Joint NINDS/NIMH Exploratory Neuroscience Research Grant (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The Joint NINDS/NIMH Exploratory Neuroscience Research Grant program supports exploratory and innovative research projects, which fall within the missions of the NINDS and NIMH. Awards will provide support for the early and conceptual stages of projects. These studies often assess the feasibility of a novel avenue of investigation and involve considerable risk, but have the potential to bring about breakthroughs in the understanding of important areas of neuroscience, or to the development of novel techniques, agents, methodologies, or models, of high value to the neuroscience community. While this funding opportunity also accepts clinical trials, only applications proposing mechanistic clinical trials or studies or basic experimental studies with humans (BESH) will be considered for funding. For information on the types of clinical trial that are within scope of this funding opportunity announcement, refer to Funding Opportunity Description, below.

Program Details

National Institutes of Health is a federal agency that offers the Joint NINDS/NIMH Exploratory Neuroscience Research Grant (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) grant program to support eligible programs and projects. This funding opportunity is available nationally and is administered by National Institutes of Health through Grants.gov. Organizations seeking funding for eligible programs and projects should review the details below and confirm their eligibility before preparing an application.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include government agencies and municipalities, educational institutions, for-profit businesses, and tribal governments and Native American organizations. Organizations that meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply and to review the full program guidelines before submission. Because eligibility rules and funding priorities can change between cycles, applicants should always confirm the current requirements with National Institutes of Health or on Grants.gov before investing time in an application.

Funding and Timeline

Applications are due by May 7, 2026. Applicants should allow sufficient time to gather required documentation, including organizational information, project descriptions, budgets, and supporting materials as specified in the program guidelines. Submitting a complete application well ahead of the deadline reduces the risk of disqualification on technical or administrative grounds.

Program Focus

This grant supports eligible programs and projects. This grant is associated with NAICS industry classifications: 541714, 621111, 621112, 622. Organizations operating in these sectors are encouraged to review eligibility. Funded projects are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes aligned with the program's stated objectives. Grant recipients may be required to submit progress reports and final evaluations as a condition of the award, and to retain records for audit and compliance purposes.

How to Apply

Eligible organizations can apply through Grants.gov. Create a free organization profile on GrantRegister to see whether this grant matches your organization's NAICS code, entity type, location, and focus area, and to receive a weekly digest of every open grant you qualify for.

GrantRegister maintains a complete, authoritative registry of US federal, state, and foundation grant opportunities — matched automatically to your organization profile and delivered every Monday.

Eligibility

• Funded by NIH

Award details

Applications close on May 7, 2026.

Categories

Not categorized