Brain Research Foundation’s Annual Seed Grant Program was initiated in 1981. The program's purpose is to provide start-up monies for new research projects in the field of neuroscience that will likely lead to extramural funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) or other outside funding sources. The objective of the BRF Seed Grant Program is to support new and innovative projects, especially those of junior faculty, who are working in new research directions. The grant proposal must detail a new research project that is not funded by other sources. BRF Seed Grant awards are not intended to supplement existing grants. 100% of these BRF Seed Grant funds must be utilized for direct costs.

Funding Specifics: 

1.) Funding is to be directed at pilot research projects that are both innovative and will likely lead to successful grant applications to NIH and other public and private funding entities. 

2.) Assistant Professor – Junior faculty with a new research project that will generate pilot data that will lead to RO1 funding or a comparable outside grant will be first priority. 

          • Must provide abstract and specific aims for current grants and indicate if there is any overlap. 

3.) Associate Professor – Faculty who are pursuing new research directions. • Must explain how the project is a new research direction. • Must provide abstract and specific aims for current grant(s) and indicate if there is any overlap. 

4.) A new technique is not considered a new direction unless it pertains to a different area of study. 

5.) Grants are NOT to be used for bridge funding between grants.

UD White Paper (Research Summary) Deadline: 09/30/2025, 11:59 PM ET
Brain Research Foundation Letter of Intent Deadline: 10/23/2025, 4:00 PM CT
Due Date for Invited Proposals: 03/05/2026, 4:00 PM CT

Link to FOA Here: Brain Research Foundation Seed Grant Program 2026

Candidate Eligibility: To be eligible, the PI must be a full-time Assistant or Associate Professor at an invited US academic institution, working in the area of studies of brain function. This includes molecular and clinical neuroscience as well as studies of neural, sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral and emotional functioning in health and disease. Research assistant professor or research associate professor are not eligible to apply.

Institutional Limit: UD may nominate one assistant or associate professor to submit a Letter of Intent.

Application Information:  Applicants must submit a CV and summary of their proposed research (No more than 2 pages) including a preliminary set of aims, a discussion of previous or related work, and a closing paragraph that explains how this research will develop (next steps). Applications not adhering to this requirement will be returned without review.

Merit Review Criteria: Research summaries will be reviewed based on the criteria detailed in the solicitation.