BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) Specialized Collaboratory on Human and Non-Human Primate Brain Cell Atlases (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA MH 19 149

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA MH 19 149

The funding opportunity RFA-MH-19-149, titled "BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN) Specialized Collaboratory on Human and Non-Human Primate Brain Cell Atlases (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement program designed to push forward the creation of comprehensive reference atlases of brain cell types in humans and/or non-human primates. The central purpose is to help establish a widely usable "brain cell census" resource for the broader research community, meaning a standardized, high-quality, and accessible set of data and reference frameworks that scientists can rely on when studying brain organization, function, and disease. Because this is a U01 cooperative agreement, projects are expected to involve substantial coordination with NIH program staff and to operate as part of a larger networked effort rather than as isolated, single-lab projects.

This FOA focuses on supporting a set of "Specialized Collaboratories" that can adopt scalable technology platforms and streamlined workflows. In practical terms, NIH is signaling that it wants teams that can produce data and reference maps at scale, with methods that are repeatable, efficient, and robust across samples and sites. The emphasis on scalability and workflow streamlining indicates the goal is not just to generate one-off datasets, but to build production-style pipelines capable of consistently characterizing large numbers of cells, brain regions, and individuals. The outcome NIH is aiming for is a comprehensive molecular and anatomical reference: molecular profiles that define cell types and states (for example, transcriptomic and other molecular signatures) paired with anatomical context that places those cell types within brain structures and circuits.

The scientific scope explicitly includes both human brain and non-human primate brain atlases. That framing is important because non-human primates can serve as crucial comparative models for understanding features of brain organization that are difficult to study experimentally in humans, while human data is essential for building reference maps that directly reflect our species. By funding collaboratories that work on these atlases, NIH is advancing the BRAIN Initiative objective of building foundational resources that accelerate many downstream studies, including basic neuroscience as well as research related to neurological and psychiatric disorders, without requiring each research group to recreate the same foundational mapping work independently.

The FOA is categorized as discretionary funding and uses the cooperative agreement mechanism, with an activity category listed under Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services. Multiple CFDA numbers are associated with the opportunity (93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867), reflecting how NIH programs can be associated with different funding lines and institutes/centers depending on the specific scientific emphasis. The opportunity was created on 2018-09-21, and the original closing date was 2020-01-24. The title also specifies "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," which means applications should not propose clinical trials; the intended work is resource-building, technology/platform deployment, and atlas generation rather than interventional studies in human participants designed to evaluate clinical outcomes.

Eligibility is broad and intentionally inclusive, spanning many sectors that can contribute meaningfully to large-scale biomedical resource generation. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments, special district governments, and independent school districts, as well as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. Tribal participation is supported through eligibility for federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations (including those other than federally recognized tribal governments). The FOA also allows nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education), public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, plus an "Others" category that typically captures additional organizations NIH deems eligible under its general policies.

Beyond the standard eligibility categories, the FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types to encourage broad participation and reach. These include 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), and U.S. territories or possessions. It also notes eligibility for eligible federal agencies, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, tribal governments other than federally recognized, and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). That combination underscores NIH's interest in drawing on diverse institutional strengths, expanding who contributes to and benefits from major public research resources, and enabling collaborations that may cross national boundaries when scientifically justified.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a coordinated, network-oriented push to produce authoritative reference brain cell atlases for humans and non-human primates using scalable platforms and standardized workflows. The deliverable is not merely publications, but enduring community resources: well-characterized datasets and atlas frameworks that can be broadly used, compared, and built upon by neuroscience researchers. The cooperative agreement structure reinforces that the funded groups are expected to operate in a collaboratory model, aligning methods and outputs with the broader BICCN effort so the resulting cell census resources are consistent, interoperable, and maximally useful to the field.

• 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 Census Network (BICCN) Specialized Collaboratory on Human and Non-Human Primate Brain Cell Atlases (U01 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 2018-09-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-01-24. (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.

Apply for RFA MH 19 149

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