Focus On Neural Engineering Research

NINDS participates in many trans-NIH bioengineering programs including those listed below. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their research and application plans with NINDS Program Staff prior to submission. A complete, searchable list is available under funding. For more information, please contact Dr. Nick Langhals, Program Director – Neural Engineering.

Collaborative Research in Computational Neuroscience (CRCNS) Innovative Approaches to Science and Engineering Research on Brain Function

Through the CRCNS program, participating NSF DOs, NIH ICs, BMBF, ANRS and BSF support innovative interdisciplinary collaborative research to make significant advances in the understanding of structures and functions of the nervous system, mechanisms underlying nervous system disorders, and computational strategies used by the nervous system.

The participating agencies recognize the need for research that focuses on integrating computational models and methods with neuroscience. Appropriate scientific areas of investigations are those that are currently supported by NSF and NIH, or related to the missions of the two agencies. By participating in this broadly based program of cooperation between agencies, the NIH will focus on creating new research teams of biomedical and quantitative scientists to explore questions directly relevant to the missions of participating NIH ICs.

Two classes of proposals will be considered in response to this solicitation:

• Research proposals - describing collaborative research projects
• Data Sharing Proposals - to enable sharing of data and other resources

Bioengineering Research Grants and Partnerships

NINDS accepts applications for Bioengineering Research Grants (BRG), and Bioengineering Research Partnerships (BRP) that address technology development and optimization specific to the NINDS mission of basic and translational research to reduce the burden of neurological diseases.

Biomarkers

The NINDS Biomarkers Program supports rigorous clinical and analytical validation existing candidate biomarker measures or endpoints in a manner that is consistent with the purpose of the biomarker, and FDA guidelines. The goal of this program is to facilitate the advancement of robust and reliable biomarkers of diseases that fall within the mission of NINDS to application in clinical trials and practice (Phase II clinical trials and beyond).

Smart and Connected Health

Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have identified Smart and Connected Health as a program focus. The purpose of this interagency program solicitation is the development of technologies, analytics and models supporting next generation health and medical research through high-risk, high-reward advances in computer and information science, engineering and technology, behavior, cognition, robotics and imaging. NINDS is particularly interested in research that advances technologies and systems with the potential to decrease the burden of neurological disorders and stroke. For more information, visit the Smart and Connected Health website.

Translational Neural Devices

The NINDS Translational Neural Devices program provides support for translational activities and small clinical studies to advance the development of therapeutic or diagnostic devices that affect the nervous or neuromuscular systems. The pre-clinical/translational device activities, including translational bench and animal studies, are expected to lead to an Investigation Device Exemption (IDE) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support a small clinical trial, or a Non-Significant Risk (NSR) designation from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) indicating that the study does not require an IDE. This cooperative agreement program will also support the subsequent small clinical trial to collect safety and effectiveness data required to support a marketing application, or to inform final device design. For more information visit the Translational Neural Devices website.

Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative

The BRAIN Initiative is aimed at revolutionizing our understanding of the human brain. By accelerating the development and application of innovative technologies, researchers will be able to produce a revolutionary new dynamic picture of the brain that, for the first time, shows how individual cells and complex neural circuits interact in both time and space. Bioengineering opportunities within the BRAIN Initiative span from concept generation through small clinical studies. For more information and a list of funding opportunities visit the NIH BRAIN Initiative website or the BRAIN Initiative Alliance website.

Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions (SPARC)

All organs in the body are stimulated by nerves, which send signals that affect the organ’s function. Methods and medical devices that modulate these nerve signals are a potentially powerful way to treat many diseases and conditions, such as hypertension, heart failure, gastrointestinal disorders, type II diabetes, inflammatory disorders, and more. The Common Fund’s SPARC program aims to transform our understanding of these nerve-organ interactions and ultimately advance the neuromodulation field toward precise treatment of diseases and conditions for which conventional therapies fall short. For more information and a list of funding opportunities visit the SPARC website.

• Workshop on Standards and Modularity of Brain-Computer Interfaces & Neuroprostheses
  June 30, 2016 | Rockville, MD