11/26 | R21 | NIDA | RFA-DA-26-010 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/356597 |
| Mitochondrial-associated Mechanisms of Neuropathological and Immunodeficient Aging in the Context of HIV and SUD (R01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | 9/30/24 | 3/11/26 | R01 | NIDA | RFA-DA-26-009 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/356596 |
| Single Cell Opioid Responses in the Context of HIV (SCORCH) Program: Data Mining and Functional Validation (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 8/14/24 | 3/20/26 | R01 | NIDA | RFA-DA-26-001 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/356035 |
| Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) (K12 Clinical Trial Optional) | 2/26/24 | 5/29/26 | K12 | ORWH | RFA-OD-24-013 | Optional | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/352637 |
| Preclinical Proof of Concept Studies for Rare Diseases (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 12/6/24 | 6/3/26 | R21 | NCATS | RFA-TR-25-002 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357570 |
| BRAIN Initiative: New Concepts and Early-Stage Research for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R21) (Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 12/9/24 | 6/16/26 | R21 | NEI | RFA-EY-25-001 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357601 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Promoting Health for All Through BRAIN Technology Partnerships (R34 – Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | 11/21/24 | 6/18/26 | R34 | NINDS | RFA-NS-25-016 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357328 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Data Archives for the BRAIN Initiative (R24 Clinical Trial Optional) | 3/19/24 | 6/25/26 | R24 | NIMH | RFA-MH-25-110 | Optional | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/353059 |
| INCLUDE (INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE) Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 2/22/24 | 7/2/26 | F99/K00 | NICHD | RFA-OD-24-007 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/352577 |
| Tobacco Regulatory Science Small Grant Program for New Investigators (R03 Clinical Trial Optional) | 6/24/25 | 7/15/26 | R03 | NIH | RFA-OD-25-008 | Optional | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/358930 |
| National Cancer Institute Youth Enjoy Science Research Education Program (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 7/9/24 | 9/29/26 | R25 | NCI | RFA-CA-24-026 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/355297 |
| In Vivo High-Resolution Imaging for Inner Ear Visualization (R01 Clinical Trial optional) | 1/6/25 | 10/2/26 | R01 | NIDCD | RFA-DC-25-005 | Optional | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/358022 |
| Advancing Research on the Application of Digital Health Technology to the Management of Type 2 Diabetes (R01- Clinical Trail Required) | 9/17/25 | 10/7/26 | R01 | NIDDK | RFA-DK-26-315 | Required | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/359252 |
| HEAL Initiative: Pain Research Enhancement Program (PREP) (R15 Clinical Trial Optional) | 1/8/25 | 11/24/26 | R15 | NCCIH | RFA-AT-25-003 | Optional | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/358090 |
| NIH Research Software Engineer (RSE) Award (R50 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | 7/17/24 | 12/5/26 | R50 | OD | RFA-OD-24-011 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/355439 |
| HEAL Initiative: Studies to Enable Analgesic Discovery (R61/R33 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 9/18/24 | 1/16/27 | R61/R33 | NINDS | RFA-NS-25-023 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/356460 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Preclinical Proof of Concept for Novel Recording and Modulation Technologies in the Human CNS (R18 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 3/19/24 | 1/29/27 | R18 | NINDS | RFA-NS-24-031 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/353055 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Development and Validation of Novel Tools to Probe Cell-Specific and Circuit-Specific Processes in the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 11/15/24 | 2/9/27 | R01 | NIMH | RFA-MH-26-170 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357137 |
| High Priority HIV and Substance Use Research (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional) | 1/17/24 | 2/12/27 | RM1 | NIDA | RFA-DA-25-060 | Optional | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/351847 |
| High Priority HIV and Substance Use Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | 8/2/24 | 2/12/27 | R01 | NIDA | RFA-DA-25-024 | Optional | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/355867 |
| Supporting Talented Early Career Researchers in Genomics (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | 12/16/24 | 2/27/27 | R01 | NHGRI | RFA-HG-25-009 | Optional | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357744 |
| NIA Expanding Research in AD/ADRD (ERA) Summer Research Education Program (R25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 9/2/25 | 5/27/27 | R25 | NIA | RFA-AG-26-011 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/359655 |
| NIA Expanding Research in AD/ADRD (ERA) Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (R25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 9/2/25 | 5/27/27 | R25 | NIA | RFA-AG-26-010 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/359653 |
| NIDCD Research Grants for Translating Basic Research into Clinical Practice (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) | 12/16/24 | 10/13/27 | R01 | NIDCD | RFA-DC-25-002 | Optional | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357742 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Theories, Models and Methods for Analysis of Complex Data from the Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 9/16/25 | 11/9/27 | R01 | NIDA | RFA-DA-27-004 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/359068 |
| Chemical Countermeasures Research Program (CCRP) Initiative: Basic Research on The Deleterious Effects of Acute Exposure to Ultra-Potent Synthetic (UPS) Opioids (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 11/20/24 | 11/19/27 | R01 | NIDA | RFA-DA-26-034 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357250 |
| Accelerating the Pace of Substance Use Research Using Existing Data (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 12/5/24 | 12/4/27 | R21 | NIDA | RFA-DA-26-056 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357545 |
| Accelerating the Pace of Substance Use Research Using Existing Data (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 12/5/24 | 12/4/27 | R01 | NIDA | RFA-DA-26-055 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357544 |
| Catalyze: Product Definition Medical Device Prototype Optimization (R33 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 11/22/24 | 12/24/27 | R33 | NHLBI | RFA-HL-26-020 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357340 |
