Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA RM 21 024
The SPARC Human Open Research Neural Engineering Technologies (HORNET) Initiative is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity that uses the U41 cooperative agreement mechanism to support the creation and broad sharing of open-source neuromodulation technology resources. The main goal is to fund Centers that will build interoperable, modular tools that researchers can mix and match into custom configurations (or "profiles") for new neuromodulation studies. While the primary focus is on studies involving the peripheral nervous system, the opportunity also emphasizes designing these modules so they could potentially be useful for applications in the central nervous system as well. A key expectation is that the funded Centers will actively disseminate these resources so they are widely usable by the research community, rather than remaining lab-specific or proprietary.
Because this is a cooperative agreement, NIH is expected to have substantial involvement in the funded work compared to a standard research grant. In practical terms, that usually means the Centers would coordinate closely with NIH program staff, follow shared program goals and interoperability expectations, and contribute deliverables intended for community adoption. The opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants should not propose clinical trials as part of the funded activities under this announcement, even if the tools being developed could later support clinical research.
The program sits in the health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.310. The formal opportunity title is "SPARC Human Open Research Neural Engineering Technologies (HORNET) Initiative (U41 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," and the funding opportunity number is RFA-RM-21-024. The opportunity was created on October 6, 2021, and the original closing date listed is January 12, 2022. The award ceiling and the expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source information.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments that are federally recognized; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations other than federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal government agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
There are important restrictions related to foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) 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 the NIH definition in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, which typically means that certain parts of the project can be carried out abroad under a U.S.-based applicant organization, subject to NIH rules and justification.
Overall, the opportunity is designed to accelerate neuromodulation research by standardizing and openly distributing building-block technologies that can be integrated across labs and study designs. The emphasis on interoperability, modular design, and broad dissemination signals that the intended outputs are not just publications, but practical open-source resources that other investigators can adopt, extend, and combine for exploratory and translational work in neuromodulation, especially for the peripheral nervous system, with an eye toward future relevance to central nervous system applications.Apply for RFA RM 21 024
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SPARC Human Open Research Neural Engineering Technologies (HORNET) Initiative (U41 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): 93.310.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-10-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-01-12. (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.
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FAQs: SPARC HORNET Initiative (U41 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - RFA-RM-21-024
What is the SPARC Human Open Research Neural Engineering Technologies (HORNET) Initiative?
The SPARC Human Open Research Neural Engineering Technologies (HORNET) Initiative is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity that supports the creation and broad sharing of open-source neuromodulation technology resources. It is designed to accelerate neuromodulation research by enabling the research community to access practical tools that can be adopted, extended, and combined across labs and study designs.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is to fund Centers that will build interoperable, modular tools that researchers can mix and match into custom configurations (also described as "profiles") for new neuromodulation studies. The intent is for these outputs to be widely usable by the broader research community, not lab-specific or proprietary resources.
What kinds of technologies or resources is NIH expecting Centers to create?
The opportunity emphasizes building-block neuromodulation technology resources that are modular and interoperable. The tools are intended to be designed so that components can be combined in different ways to support different experimental needs and study designs.
What does "interoperable" mean in the context of this program?
Interoperability, as described in the opportunity, means the modules and tools developed by funded Centers should be designed to work together and align with shared program goals and interoperability expectations. The idea is to support community adoption and reduce barriers to integrating tools across different labs and configurations.
What does "modular" mean in the context of this program?
Modular design means the technology resources should be built as components that can be mixed and matched. Researchers should be able to assemble these modules into custom configurations ("profiles") tailored to specific neuromodulation studies.
What research area is the primary focus of HORNET?
The primary focus is on studies involving the peripheral nervous system. At the same time, the opportunity emphasizes designing modules so they could potentially be useful for applications involving the central nervous system as well.
Is this opportunity limited only to peripheral nervous system work?
No. While the primary focus is peripheral nervous system studies, the program also emphasizes designing the modules so they could potentially be useful for central nervous system applications.
What funding mechanism does HORNET use?
This opportunity uses the U41 cooperative agreement mechanism.
What is a cooperative agreement (U41) and how is it different from a standard grant?
Because this is a cooperative agreement, NIH is expected to have substantial involvement in the funded work compared to a standard research grant. In practical terms, this typically means Centers coordinate closely with NIH program staff, follow shared program goals and interoperability expectations, and contribute deliverables intended for community adoption.
What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean for applicants?
The opportunity is explicitly labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." Applicants should not propose clinical trials as part of the funded activities under this announcement, even if the tools being developed could later support clinical research.
Can the tools developed under this program be used later in clinical research?
Yes, the description notes that tools developed could later support clinical research. However, clinical trials themselves should not be proposed as part of the funded activities under this announcement.
What is the official title of the funding opportunity?
The formal opportunity title is "SPARC Human Open Research Neural Engineering Technologies (HORNET) Initiative (U41 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)."
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-RM-21-024.
What is the associated CFDA number and funding category?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 93.310 and sits in the health funding activity category.
When was this opportunity created and what is the listed closing date?
The opportunity was created on October 6, 2021. The original closing date listed is January 12, 2022.
Is the award ceiling provided?
No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided information.
Is the expected number of awards provided?
No. The expected number of awards is not specified in the provided information.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations across government, academia, nonprofit, and industry. 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
- Private institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
Are specific institution types explicitly called out as eligible?
Yes. The announcement explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant categories including:
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Faith-based or community-based organizations
- Eligible federal government agencies
- Regional organizations
- U.S. territories or possessions
Are non-U.S. (foreign) institutions eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Can non-domestic components of U.S. organizations apply?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply.
Are foreign components allowed in any form?
Yes. Foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH definition in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This typically means certain parts of the project can be carried out abroad under a U.S.-based applicant organization, subject to NIH rules and justification.
What is a key expectation around sharing and dissemination?
A key expectation is that funded Centers will actively disseminate the resources so they are widely usable by the research community. The resources are intended to be open-source and broadly shared, rather than remaining lab-specific or proprietary.
Are publications the primary expected output?
The emphasis in the description is on practical open-source resources that other investigators can adopt, extend, and combine. Publications may result, but the signal from the opportunity description is that the intended outputs include interoperable, modular tools designed for community adoption.
What kinds of deliverables should Centers be prepared to provide?
Based on the description, Centers should be prepared to contribute deliverables intended for community adoption, aligned with shared program goals, and designed to meet interoperability expectations. The deliverables are described broadly as open-source neuromodulation technology resources and modular tools that can be used in configurable "profiles."
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