Verified open opportunity. NIH PAR-25-272 supports exploratory, highly novel approaches or innovative applications of existing approaches for measuring brain activity, connectivity, genomics, or other aspects of brain function and structure repeatedly across longer developmental or lifespan timespans.
Opportunity snapshot
- Funding opportunity: New Approaches for Measuring Brain Changes Across Longer Timespans (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
- Number: PAR-25-272
- Issuer: National Institutes of Health; participating institutes include NIA, NICHD, and NCI.
- Next new-application deadline: October 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
- Next renewal/resubmission/revision deadline: November 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
- Funding: Up to $275,000 in direct costs across the two-year project period, with no more than $200,000 in direct costs in any single year.
- Project period: Up to two years.
- Cost sharing: Not required.
What NIH is seeking
Responsive projects may develop novel hardware, software, biological, analytic, or methodological tools, or innovative uses of existing tools, that improve repeated in vivo brain measurement over longer timespans. The NOFO gives examples including adaptations to MEG, EEG, and MRI that improve longitudinal measurement, particularly for populations that can be difficult to image, including individuals with autism or motor or sensory challenges.
Each project must include at least two measurement timepoints per participant or animal, demonstrate a scientific component that expands capacity for longitudinal brain measurement, and include annual milestones. Projects without in vivo measurements, with fewer than two timepoints, or without a scientific demonstration of expanded brain-measurement capacity are nonresponsive.
Eligibility and submission
Eligible organization types include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits, state and local governments, independent school districts, tribal organizations, small businesses and other for-profit organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, and other eligible entities identified by NIH. Cost sharing is not required. Applications may be submitted through NIH ASSIST, an institutional system-to-system solution, or Grants.gov Workspace and require the applicable eRA Commons registrations.
Arkansas relevance
Arkansas universities and health-science institutions with longitudinal neuroscience, neurodevelopment, aging, imaging, EEG, MRI, digital phenotyping, or related measurement programs may be realistic applicants. NICHD is particularly relevant to developmental brain-measurement work, while NIA focuses on aging-related brain changes and NCI requires cancer-relevant emphasis for its participation.
N9+ / Dr. Miltie fit
Conditional supporting fit. N9+ should not be represented as the required brain-measurement technology. A legitimate role would exist only where guided remote examination, physiologic or vital-sign capture, structured functional observations, or connected-home measurements provide scientifically meaningful longitudinal phenotyping alongside a qualifying in vivo brain measure such as EEG, MRI, or another responsive modality. A partner-led or subcontract role is more credible than assuming a direct-prime position.
Controlling source
NIH PAR-25-272 official funding opportunity announcement. Applicants should review the full NOFO and all linked NIH notices before submission.