| Catalyze: Enabling Technologies and Transformative Platforms for HLBS Research (R33 – Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | 11/22/24 | 12/24/27 | R33 | NHLBI | RFA-HL-26-016 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357330 |
| Catalyze Product Definition Medical Device prototype design/testing and disease target identification and assay development (R61/R33 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 11/22/24 | 12/24/27 | R61/R33 | NHLBI | RFA-HL-26-019 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357339 |
| Catalyze: Product Definition for Small Molecules, Biologics, and Combination Products – Preliminary Product/Lead Series Identification and Combination Product Prototype (R33 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 11/22/24 | 12/24/27 | R33 | NHLBI | RFA-HL-26-018 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357337 |
| Catalyze: Product Definition for Small Molecules, Biologics and Combination Products – Target Identification and Validation, and Preliminary Product/Lead Series Identification (R61/R33 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | 11/22/24 | 12/24/27 | R61/R33 | NHLBI | RFA-HL-26-017 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/357334 |
| Resource-Related Research Projects for Development of Models and Related Materials for Studying Human Health and Diseases (R24 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) | 12/5/25 | 9/29/28 | R24 | ORIP | RFA-OD-25-010 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/359648 |
| Animal and Biological Material Resource Centers (P40 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | 12/5/25 | 1/9/29 | P40 | NIH | RFA-OD-25-011 | Not_Allowed | https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/359646 |
Private and Nonprofit Funding Opportunities
| Title | Funder | Expiry Date | Amount | Abstract | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers Limited Submission Opportunities | Rutgers University | / | / | / | https://rutgers.infoready4.com/#ored |
| Career Development Bridge Funding Award: R Bridge | Rheumatology Research Foundation | 7/2/26 | Amount Upper: $200,000 USD Amount Note: Award Amount: Up to $100,000 per year ($200,000 maximum) Award Duration: 2 Years | The purpose of this award is to provide funding to NIH R01, VA Research Career Scientist (RCS) or Merit Award applicants whose application received a priority score but was not funded, and who are at risk of running out of research support. | http://www.rheumresearch.org/career-development-research-awards |
| PCF Challenge Awards | Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) | 3/16/26 | Amount Upper: $1,000,000 USD Amount Note: Provide up to a total of $1 million per team. | PCF seeks applications for highly innovative currently unfunded research projects that will ultimately reduce death and suffering from prostate cancer. This includes basic, translational, clinical, and community-based research that will significantly contribute to preventing prostate cancer metastasis, morbidity or mortality. | https://www.pcf.org/our-work/open-rfas-rfps/ |
| Discoveries in Safety Grants | UL Research Institutes (ULRI) | 4/24/26 | Amount Upper: $600,000 USD Amount Note: Funding Amount: up to $200,000 a year Duration of Award: up to 3 years | Focus areas for the current grant cycle include: Focus Area 1 Improved respiratory protection options for first responders under toxic smoke conditions Focus Area 2 Improved recycling technologies to recover critical minerals from energy storage devices Focus Area 3 Characterization of chemical emissions and residual ash from wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires Focus Area 4 Mineral fiber emission and transport characterization from wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires | https://ul.org/about/grants/ |
| Directed Research Grant | Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) | 4/15/26 | Amount Upper: $450,000 USD Amount Note: Period of grant – up to 3 years Up to $150,000 per year for 3 years may be requested (max $450,000 total). | Research should focus on creation and validation of improved outcomes measures for adult spinal deformity patients that can be readily applied globally and across the range of low- to high-resource healthcare systems. | https://www.srs.org/professionals/research-and-journal/research-grants |
| Science is the Cure Grant | Kids Beating Cancer | 7/3/26 | Amount Upper: $300,000 USD Amount Note: The Science is the Cure Research Grant moves pediatric cancer knowledge forward by awarding up to $300,000 grants in a two-step format over a two or three-year period. | The Science is the Cure Research grant supports innovative, novel preclinical hypothesis-driven studies that are necessary in order to move into clinical trials with a focus on Blood Cancer, Immunotherapy and Solid Tumors with applications to pediatric cancer. | https://kidsbeatingcancer.com/researchgrants/ |
| John Voight Memorial Leukemia Grant | Kids Beating Cancer | 7/3/26 | Amount Upper: $300,000 USD Amount Note: The John Voight Memorial Leukemia Research Grant funds translational pediatric leukemia research with an emphasis on AML in a two-step format totaling up to $300,000 over a three-year period. | The John Voight Memorial Leukemia Research Grant funds translational pediatric leukemia research with an emphasis on AML. The aim of this award is to fund translation studies that support therapeutic development, biomarker research, or any other projects that will have the ability to impact pediatric AML patients within several years. | https://kidsbeatingcancer.com/researchgrants/ |
| Damon Runyon Fellowship Award | Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation | 3/16/26 | $60,000 USD Amount Upper: $252,000 USD Amount Note: Award Stipends Year 1: $70,000 Year 2: $72,000 Year 3: $74,000 Year 4: $76,000 | The Foundation encourages all theoretical and experimental research relevant to the study of cancer and the search for cancer causes, mechanisms, therapies and prevention including molecular approaches to cancer prevention for inherited cancers. | https://www.damonrunyon.org/for-scientists/application-guidelines/fellowship |
| Young Investigator Awards | Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) | 2/23/26 | Amount Upper: $225,000 USD Amount Note: PCF Young Investigator Awards will be three (3) years in duration and will provide $75,000 per year. | The mission of PCF is to fund research addressing unmet medical needs in the diagnosis and treatment of potentially lethal prostate cancer. We seek applications from early-career basic scientists, medical oncologists, pathologists, urologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists, public health experts, bioinformaticians, bioengineers, or professionals from any other field that could contribute to the end of potentially lethal prostate cancer. | https://www.pcf.org/our-work/open-rfas-rfps/ |
