URL: https://www.thebrf.org/scientific-innovations-award/
Objectives
Brain Research Foundation’s Scientific Innovations Award (SIA) provides funding for innovative science in both basic and clinical neuroscience. This funding mechanism is designed to support creative, exploratory, cutting-edge research in well-established research laboratories, under the direction of established investigators. The objective of the program is to support projects that may be too innovative and speculative for traditional funding sources but still have a high likelihood of producing important findings. It is expected that investigations supported by these grants will yield high impact findings and result in major grant applications and significant publications in high impact journals.
Studies should be related to either normal human brain development or specifically identified disease states. This includes molecular and clinical neuroscience as well as studies of neural, sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral and emotional functioning in health and disease.
Funding Information
Up to $150,000 (direct costs) over 2 years.
Exact dates will be provided by the Brain Research Foundation upon application approval. Funds must be utilized within the grant period.
More information about funding is available in the 2027 SIA Guidelines.
Eligibility
Investigators at institutions that are affiliated with a medical school or university are eligible to apply only through the institution where they hold a full-time faculty position. BMC investigators must follow the process below to request approval to submit an internal application through BU.
Current major NIH or other peer-reviewed funding is preferred but evidence of such funding in the past three years is essential.
Former SIA recipients may not receive another award until 5 years has elapsed since the beginning date of the prior award. Only one PI may apply per application.
Internal Selection Process
The internal selection process depends on whether your grants are managed by BU or Boston Medical Center (BMC). Use the steps below to determine this information:
- Step 1: Open the BUMC Home Institution Finder
- Step 2: Log in to search the database – search using your last name
- Step 3: Follow one process:
- If you see BU or BU-CAMED, follow BU Process below
- If you see BMC, follow the BMC Process below
BU Process
BU may nominate one senior faculty member (Associate or Full Professor) working in the area of neuroscience and brain function in health and disease.
Interested applicants should submit the following materials via InfoReady Review by: 4/26/2026
- 1-page Proposal Summary describing the aims, hypothesis, and significance of the proposed project as well as a concluding paragraph that explains how this research will develop (aka next steps)
- List of references including their name, affiliation (optional)
- List of current grants, including grant name, submitted abstract, and, as relevant, a statement if there is any overlap
- Biosketch in NIH SciENcv format (see guidance on how to prepare that here)
As necessary, a faculty committee will review internal applications and select the institutional nominee. Foundation Relations will work with the nominee to develop and submit the Letter of Intent by 6/2/2026.
BMC Process
BMC is not eligible for this opportunity. If you are a BUMC faculty member who works in BMC space and are interested in this opportunity, you must contact the Program Manager of Strategic Research Growth, Carolina Giudice (carolina.giudice@bmc.org) by April 17, 2026 to request permission to apply for internal consideration via BU.
Deadlines
BMC Expression of Interest Due: Friday, April 17, 2026
Internal Materials Due: Sunday, April 26, 2026 by 11:59 pm ET
Anticipated Notification Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Letter of Intent Due: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 by 4:00 pm CT
Invited Full Application Due: Tuesday, September 22, 2026