BRAIN Foundation Research Grants

Address: 5912 Stoneridge Mall Road, Pleasanton, CA 94588
EIN: 83-4072118

Mission

Supporting translational research that will lead to the development of FDA-approved treatments and an improved standard of care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD).

Funding Status (2026)

Current Status: 2026 research grants will be awarded on invitation-only basis. Open call for proposals anticipated to resume next year.

Geographic Scope

• US only (International researchers may collaborate with US-based PI)

Focus Areas

Primary focus is basic and interdisciplinary translational research leading to development of effective therapeutics:

Broad Research Categories:

• Basic Science: animal models, tissue cultures, organoids
• Translational research/human studies leading to new therapeutics and FDA approval
• Biomarkers that measure treatment response in core symptoms
• Translational clinical trials that catalyze therapeutics toward FDA approval
• Devices for therapy

Specific Areas of Focus:

• Biomarkers: Developing biological biomarkers to improve diagnostics and treatment response
• Immune abnormalities in autism: Studies characterizing altered immune response in autism
• Gut dysfunction in autism: Characterizing GI pathology, diagnostic and treatment strategies
• Epilepsy in autism: Investigating etiology, triggers, risk factors, warning signs, treatments; exploring subclinical seizure activity prevalence and impact
• Speech, motor and behavior in autism: Determining etiology and treatments for functional impairments in speech, language processing, motor skills, executive function, and disabling behaviors (aggression, self-injury)
• Treatment trials: Phase I/II clinical treatment trials evaluating efficacy of new compounds and repurposed drugs
• Case studies and retrospective analyses: Medical record analysis and case study publications
• Immunology: testing and characterization
• Neurology: specifically epilepsy, novel EEG/MEG studies
• Mitochondrial testing and treatment
• GI basic science and treatment: including IBD and microbiome studies
• Any promising new areas that have remained unfunded

Priority Subgroups

• Studies targeting discovery and characterization of rare disease subgroups within ASD population (with and without genetic characterization)
• Adults with ASD (>18 years of age)
• Non-speaking children and adolescents (>8 years of age) with dyspraxia and ASD
• Regressive autism

Eligibility

• PI Requirements: PI associated with a research institution or private enterprise who can work within their organization to accept a grant from a non-profit and obtain IRB approval if needed
• New researchers welcome: If new to autism research, proposals are welcome
• Exception: Researchers already covered under last year's grant should wait until the next year to allow support for more researchers

Budget

• Maximum: $90,000 per year for a maximum of 2 years ($180,000 total)
• Indirect Costs: Institutional overheads are NOT supported and cannot be included in budget

What They Don't Fund

• Institutional overhead/indirect costs

2026 Limitations

• Limited number of grants available
• Highly selective and competitive review process
• Invitation-only process (open call anticipated to resume following year)

Application Process

Current Status (2026): Invitation-only grants. Open requests for proposals anticipated to resume next year.

To Stay Informed:

1. Subscribe to newsletter at brainfoundation.org to receive announcements when funding rounds open
2. Follow on social media for notification of next funding round opening for submissions
3. Contact: info@brainfoundation.org for inquiries

When Open Call Returns:
Detailed application procedures will be announced. Historically, applicants submit:

• Research proposal
• Budget and budget justification
• Institutional support documentation
• IRB approval or plan for obtaining IRB approval