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Utilizing Invasive Recording and Stimulating Opportunities in Humans to Advance Neural Circuitry Understanding of Mental Health Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)

US · US National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant open #PAR-25-291
Response due Jan 07, 2028 · 00:00 UTC

Summary

This NIH funding opportunity (PAR-25-291) solicits R21 exploratory/developmental research grants focused on leveraging invasive neural recording and stimulation procedures already being performed on human patients (e.g., for epilepsy or DBS surgery) to advance scientific understanding of neural circuitry underlying mental health disorders. The program is clinical trial optional, meaning applicants may or may not include a clinical trial component. The opportunity is open for multiple submission cycles between late 2024 and early 2028.

What they want

Applicants must propose exploratory or developmental research (R21 mechanism) that utilizes existing invasive human neural recording and/or stimulation opportunities — such as those arising from clinical procedures (e.g., deep brain stimulation, intracranial EEG monitoring) — to generate new insights into the neural circuit-level mechanisms of mental health disorders. Clinical trials are optional but permissible. Research must be designed to advance mechanistic understanding of psychiatric conditions using human in vivo neural data.
Technical requirements
  • Research must utilize invasive neural recording and/or stimulating procedures performed in human subjects
  • Clinical trial inclusion is optional but must be clearly designated at time of application
  • Must follow R21 exploratory/developmental research grant guidelines and budget caps
  • Human subjects research protections and IRB approval required as applicable

How they evaluate

Submission: Grants.gov federal grants portal (electronic submission)

Risks & flags

  • Multi-year open window (2024–2028) suggests rolling submission — applicants should verify specific submission due dates within the opportunity cycle
  • Limited descriptive detail in the posted synopsis may obscure full scope, technical requirements, and review criteria — full FOA text should be consulted before preparing an application

Market context

inferred from NAICS
Professional, Scientific & Technical Services
NAICS 541711
US market size
$2.0T
Typical award
$25K – $50M
Typical buyers
All federal civilianDoDStates
Commonly required
8(a)WOSBSDVOSBPE/PMP

Sector-level estimate — full code lookup not yet in catalog.

Utilizing Invasive Recording and Stimulati…
Due Jan 07
Onboard ↗