The NINDS mission is to fund scientific research that advances our understanding of the nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce suffering due to neurological disorders. The NINDS Strategic Plan presents an overarching strategic framework to accelerate science, providing a deeper understanding of the workings of the brain and nervous system, and driving improvements in quality of life for all people with neurological disorders, with the ultimate goal of preventing or curing these diseases A number of principles guide how we pursue this mission.
Principles that Drive NINDS' Funding Priorities
NINDS Prioritizes Investigator-Initiated Research and the Peer Review Process
NINDS supports a large and broad portfolio of basic and disease-focused discovery research, as well as efforts to develop Neurotechnologies that empower hypothesis-driven research. Such research is best fueled by the innovative engine of the scientific community, whether working in individual labs or in teams. History documents that critically important “bottom up” research is the foundation upon which revolutionary advances will sprout. The majority of NINDS funding is awarded to applications that are submitted to the Parent Announcements for Unsolicited or Investigator -Initiated Applications that fall within the NINDS mission. Such applications are are reviewed at the Center for Scientific Review by NIH peer review study sections. Invariably NINDS receives more highly meritorious grants than it has resources to fund. In making funding decisions NINDS pays particular attention to the merit scores, the assigned percentile in comparison to other grants in the same study section as well as the critiques of peer reviewers. NINDS will no longer publish a “payline” but will be transparent in reporting on its website any other criteria it employs in making funding decisions for investigator-initiated research. This will occur primarily in the publication of “Highlighted Topics” (HT) or Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). In times of restrained resources, increasing costs, and a growing investigator pool, NINDS invests resources to preserve highly meritorious research by less-well funded laboratories and early-stage investigators through “select pay” in part by limiting funding for research proposals from labs with over $1.5 million in total NIH funding. Currently NINDS also exercises greater stringency in funding grants with over $500k/yr direct costs.
NINDS seeks to accelerate research findings toward effective treatments and cures.
For the past 75 years, NINDS has been the steward of the taxpayers’ investment in neuroscience research. Our efforts are designed to advance prevention and treatment of neurological disorders as well as promote recovery and improve the quality of life for those suffering with these disorders. Ignorance of how the nervous system functions and how diseases affect the nervous system is the greatest barrier in the successful development of treatments by scientists, whether in academia or industry. Moving discovery across the “valley of death” toward neurological advances is also arduous. To do so NINDS provides grant mechanisms that enable investigator-initiated research discoveries to proceed across the stages of therapeutic/diagnostic development to improve Neuro Health. NINDS has special programs to fund high quality research in clinical trials as well as biomarker, device, drug and genomic therapy development. Because of their specific features or deliverables, investigators are encouraged to seek out their relevant program directors for information regarding the appropriate NOFO or HT prior to applying. The latter will contain information on criteria, other than peer review scores, that influence funding decisions.
NINDS is committed to supporting a broad research workforce that is well trained in the rigorous conduct of science and that have the skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing research landscape
The next generation of the neuroscience workforce are essential to advancing the boundaries of scientific knowledge. As more powerful research tools become available the future generation of neuroscientists have the potential to make advances that were unimaginable a short time ago. In addition to supporting trainees and fellows at various stages of their careers, NINDS has a strong history of support for Early Stage Investigators (doubling their probability of funding) and trainees.
NINDS is deeply committed to developing skilled and rigorously trained early career scientists and to ensuring that our grants across the basic, translational, and clinical spectrum promote strong mentorship, rigorous research design and analysis, and reinforce the value of transparent and open reporting of data.
Neurologic disorders lead to tragic consequences for those affected and their caregivers and for many science is bringing hope for effective treatments and cures where none previously existed. Congress has responded by investing in several neuroscience initiatives that bring together the research communities supported by many NIH Institutes and Centers, catalyzing new advances at the interface of research and clinical disciplines. These initiatives do not take away from investigator-initiated research at the core of the NINDS mission because Congress appropriates stand-alone budgets and they issue their own, distinct funding opportunities to solicit applications to advance the specific programmatic objectives. These Initiatives include: The BRAIN Initiative that aims to build tools to better map, monitor and modulate the brain; the HEAL Initiative that strives to end opioid addiction and develop more effective, non-addictive analgesics and means of managing chronic pain; the AD/ADRD program, which is advancing scientific progress toward reducing the enormous toll taken by dementia in our aging population; and the Act for ALS funding, which supports expanded access clinical trials and a public-private partnership to accelerate access to critical therapies.
Through our collaborative leadership of programs like these, coupled with our commitment to investigator-initiated research, training the next generation of neuroscientists, and support for unique opportunities to advance treatments, NINDS seeks to sustain the neuroscience research ecosystem through these rapidly changing times. We seek to provide clear and timely updates on how the Institute operates and makes decisions so we can most effectively work together to advance discovery and achieve our shared vision of a world that is free from the burden of neurological disorders.