Brain Research Foundation’s Scientific Innovations Award (SIA) Program 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 SIA 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.
Brain Research Foundation is inviting eligible US academic institutions to nominate one senior faculty member (Associate and Full Professor) to submit a Letter of Intent for the Scientific Innovations Award (SIA).
Funding Preferences:
- Funding is to be directed at projects that may be too innovative and speculative for traditional funding sources but still have a high likelihood of producing important findings. This should be a unique project for senior investigators who are encouraged to stretch their imagination into areas that can substantially change an area of research.
- Funding of research projects that will likely lead to successful grant applications with NIH and other public and private funding entities.
- Examples of projects that have received the SIA in the past can be found at: https://www.thebrf.org/scientific-innovations-award/
Funding and Award Period:
Each total award is limited to $150,000 (direct costs) for a two year grant period. Exact dates will be provided by the BRF upon application approval. The first grant payment of $75,000 will be made upon completion of the SIA Acceptance Form. The final payment of $75,000 will be made contingent upon receipt of a Preliminary Progress and Financial Report. Funds must be utilized within the grant period.
Eligibility:
The nominated candidate must be a full-time associate professor or full professor at an invited US academic institution, working in the area of studies of brain function in health and disease. Current major NIH or other peer-reviewed funding is preferred but evidence of such funding in the past three years is essential. 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. The grant proposal must detail a new research project that is not funded by other sources. This grant is not to be used as bridge funding.
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. Therefore, only one application for all of Penn State will be allowed.
Scientists that have previously received a BRF Scientific Innovations Award may not receive the award for a second time until five years has elapsed since the beginning date of the prior award. Grant requirements from all previous awards must be met. Only one PI may apply per application.
Allowable costs under this award: 100% of these SIA funds must be utilized for direct costs.
Interested applicants should upload the following documents in sequence in one PDF file (File name: Last name_BRFSIA_2025) no later than 4:00 p.m. on the internal submission deadline:
1. Cover Page(1 page, pdf):
- Descriptive title of proposed activity
- PI name, departmental affiliations(s) and contact information
2. Project Description (no more than two pages, pdf)
- Identify the project scope that addresses the key aspects and elements of the Foundations Goals
- Include closing paragraph that explains how this research will develop (next steps)
3. List of current grants (include abstracts, specific aims, and indicate if there is any overlap)
4. NIH Style Biographical Sketch (5-page max.)
Formatting Guidelines:
Font/size: No smaller than 11 pt.
Document margins: 1.0” (top, bottom, left and right)
Standard paper size (8 ½” x 11)
The Office of Foundation Relations is available to consult on proposal narrative elements and answer other foundation-related questions. University Park applicants should please contact Sophie Penney Leach, Director, Foundation Relations (swp2@psu.edu). Penn State College of Medicine applicants should please contact Maria Petrilak, Assistant Director of Foundation Relations, (mpetrilak@pennstatehealth.psu.edu) for additional support.
Questions concerning the limited submissions process may be submitted to limitedsubs@psu.edu.