Social Services Grants for Schools & universities

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH BRAIN Initiative program (UG3/UH3) is a milestone-driven cooperative agreement supporting translational development and small clinical studies of next-generation therapeutic and diagnostic devices for nervous and neuromuscular disorders. Eligible applicants are institutions, including minority-serving institutions, HBCUs, and tribal colleges; foreign organizations and foreign components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, though foreign components are otherwise allowed. NIH program staff participate in project planning and monitoring. No award amount is stated; eligibility centers on research institutions able to develop and test devices.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH BRAIN Initiative program (UH3) funds small clinical trials to advance next-generation devices for recording and modulating the human central nervous system. Eligible applicants are institutions, including minority-serving institutions, HBCUs, and tribal colleges; foreign organizations and foreign components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, though foreign components are otherwise allowed. No award amount is stated. This is a clinical-research mechanism aimed at research institutions capable of conducting device trials.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH R01 grant funds research applications studying the ethical, legal, and social implications of human genetics and genomics, using empirical, conceptual, legal, or normative methods. Applications must include a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP); those without one won't be reviewed. It's aimed at eligible U.S. and territorial research institutions, and the deadline is November 18, 2026.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH R21 grant funds exploratory and developmental research into the ethical, legal, and social implications of human genetics and genomics, particularly studies examining new or emerging genomic technologies. It's open to eligible U.S. and territorial research institutions using empirical, conceptual, legal, or normative methods. The deadline is November 18, 2026.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $375K

NIH HEAL Initiative R15 funding for basic or mechanistic pain research at institutions eligible for the R15 (Research Enhancement) mechanism, which targets schools and components that have not been major NIH recipients. Aimed at engaging undergraduate, graduate, and health-professional trainees in the research; foreign organizations are not eligible. The listed maximum is about $375,000. R15 eligibility rules restrict which institutions can apply, so eligibility is narrow.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

NIH mechanism allowing existing award recipients to apply for revision (supplemental) funding to expand a current NIH grant or cooperative agreement, only in response to a specific Notice of Special Interest. Restricted to organizations that already hold an active NIH single-project award. No award amount is specified. Because applicants must already be NIH grantees and respond to a matching NOSI, eligibility is narrow and not open to new applicants.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH R50 award provides salary support for established Research Software Engineers who build and disseminate biomedical software, tools, and algorithms. Eligible applicants include universities and research institutions; foreign (non-U.S.) organizations are not eligible to apply. It is tied to an existing research environment and specialized staff, so it suits research institutions rather than general nonprofits or individuals applying on their own. No specific award amount is stated.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $375K

This NIH R15 (AREA) award supports small-scale research at undergraduate-focused institutions that receive limited NIH funding, with a required clinical trial. Eligibility is restricted to institutions that award baccalaureate science degrees and have received no more than $6 million/year of NIH support in 4 of the last 7 years; foreign organizations are not eligible to apply. The maximum award is about $375,000. This is narrowly targeted at less-research-intensive degree-granting institutions.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $350K

This NIH HEAL Initiative R61/R33 funds early translational drug-discovery research toward non-addictive pain therapeutics, including assay development, screening, and initial characterization of candidate agents; no clinical trial is allowed. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, and tribal and community organizations, but foreign organizations are not eligible to apply. The maximum award is about $350,000. It requires drug-discovery research capacity.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $750K

An NIH BRAIN Initiative R18 funding preclinical proof-of-concept work on novel recording and modulation technologies for the human central nervous system, up to readiness for first-in-human studies. The eligibility text is mixed but states foreign organizations and foreign components are not eligible to apply, while domestic research institutions, minority-serving and Tribal colleges may. Awards reach up to about $750,000, and clinical trials are not allowed. This is a specialized research award, not a fit for general nonprofits, small businesses, or individuals.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

An NIH BRAIN Initiative R01 funding the development and validation of novel tools to study cell-type- and circuit-specific processes in the brain. Eligibility is geared toward research institutions, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving and Tribal colleges, and foreign organizations; this is a federal research grant, not a fit for typical nonprofits, small businesses, or individuals without an academic/research affiliation. No award amount is specified. Clinical trials are not allowed under this opportunity.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH mentored research scientist award (K01) provides three to five years of protected, supervised career development leading to research independence; this version does not allow leading an independent clinical trial. It is intended for individual investigators applying through eligible institutions such as universities. No award amount is listed.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH Pathway to Independence award (K99/R00) supports outstanding postdoctoral researchers transitioning to independent faculty positions; this version does not allow leading an independent clinical trial. It is intended for individual early-career investigators applying through eligible institutions such as universities; foreign organizations cannot apply. No award amount is listed.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH exploratory research grant (R21) funds high-risk, highly novel approaches to measuring brain changes across the lifespan, including studies that may lack preliminary data. It is aimed at multidisciplinary researchers at eligible institutions such as universities, nonprofits, tribal organizations, and government agencies. No award amount is listed.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH research grant supports new or novel methods to measure brain activity, connectivity, or genomics across the lifespan to study neurodevelopment and aging. It is intended for multidisciplinary researchers at eligible institutions such as universities, nonprofits, tribal organizations, and government agencies. No award amount is listed and the eligibility text does not specify a dollar cap.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH mentored research scientist award (K01) provides three to five years of protected, supervised career development in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research leading to independence, and this version requires an independent clinical trial. It is intended for individual investigators applying through eligible institutions such as universities. No award amount is listed.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH mentored career development award (K23) supports individuals with a clinical doctoral degree who are committed to patient-oriented research, providing protected research time under mentorship. This version does not allow leading an independent clinical trial. It is intended for individual clinician-investigators applying through eligible institutions such as universities and academic medical centers. No award amount is listed.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH mentored career development award (K25) supports quantitative or engineering scientists redirecting their work toward health research, providing protected research time under a mentor; this version requires the applicant to lead an independent clinical trial. It is intended for individual investigators applying through eligible institutions such as universities. No award amount is listed.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH mentored career development award (K23) supports individuals with a clinical doctoral degree committed to patient-oriented research, providing protected research time under mentorship, and this version requires an independent clinical trial. It is intended for individual clinician-investigators applying through eligible institutions such as universities and academic medical centers. No award amount is listed.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH mentored career development award (K08) prepares individuals with a clinical doctoral degree for research careers through supervised biomedical, behavioral, or translational research; this version does not allow leading an independent clinical trial. It is intended for individual clinician-investigators applying through eligible institutions such as universities and academic medical centers. No award amount is listed.