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BRF Scientific Innovation Awards (SIA)

General Information

Program Summary

The Brain Research Foundation’s Scientific Innovation Awards (SIA) provide funding for innovative science in both basic and clinical neuroscience. This program supports creative, exploratory, and cutting-edge research in well-established laboratories under the direction of distinguished investigators. The objective is to fund projects that may be too innovative and speculative for traditional funding sources but have a high likelihood of producing significant findings. Each award is limited to $150,000 over a two-year period, with the goal of yielding high-impact results that lead to major grant applications and significant publications in respected journals.

Limitation

Schools may submit one (1) application for Penn’s internal competition.

Eligibility

  • Position: Must hold a tenure-track faculty position, typically as an Assistant or Associate Professor.
  • Research Focus: Must be working in the area of brain function in health and disease, including studies related to normal human brain development or specifically identified disease states. This encompasses molecular and clinical neuroscience, as well as studies of neural, sensory, motor, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional functioning.
  • Funding History: Current major NIH or other peer-reviewed funding is preferred, but evidence of such funding in the past three years is essential.
  • New Research Project: The grant proposal must detail a new research project that is not funded by other sources.
  • Bridge Funding: This grant is not to be used as bridge funding.
  • For any sponsored research projects, the applicant must be eligible to serve as Principal Investigator for the project, unless otherwise noted in the LSO. Please see Penn’s PI Eligibility requirements to ensure you are eligible. 

Award Information

  • A total research award of $150,000 for two (2) years.
  • Annual Distribution: $75,000 per year.
  • Grant Start Date: The grant begins at the start of the awarded year.
  • Funding Use: Funds are intended to support innovative and exploratory research projects in neuroscience.
  • Progress Reports: Recipients must submit annual progress reports detailing the advancements and outcomes of the research.
  • Financial Reports: Final financial reports must be submitted at the end of the grant period.
  • Publications: Recipients are encouraged to publish their findings in respected journals and acknowledge BRF support in their publications.
  • Grant Utilization: Funds must be used within the two-year grant period and cannot be used for bridge funding.

Limited Submission Opportunities Protocol 

What is a Limited Submission Opportunity? When a funding agency or foundation limits the number of applications Penn can submit, the OVPR manages a two-part internal review process to select the proposal that advances to the funder. 

What is the Review Process for Limited Submissions? The selection process begins at the school level, where candidates are vetted to choose a finalist for the OVPR round. Applicants must follow their home school’s deadlines and submission instructions. A committee of reviewers then recommends candidates to the Senior Vice Provost, who selects the final nominee. 

Where do I find out about limited submission opportunities on the OVPR website? The newly designed website lists LSOs. Use the filters on the left to refine your search. Opportunities are listed in summary form. Click on the title of an opportunity to see the full details. 

How do I apply? When the full detail page for the opportunity is open, click the “APPLY HERE” button at the bottom right of the screen. This starts your application process using InfoReady. Log in with your PennKey credentials. After you submit your application, InfoReady processes it for the first round of review at your school. If selected as the Penn nominee, you will be notified directly and will begin the submission process to the funder with the Office of Research Services and PennERA.