RFA-NS-26-002: Investigate Novel Therapeutic Interventions and Testing Strategies for Neurological Disorders Including to Treat, Modify and Prevent the Development of Epilepsy (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Forecast
This forecast is out of date. Its expected dates have passed and the agency has not posted the opportunity on Grants.gov. It may be delayed or cancelled; check the program's other opportunities below.
National Institutes of Health plans to offer grants of up to $4.0 million (at least $3.5 million) to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. It expects to make one award worth $6.2 million in total. It is a forecast: the notice is expected around December 19, 2025, with applications due around February 20, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed September 23, 2025. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$4.0 million
- Award floor$3.5 million
- Total funding$6.2 million
- Expected awards1
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
About this NIH notice
- Activity codeU24
- Clinical trialsNot allowed
- U24, Resource-Related Research Project Cooperative Agreement. Shared research resources such as data centers or coordinating centers, with substantial NIH involvement. Other open U24 notices.
Application due dates, page limits and budget limits are set in the notice. Read RFA-NS-26-002 in the NIH Guide.
Key dates
| Forecast posted | September 23, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Expected posting | December 19, 2025 |
| Expected deadline | February 20, 2026 |
| Expected award date | November 2, 2026 |
Add the deadline to your calendar or it to My grants.
Who can apply
This opportunity is open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.
All 15 applicant types the notice lists
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Other Eligible ApplicantsIndian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized);Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government;U.S. Territory or Possession;Faith-based or Community-based Organizations;Regional Organizations;Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions).
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders awards averaged $1.0 million; this notice allows up to $4.0 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (76% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications to investigate novel therapeutic interventions and testing strategies for neurological disorders including to treat, modify, and prevent epilepsy. This research should include various intervention modalities and testing strategies. Investigators should consider testing strategies for the development and validation of human-focused testing approaches. Investigators with expertise and insights into preclinical therapy testing and model development are encouraged to consider applying for this new NOFO.
Who has won Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders (93.853) awarded $9.1 billion across 8,641 grant awards, an average of $1.0 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The General Hospital Corporation | Massachusetts | 203 | $288 million |
| The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco | California | 248 | $277 million |
| The Johns Hopkins University | Maryland | 230 | $276 million |
| The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York | New York | 188 | $226 million |
| Regents of the University of Michigan | Michigan | 179 | $221 million |
How to apply
- Read the full notice and attachments on Grants.gov. The notice is the official source for deadlines and requirements.
- Make sure your organization has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID; registration can take several weeks.
- Register on Grants.gov and submit through Workspace before the deadline and time given in the notice. Our application guide walks through each step.
Questions go to Brian Klein, PhD, brian.klein@nih.gov, (301) 496-0981.
Questions people ask
Is RFA-NS-26-002 still open?
Not yet. It is a forecast: expected deadline February 20, 2026.
Who can apply for Investigate Novel Therapeutic Interventions and Testing Strategies for Neurological Disorders Including to Treat, Modify and Prevent the Development of Epilepsy (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)?
National Institutes of Health accepts applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Investigate Novel Therapeutic Interventions and Testing Strategies for Neurological Disorders Including to Treat, Modify and Prevent the Development of Epilepsy (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)?
Expected deadline February 20, 2026. Confirm the date and time in the official notice on Grants.gov.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $4.0 million each. About $6.2 million in total for one award.
Who has won Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were The General Hospital Corporation, The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco, The Johns Hopkins University. The program made 8,641 awards worth $9.1 billion in that time.
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