Assistance Listing 93.853
Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders
National Institutes of Health · Department of Health and Human Services
The verdict for a small nonprofit
Mostly repeat grantees: only 4% of awards go to new applicants. Apply with a strong track record or a partner who has won before.
Based on 2,734 new awards in FY2023–25. Organizations under $1M in revenue won 1% of the awards that went to nonprofits. The median award is $460,625. Expect about 168 days between posting and deadline.
- First-time winners
- 4%
- of new awards, last 3 FYs
- Nonprofit share
- 15%
- 76% higher ed · 0% gov't
- Under-$1M orgs
- 1%
- of nonprofit awards
- Median award
- $461K
- $152K – $1.1M middle half
- New awards, FY2025
- 809
- $589M committed to them
- Usually posts
- Jun
- rolling · 168-day window
Open right now under this program
40 opportunities · from Grants.gov, checked every 10 minutes
Who won in FY2025
Largest recipients by dollars. From USAspending.
| Recipient | Type | State | Awards | Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regents of the University of California, San Francisco, the | Higher ed | CA | 150 | $199,724,038 |
| The Johns Hopkins University | Higher ed | MD | 138 | $241,273,838 |
| The General Hospital Corporation | Nonprofit | MA | 124 | $232,864,444 |
| Washington University, the | Higher ed | MO | 122 | $183,078,534 |
| Regents of the University of Michigan | Higher ed | MI | 121 | $159,847,820 |
| University of Pittsburgh - of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education | Other | PA | 120 | $148,136,759 |
| The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York | Higher ed | NY | 118 | $177,294,761 |
| Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, the | Higher ed | PA | 115 | $152,237,306 |
| The Leland Stanford Junior University | Higher ed | CA | 109 | $145,005,358 |
| Yale Univ | Higher ed | CT | 106 | $124,224,402 |
New awards by fiscal year
Awards first made in each fiscal year; dollars are the total committed to that year's new awards over their life.
| FY | New awards | Committed | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,989 | $3.1B | $996K | $319K – $2.3M |
| 2022 | 1,136 | $1.6B | $779K | $269K – $2.2M |
| 2023 | 1,034 | $1.3B | $859K | $385K – $2.0M |
| 2024 | 891 | $903M | $673K | $214K – $1.6M |
| 2025 | 809 | $589M | $461K | $152K – $1.1M |
Past rounds
Every announcement under this listing that Grants.gov still lists. Use it to plan next year.
| Posted | Closed | Window | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-23 | 2030-12-01 | 1500 d | RFA-EB-28-004 · NextTech: Translational Development of Next-Generation Diagnostic and Therapeutic Devices (R18 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-10-16 | 2027-02-11 | 118 d | RFA-LM-28-001 · NLM Institutional Grants for Research Training in Biomedical Informatics, Data Science, and AI (T15 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-10-14 | 2029-11-05 | 1118 d | PAR-27-090 · Palliative Care Research Across the Lifespan: Leveraging the Palliative Care Consortium (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) |
| 2026-10-14 | 2029-09-26 | 1078 d | PAR-27-003 · Collaborative Program Grant for Interdisciplinary Teams (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional) |
| 2026-10-06 | 2027-01-26 | 112 d | RFA-DA-28-012 · HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR) - Building Engagement, Assistance, Capacity, Outreach, and Networks (BEACON) Center (U2C Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-10-06 | 2027-01-26 | 112 d | RFA-DA-28-011 · HEAL Initiative: Integrative Management of Chronic Pain and OUD for Whole Recovery (IMPOWR): Research Centers (RM1 Clinical Trial Required) |
| 2026-09-30 | 2029-02-08 | 862 d | RFA-NS-28-010 · BRAIN Initiative: Research Opportunities Using Invasive Neural Recording and Stimulating Technologies in the Human Brain (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-09-30 | 2027-10-28 | 393 d | RFA-MH-27-125 · Mechanistic Evaluation of Therapeutic Targets derived from Treatable Traits to Improve CNS Outcomes in People with HIV (R21/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-09-28 | 2026-10-30 | 32 d | PAR-27-045 · HEAL Initiative: Whole Joint Health Program (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required) |
| 2026-09-23 | forecast | — | RFA-NS-28-009 · Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Intermediate Patient Population Expanded Access (U01 Clinical Trial Required) |
| 2026-09-22 | forecast | — | PAR-28-061 · Research to Improve Rigor, Replicability, and Reproducibility in Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences |
| 2026-09-10 | forecast | — | PAR-27-137 · Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) Clinical Networks of Diagnostic Excellence |
| 2026-09-10 | forecast | — | RFA-NS-28-007 · Network for Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials (NeuroNEXT) Infrastructure – Clinical Research Sites (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-09-10 | forecast | — | PAR-27-135 · Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) Clinical and Data Coordinating Center |
| 2026-09-10 | forecast | — | PAR-27-136 · Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) Diagnostic Research Innovation Center |
| 2026-09-10 | forecast | — | RFA-NS-28-002 · Network for Excellence in Neuroscience Clinical Trials (NeuroNEXT) Infrastructure – Clinical Coordinating Center (CCC) & Data Coordinating Center (DCC) |
| 2026-09-10 | forecast | — | RFA-NS-28-008 · NIH Stroke Clinical Trials Network (StrokeNet) Infrastructure – Regional Coordinating Stroke Centers (RCCs) |
