[Brain Research Foundation](https://www.thebrf.org)

June 2, 2026 (Letter of Intent) | September 22, 2026 (Full application, invited applicants)

$150,000 total (direct costs) over 2 years; no indirect costs allowed

Supports innovative, high-impact neuroscience research projects in established U.S. labs led by senior investigators.

Institutional invitation required; only one application per institution per cycle.

--- ## Description The Scientific Innovations Award from the Brain Research Foundation funds creative, cutting-edge neuroscience research in established laboratories led by associate or full professors. The award aims to support high-risk, high-reward projects that may be too novel or speculative for traditional funding sources but have significant potential to advance understanding of brain function, diseases, disorders, development, and learning. Projects should be new (not currently funded elsewhere) and are expected to yield impactful findings that can lead to further major funding and high-profile publications. --- ## Due Dates - **Letter of Intent (LOI) deadline:** June 2, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. CT - **Full application deadline (invited applicants):** September 22, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. CT Applicants will be notified of LOI decisions in mid-August and of full application decisions in early December. --- ## Funding Amount - **Total award:** $150,000 (direct costs only) for a 2-year grant period - Paid in two installments of $75,000 each - **No indirect costs allowed** - Funds must be used within the grant period - Allowable costs: laboratory animals, small equipment (<$5,000), supplies, salary for scientific/technical staff (excluding PI) - Not allowed: PI salary, indirect costs, travel, large equipment, graduate stipends, publication costs, fringe benefits --- ## Eligibility - **PI must be a full-time associate or full professor** at a U.S. academic institution invited directly by BRF (via email) - Only **one nomination per institution** per cycle (requires institutional endorsement) - PI must have current or recent (within past 3 years) major NIH or peer-reviewed funding - Project must be a new research direction, not funded elsewhere and not bridge funding - Previous BRF SIA recipients are ineligible until five years have passed since the start of their prior award - Ineligible: assistant professors, research associate professors, professors emeritus, BRF Scientific Review Committee members, relatives of BRF representatives, those with overlapping BRF funding, or those who have failed to submit required reports on prior BRF awards For institutional eligibility, institutions must have received a direct invitation and meet BRF’s requirements for independence, research capacity, and governance (see [Institutional Eligibility Criteria](https://www.thebrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Institutional-Eligibility2022.pdf)). --- ## Application Process ### Phase I: Letter of Intent (LOI) - Submit via BRF’s online portal - Must include: - PI and institutional representative signatures (verifying nomination) - Project summary and next steps - List of current grants (with abstracts and aims) - NIH-style biosketch - Institutional endorsement ### Phase II: Full Application (by invitation) - Invited PIs submit a detailed research plan (max 3,500 words) and required documents - Use NIH biosketch format - No feedback is provided to applicants **All materials must be submitted by the posted deadlines. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.** --- ## Additional Information - Only one application per institution per cycle is allowed; coordinate with your institution’s Office of Research. - All applications must address either normal human brain development or specific disease states and can encompass molecular, clinical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional neuroscience. - Animal and human subject assurances are required only if awarded. - Acknowledgement of BRF support in resulting publications is required. --- ## External Links - [Program Page: Scientific Innovations Award](https://www.thebrf.org/scientific-innovations-award/) - [2027 SIA Guidelines (PDF)](https://www.thebrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2027_SIA_Guidelines.pdf) - [Institutional Eligibility Criteria (PDF)](https://www.thebrf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Institutional-Eligibility2022.pdf) - [BRF Researcher Application Portal](https://research.thebrf.org/) --- ## Contact Information | Type | Details | |---------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | General Inquiries | [info@theBRF.org](mailto:info@theBRF.org) | | Phone | 312.759.5150 | | Contact Form | [BRF Contact Page](https://www.thebrf.org/contact-us/)|

Scientific Innovations Award

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