NIH Opens Four Funding Opportunities Spanning Brain Research, Addiction, and Integrative Health

Mind-Body Feasibility Trials (NCCIH)

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) is seeking applications under PAR-25-274 to support feasibility clinical trials of mind and body interventions — defined by the notice as complementary and integrative health approaches with physical and/or psychological therapeutic inputs — for conditions identified by NCCIH as high-priority research topics. The deadline for applications is November 17, 2026, and no cost sharing or matching is required.

The notice explains that the R34 mechanism is intended to generate information that is scientifically necessary for the planning and conduct of a subsequent full-scale clinical efficacy or effectiveness study, pragmatic trial, or dissemination and implementation trial within NCCIH's mission. According to the notice, funded work may include examining feasibility and acceptability of interventions lacking published data; tailoring or adapting an intervention's content or structure to a specific population, modality, or setting; refining frequency or duration; determining feasibility of recruitment, retention, and data collection procedures; refining protocolized multi-component interventions; or examining acceptability and adherence of control conditions. The notice states that the subsequent full-scale clinical trial should have the potential to make a significant impact on public health, and encourages applicants to contact the appropriate NCCIH Scientific/Research contact person before submitting.

BRAIN Initiative: Brain Cell Type-Specific Reagent Facilities (RFA-MH-25-105)

Under opportunity number RFA-MH-25-105, NIH is soliciting applications to support scaled reagent production and distribution facilities involving technologies to access brain cell types, with a deadline of July 1, 2026. The notice identifies this effort as part of the BRAIN Initiative Armamentarium for Brain Cell Access transformative project. Clinical trials are not allowed under this mechanism.

The notice explains that facilities for production and distribution of these reagents by a broad set of neuroscientists will be encouraged. Supported efforts will produce and distribute gene transfer, gene regulation, and genome engineering reagents for use in both genetically tractable and less tractable systems, including primates and human tissue, which the notice describes as relevant for future translational efforts. The notice specifies that reagents to be produced and distributed are those designed and validated under other NOFOs from the Armamentarium transformative project. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply directly, though foreign components as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement are allowed.

Neuromodulation Device Development for Mental Health (PAR-25-286)

NIH has also issued PAR-25-286, which encourages applications to develop the next generation of brain stimulation devices for treating mental health disorders. The deadline is January 7, 2028, with no cost sharing required, and clinical trials are not allowed under this announcement.

The notice outlines two tracks: developing novel brain stimulation devices, or significantly enhancing, through hardware or software improvements, the effectiveness of devices currently FDA-approved or cleared. The notice states that novel devices should move beyond existing electrical/magnetic stimulation and develop new stimulation techniques capable of increased spatiotemporal precision as well as multi-focal, closed-loop approaches, with a focus on significant enhancement of spatial resolution, depth of delivery, and/or precision. The notice explicitly states that incremental changes to existing devices, such as software updates, are not within the scope of the announcement. Applications are to be submitted by multi-disciplinary teams with expertise spanning systems neuroscience, engineering, clinical, and regulatory affairs.

Cutting-Edge Basic Research in Addiction (NIDA CEBRA, PAR-25-101)

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is accepting applications under the Cutting-Edge Basic Research Award (CEBRA), opportunity number PAR-25-101, with an award ceiling of $150,000 and a deadline of August 11, 2027. Clinical trials are optional under this R21 mechanism, and cost sharing is not required.

According to the notice, the CEBRA is designed to foster highly innovative or conceptually creative research related to the etiology, pathophysiology, prevention, or treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs). The notice states that it supports high-risk and potentially high-impact research that is sparse or not currently included in NIDA's portfolio, and that has the potential to transform SUD research. The notice describes two qualifying approaches: developing and/or adapting revolutionary techniques or methods for addiction research or with promising future applicability to SUD research; or testing an innovative and significant hypothesis for which there are scant precedent or preliminary data and which, if confirmed, would transform current thinking.

What to Watch

• July 1, 2026 — Deadline for BRAIN Initiative reagent production and distribution facility applications (RFA-MH-25-105).
• November 17, 2026 — Deadline for NCCIH mind-body feasibility clinical trial applications (PAR-25-274).
• August 11, 2027 — Deadline for NIDA CEBRA high-risk addiction research applications (PAR-25-101).
• January 7, 2028 — Deadline for neuromodulation device development applications (PAR-25-286).

A separate National Park Service task agreement (P12AC10113), with an award ceiling of $55,746, covers two vegetation intern positions for restoration and resource management work; the notice states the task agreement has already been awarded to SCA.