Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 22 290
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity RFA-MH-22-290, titled "BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN): Comprehensive Center on Human and Non-human Primate Brain Cell Atlases (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," supports the creation of large, coordinated Comprehensive Centers focused on building detailed reference atlases of brain cell types. Through a cooperative agreement mechanism (UM1), NIH is looking to fund centers that can operate at scale, standardize their approaches, and work in close coordination with the broader BICAN effort. The central aim is to generate highly granular, high-resolution maps of brain cells in humans and non-human primates, with the clear emphasis on human brain tissue. These atlases are intended to become widely used community resources that provide a foundational molecular and anatomical framework for understanding how the brain is organized, how it functions, and how brain disorders may arise from disruptions in specific cell types or circuits.
At the heart of the opportunity is the expectation that funded centers will comprehensively characterize the full diversity of brain cells, including neurons, glial cells, and other non-neuronal cell populations. The FOA highlights the need for scalable technology platforms and efficient, streamlined sampling strategies, along with an "assay cascade" approach. In practical terms, this means centers are expected to implement workflows that can process many samples consistently, apply layered sets of experimental assays in an organized sequence, and produce integrated outputs that capture both molecular identity and anatomical context. The deliverable is not just isolated datasets, but a cohesive atlas-level resource with enough depth and breadth to serve as a reference for the field.
Because this is a cooperative agreement, the award structure typically implies substantial programmatic involvement from NIH staff compared to a standard research grant. Applicants should read that as an expectation of coordination, milestone-driven progress, sharing of methods and data, and alignment with network standards so that resulting atlases can be compared and integrated across projects. While the FOA is not framed as a clinical research program and explicitly states "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," it is strongly oriented toward producing foundational research tools that can accelerate later translational and clinical insights by clarifying which cell types exist, where they are found, and what molecular features distinguish them.
Eligibility for the opportunity is broad and includes many types of organizations that can support large-scale research and resource generation. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions where specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations), regional organizations, Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. This wide eligibility reflects the scale and collaborative nature of the BICAN effort and encourages participation from a diverse set of institutions and communities.
Administratively, the opportunity falls under the NIH and is categorized as discretionary funding, using the cooperative agreement funding instrument. The activity categories span education, health, and social services, and it is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting the cross-cutting relevance of brain atlas resources across NIH institutes and programs. The FOA was created on 2022-10-03, and the original closing date listed is 2023-02-01. The posted excerpt does not provide a specific award ceiling or the expected number of awards, but the description makes clear that NIH intended to fund a group of large, high-capacity centers rather than small individual projects.
Overall, this FOA is designed to accelerate the construction of standardized, deeply detailed brain cell reference atlases in humans and non-human primates by funding comprehensive centers capable of high-throughput, high-resolution cell-type mapping with strong attention to scalability, harmonized sampling, and integrated multi-assay pipelines. The end product is meant to be a durable, broadly useful research foundation that helps the scientific community study normal brain organization and more precisely pinpoint cell types and brain regions implicated in neurological and psychiatric disorders.Apply for RFA MH 22 290
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN): Comprehensive Center on Human and Non-human Primate Brain Cell Atlases (UM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-10-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-02-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: F24AS00002 Partners for Fisheries Monitoring Program (2024-2027)
Previous opportunity: OIA Technical Assistance Program 2023
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for RFA MH 22 290
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA MH 22 290) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| BRAIN Initiative Cell Atlas Network (BICAN): Specialized Collaboratory on Human, Non-human Primate, and Mouse Brain Cell Atlases (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA MH 22 292 Funding Number: RFA MH 22 292 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Brain-Behavior Quantification and Synchronization Transformative and Integrative Models of Behavior at the Organismal Level (R34 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DA 23 030 Funding Number: RFA DA 23 030 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Development of Animal Models and Related Biological Materials for Down Syndrome Research (R24 Clinical Trials Not-Allowed) Apply for PAR 22 247 Funding Number: PAR 22 247 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative Integrated Basic and Clinical Team-based Research in Pain(RM1 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NS 22 069 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 069 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research on Community Level Interventions for Firearm and Related Violence, Injury and Mortality Prevention (CLIF-VP) (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 23 066 Funding Number: PAR 23 066 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| HEAL Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral-to-Independent Career Transition Award in PAIN and SUD Research (Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for RFA NS 22 023 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 023 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral-to-Independent Career Transition Award in PAIN and SUD Research (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 022 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 022 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral-to-Independent Career Transition Award in PAIN and SUD Research to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 22 025 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 025 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| HEAL Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral-to-Independent Career Transition Award in PAIN and SUD Research to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) Apply for RFA NS 22 024 Funding Number: RFA NS 22 024 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Brain Behavior Quantification and Synchronization (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA MH 23 335 Funding Number: RFA MH 23 335 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Research Grants for Analyses of Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Data (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 075 Funding Number: PAR 23 075 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Transformative Brain Non-invasive Imaging Technology Development (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA EB 22 003 Funding Number: RFA EB 22 003 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| HEAL Initiative: Discovery of Biomarkers and Biomarker Signatures to Facilitate Clinical Trials for Pain Therapeutics (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NS 24 018 Funding Number: RFA NS 24 018 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Translational Research in Maternal and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 23 131 Funding Number: PAR 23 131 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Understanding Chronic Conditions Understudied Among Women (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA OD 23 014 Funding Number: RFA OD 23 014 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Understanding Chronic Conditions Understudied Among Women (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA OD 23 013 Funding Number: RFA OD 23 013 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| Entry-Level Modules (ELM) for Training the Genomics Research Workforce (R25-Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 123 Funding Number: PAR 23 123 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $550,000 |
| BRAIN Initiative: Optimization of Instrumentation and Device Technologies for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (U01 Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 24 005 Funding Number: RFA NS 24 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: New Technologies and Novel Approaches for Recording and Modulation in the Nervous System (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA NS 24 004 Funding Number: RFA NS 24 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BRAIN Initiative: Brain Behavior Quantification and Synchronization Data Coordination and Artificial Intelligence Center (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA MH 23 130 Funding Number: RFA MH 23 130 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "RFA MH 22 290", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.