National Institutes of Health · Department of Health and Human Services
New Approaches for Measuring Brain Changes Across Longer Timespans (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due May 7, 2027 · 212 days left
- Award size
- Not stated: see the official notice
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Special district (utility, fire, etc.), County government, Tribal organization, Larger business, School district, Small business, Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), Tribal government, State government, City or town government, Public college or university, Private college or university, and others named in the official notice
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Blount County (nationwide program)
- No match required
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 317
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/0417c296-308c-43ab-aebb-6be71b75ae0c · Printed from grantme.click/grants/501f0b60-79a9-42d2-81a0-b8073a1bed59
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
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About this grant
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to encourage multidisciplinary investigators to submit applications developing exploratory, highly novel new approaches, or innovative applications of existing approaches to measure brain activity, connectivity, genomics, or other aspects across the age spectrum of neurodevelopment. The overarching goal is to extend our understanding of brain development and aging, including studies of the neurodevelopmental origins of later health and disease, by improving repeated measures across longer epochs of the lifespan to better predict outcomes at later ages. . Research can include healthy human participants of any age, specific clinical groups such those with cognitive, motor, or affective regulation challenges, and/or animal research on these domains of function. The studies can focus on longitudinal neuroanatomical or functional changes at any level, including genetics/genomics, single cells, connectomics, neural population activity patterns, and others. This funding opportunity is intended to encourage technological and conceptual innovation through this high risk, high reward funding mechanism to develop highly innovative ideas that either lack preliminary data or need additional preliminary data
Who can apply, from the official notice
Other Eligible Applicants include the following:
Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession.
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct7
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Apr16
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Apr30
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - May5
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - May7
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Blount County facts with citations.
Who in Tennessee has won this program
75 awards to Tennessee groups in 3 counties since 1977 · 0 in Blount County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $39.5M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $37.5M | 2021 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc | Memphis, Shelby County | $31.4M | 2003 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $25.8M | 2009 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $24.1M | 2011 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $18.6M | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $18.3M | 2019 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc | Memphis, Shelby County | $14.9M | 2015 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc | Memphis, Shelby County | $11.4M | 2017 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $10.8M | 2020 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $10.1M | 1977 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $10M | 2025 |
Source: Federal Audit Clearinghouse, USAspending.gov. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through Tennessee Department of Education
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. In Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Education passes it on: watch that agency for applications, not the federal agency. 242 pass-through grants on file · 0 in Blount County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | University of Vermont & State Agricultural College | $4.4M | 2023 |
| University of Tennessee | Memphis, Shelby County | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | $1.8M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Regents of the University of Michigan | $1.4M | 2024 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc | Memphis, Shelby County | The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | $1.4M | 2026 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Vanderbilt University | $1.3M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | University of California, San Diego | $1.3M | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | $1.2M | 2026 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $1.1M | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Mayo Clinic | $1M | 2026 |
| St Jude Children's Research Hospital Inc | Memphis, Shelby County | Washington University, the | $1M | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Vanderbilt University | $1M | 2026 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | $993K | 2024 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
About the federal program
Cancer Biology Research
Program number 93.396 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Cooperative agreement (a grant with close agency involvement), project grant
How applications are judged
The major elements in evaluating applications include assessments of: (1) The scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; (2) the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; (3) the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; (4) the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; (5) the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and (6) the relevance and importance to announced program objectives. The following will be considered in making funding decisions: 1) Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by scientific peer review; 2) Availability of funds; and 3) Relevance of the proposed project to program priorities.
Match
None required (federal program listing).
About the federal program
Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research, also called “Child Health and Human Development”
Program number 93.865 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant
How applications are judged
The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of the significance of the proposed research; approach; innovation; investigators; and environment. The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications: (1) The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (3) the technological innovation of the proposed research; (4) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (5) the appropriateness of the budget requested; (6) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research environment; and (7) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or animal subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment. Phase II grant applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the Phase I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; (2) the scientific and technical merit of the proposed approach for achieving the Phase II objectives; (3) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (4) the technological innovation originality, or societal importance of the proposed research; (5) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (6) the reasonableness of the budget...
Match
None required (federal program listing).
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal year 2025: The following is a tiny sample of fiscal year 2025 NICHD funded grants within the discretionary award class type. 1) Understanding the role of early life social determinants and sex-specific pubertal pathways in the development of adolescent chronic pain. 2) Improving In Vitro Fertilization Success through Multiplexed Optical Metabolic Imaging. 3) Genetic Studies of Large Palindromes. 4) A Safe, Fast, and Cost-Effective System for Tissue Removal in Laparoscopic Hysterectomy and Other Minimally Invasive Surgery.
The following is a tiny sample of fiscal year 2025 NICHD funded grants within the cooperative agreement award class type. 1) Study of Treatment and Reproductive outcomes. 2) Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study (PHACS): Research on Immune Aging, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Perinatal Acquisition: Elucidating Relationships in HIV (RISE). 3) Pelvic Floor Disorders Network Data Coordinating Center. 4) NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network: Data Coordinating Center.
Fiscal year 2026: The following is a tiny sample of fiscal year 2026 NICHD funded grants within the discretionary award class type. 1) Placental Proteins and Prematurity. 2) In...
About the federal program
Aging Research, also called “(Aging)”
Program number 93.866 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health · Project grant
How applications are judged
The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of: the scientific merit and general significance of the proposed study and its objectives; the technical adequacy of the experimental design and approach; the competency of the proposed investigator or group to successfully pursue the project; the adequacy of the available and proposed facilities and resources; the necessity of the budget components requested in relation to the proposed project; and the relevance and importance to announced program objectives. The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications: (1) The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (3) the technological innovation of the proposed research; (4) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (5) the appropriateness of the budget requested; (6) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research; and (7) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or animal subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment. Phase II grant applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the Phase I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; (2) the scientific and technical merit of the proposed...
Match
None required (federal program listing).