NIH Blueprint and BRAIN Initiative Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA NS 24 030

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 24 030

The NIH Blueprint and BRAIN Initiative Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00; clinical trial not allowed) is a discretionary NIH grant opportunity (RFA-NS-24-030) that reissues an earlier funding announcement (RFA-NS-19-011). Its main goal is to create a clear, supported pathway for exceptional neuroscience PhD students from backgrounds that are nationally underrepresented in neuroscience research. The program is built to help these students finish their doctoral dissertation work efficiently and then move directly into strong, well-matched postdoctoral research positions, while also receiving structured career development that aligns with a long-term goal of becoming independent neuroscience researchers.

D-SPAN uses a two-phase structure that bridges the transition from graduate training to a postdoctoral appointment. The first phase (the F99 component) supports the final stage of doctoral training with an emphasis on completing dissertation research and preparing for the next career step. The second phase (the K00 component) supports the early postdoctoral period, when the awardee is expected to deepen research expertise, broaden professional skills, and build momentum toward independence. In practical terms, the award is meant to reduce the common training bottleneck where promising trainees lose time or opportunity between finishing the PhD and landing a high-quality postdoc, and to provide a more continuous, mentored launch into the next stage of a neuroscience research career.

A key feature of this opportunity is its explicit focus on diversity in the neuroscience research workforce. The award is intended for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds (as defined in the national context of neuroscience research), with the broader purpose of strengthening the field by ensuring that talented scientists who have historically faced systemic barriers receive robust support and structured advancement opportunities. The emphasis is not only on research productivity but also on professional development activities that help awardees become competitive for later-stage independent funding and faculty or equivalent research-intensive positions.

The announcement also lays out who may apply and the boundaries around foreign involvement. Eligible applicants span a wide range of organization types, including public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, independent school districts, special district governments, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations that are not federally recognized, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), and certain for-profit organizations (excluding small businesses in the “for-profit other than small businesses” category, while small businesses are also listed as eligible). The notice highlights additional categories often associated with training and workforce diversity efforts, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, and eligible federal agencies. At the same time, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply; however, “foreign components” are allowed when they meet NIH’s definition in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which generally means specific, justified elements of the project may occur abroad under NIH rules even though the applicant organization itself must be domestic.

Administratively, the opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health, with activity areas reflected across multiple CFDA numbers (including 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867), signaling its connection to multiple NIH institutes and neuroscience-related missions under the NIH Blueprint and BRAIN Initiative umbrellas. The posting date is listed as 2024-02-02, and the original closing date is 2026-10-06. The announcement states that clinical trials are not allowed under this FOA, meaning proposed work must fit NIH’s definitions and rules for non-clinical-trial research within the fellowship and career development structure.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Blueprint and BRAIN Initiative Diversity Specialized Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Advancement in Neuroscience (D-SPAN) Award (F99/K00 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.121, 93.173, 93.213, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: 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.

Apply for RFA NS 24 030

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