| 2026-09-10 | forecast | — | RFA-NS-28-006 · BRAIN Initiative: Clinical Studies to Advance Next-Generation Devices for Recording and Modulation in the Human Central Nervous System |
| 2026-09-10 | forecast | — | RFA-NS-28-003 · NIH Stroke Clinical Trials Network (StrokeNet) Infrastructure – National Coordinating Center (NCC) and National Data Management Center (NDMC) |
| 2026-09-10 | forecast | — | RFA-NS-28-005 · Limited Competition: BRAIN Initiative: Promoting Health for All Through BRAIN Technology Partnerships |
| 2026-09-01 | 2028-10-09 | 769 d | RFA-AI-27-014 · Development of Candidate Medical Countermeasures (MCMs) and Technologies Against Radiological/Nuclear or Chemical Threats (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-09-01 | 2029-04-17 | 959 d | PAR-27-051 · NIH Brain Development Cohorts (NBDC) and Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Biospecimen Access (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-08-31 | 2029-03-09 | 921 d | PAR-27-065 · NINDS Efficacy and Exploratory Clinical Trials (UG3/UH3 - Clinical Trial Required) |
| 2026-08-31 | 2028-06-23 | 662 d | RFA-NS-27-002 · BRAIN Initiative: Integrative Team-Research BRAIN Circuits Program - iBCP (RM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-08-31 | 2028-07-07 | 676 d | PAR-27-076 · Lasker Clinical Research Scholar's Program (Si2/R00 Clinical Trial Optional) |
| 2026-08-13 | forecast | — | RFA-NS-28-001 · Strategies to Innovate EmeRgENcy Care Clinical Trials Network (SIREN) Infrastructure – Clinical Coordinating Center (CCC) and Data Coordinating Center (DCC) |
| 2026-08-13 | forecast | — | RFA-NS-28-004 · Strategies to Innovate EmeRgENcy Care Clinical Trials Network (SIREN) Infrastructure – Clinical Enrollment Hubs |
| 2026-07-07 | forecast | — | PAR-28-043 · Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN): Small Molecule Drug Discovery and Development |
| 2026-06-30 | 2026-09-28 | 90 d | RFA-NS-27-011 · Single Source: Post-Stroke Vascular Contributions to Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (VCID) in the United States (U19 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-06-22 | 2029-07-12 | 1116 d | PA-27-030 · Institutional Mentored Career Development Award (Parent K12) (Clinical Trials Not Allowed) |
| 2026-06-16 | 2029-02-20 | 980 d | RFA-NS-27-007 · HEAL Initiative: Non-addictive Analgesic Therapeutics Development [Small Molecules and Biologics] to Treat Pain (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional) |
| 2026-06-16 | 2029-04-08 | 1027 d | PA-27-037 · Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award (Parent F99/K00 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-06-10 | 2026-07-10 | 30 d | RFA-DA-27-014 · HEAL Initiative: Limited Competition for the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study – Consortium Administrative Core and Data Coordinating Center (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-06-10 | 2026-07-10 | 30 d | RFA-DA-27-013 · HEAL Initiative: Limited Competition for the HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study - Research Project Sites (Collaborative U01- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-06-08 | 2029-05-25 | 1082 d | PA-27-034 · NIH Research Education Program - Courses, Curriculum & Methods (Parent R25 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-06-08 | 2029-05-05 | 1062 d | PA-27-035 · NIH Research Educational Program - Mentoring Activities & Networks (Parent R25/UE5 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-06-08 | 2029-05-05 | 1062 d | PA-27-036 · NIH Research Education Program - Research Experiences (Parent R25 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
| 2026-05-28 | 2027-04-05 | 312 d | PA-27-102 · NIH Small Business Technology Transfer Grant (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Optional) |
| 2026-05-28 | 2029-04-05 | 1043 d | PA-27-101 · NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award (Parent [R44] Clinical Trial Optional) |
| 2026-05-28 | 2027-04-05 | 312 d | PA-27-100 · NIH, CDC and FDA Small Business Innovation Research Grant (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Optional) |
Common questions
How hard is it to win a grant under 93.853?
Mostly repeat grantees: only 4% of awards go to new applicants. Apply with a strong track record or a partner who has won before. Based on 2,734 new awards in FY2023–25. Organizations under $1M in revenue won 1% of the awards that went to nonprofits. The median award is $460,625. Expect about 168 days between posting and deadline.
How much does Extramural Research Programs in the Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders award?
In FY2025 the median new award was $461K; the middle half ran from $152K to $1.1M. 809 new awards were made, with $589M committed to them.
When does 93.853 usually post?
Over the last several years, new rounds most often posted in Jun with about 168 days to apply. The most recent round posted Oct 23, 2026.
Who runs this program?
Department of Health and Human Services (National Institutes of Health). Assistance Listing 93.853 on SAM.gov describes the authorizing statute and standard terms.
Sources: USAspending FY2021–25 award archive (2026-10-06); Grants.gov Search2 (fetched 2026-10-28); IRS EO BMF (fetched 2026-10-28). Award counts are new awards by fiscal year of first action. Shares are computed from award counts, not dollars; the under-$1M share covers the 52% of nonprofit awards that matched an IRS revenue record. Recipient type comes from the award record's business-type codes. Always confirm details in the official announcement.