NIH Blueprint Initiative: Tools for Germline Gene Editing in the Nervous System
This grant supports developing and validating gene-editing tools and models to study human brain function and disease, with a focus on improving experimental systems for complex neurological and behavioral conditions.
Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026
Funding Amounts: Up to $1,200,000 per award; estimated total program funding $7,200,000; ~4 awards expected
Summary: Supports development, optimization, validation, and application of germline and somatic gene-editing approaches in experimental models to advance neuroscience research on the human brain.
Key Information: This is a forecasted opportunity; all dates are projected and subject to change.
Description
This initiative, led by the NIH Blueprint (a consortium of NIH Institutes supporting neuroscience research), aims to accelerate the development, optimization, validation, and application of germline and somatic transgenic and gene-editing tools in experimental models that capture critical features of human brain anatomy, circuitry, cognition, behavior, and lifespan. The program builds on prior investments in marmoset gene-editing infrastructure, integrating New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) with other models to enhance understanding of human brain function and disease. High-priority research areas include mechanisms underlying complex conditions such as autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and other behavioral or developmental disorders, especially where these mechanisms are not yet captured in current NAMs. Applicants must justify the use of specific models for research involving neuroanatomy, circuit function, cognition, behavior, or lifespan phenotyping related to human brain disease and function.
