Brain and Behavior Research Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation supports basic and clinical research on mental illnesses through its young investigator, independent investigator and distinguished investigator programs.
IP TAKE: The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation is the largest non-governmental grantmaker in the field of mental health research. Most grants support researchers working at leading universities and institutes in the U.S., but a few grants each year go to investigators at European and Asian institutions.
This accessible funder accepts applications for each of its programs. Guidelines and due dates vary by program. This is a very competitive grantmaking space, so have a senior, expert colleague, perhaps a previous grantee, review your proposal if appropriate and applicable.
PROFILE: Established in 1987, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) is the “top non-governmental funder of mental health research grants” in the U.S. Since its founding, the foundation has made over $430 million in grants to support scientific research with the goal of “alleviating the suffering caused by mental illnesses” including but not limited to attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders obsessive-compulsive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia. More than half of all BBRF grants support basic research, but funding has also supported development and evaluations of next generation therapies, diagnostic tools and early interventions and new technologies in the study of mental illnesses.
Grants for Brain and Cell Research and Mental Health
BBRF makes grants for research related to mental illnesses through each of its three grantmaking programs:
Young investigator grants support “the most promising young scientists conducting neurobiological research” with two-year grants of up to $70,000 or $35,000 per year. Grants are intended for scientists engaged in research fellowship programs or beginning their careers as research faculty at universities and institutes. Grants may support either basic or clinical/applied research. This grantmaking program appears to run annually, and in a recent year, the foundation awarded 150 young investigator grants. Most grants support scientists at U.S. based institutions, but researchers in Europe and Asia have also received funding. Application guidelines are linked to the program page.
Independent investigator grants support “during the critical period between the initiation of research and the receipt of sustained funding.” Two-year grants are awarded in amounts of up to $100,000 or $50,000 per year to scientists who are at the associate professor level, have embarked on independent research projects and have previously received “national competitive support” for their work. These grants also support both basic and clinical investigations, but research must “be relevant to schizophrenia, major affective disorders, or other serious mental illnesses.” This program does not accept applications every year but awarded 40 grants when the program last ran in 2017. Prospective grantseekers should sign up for email updates about grantmaking opportunities.
Distinguished Investigator grants are one-year awards of $100,000 intended for investigators who are full professors “pursuing innovative projects in diverse areas of neurobiological research.” Recent funding has prioritized research involving “patient populations with unique or unusual characteristics and central nervous system developments.” This program does not accept applications but awarded 15 grants when the program last ran in 2016. Prospective grantseekers should sign up for email updates.
In addition to its three main grant programs, BBRF runs the following annual awards programs:
Klerman and Freedman Prizes recognize exceptional research conducted by recipients of BBRF’s young investigator grants.
Outstanding Achievement Prizes consist of a series of awards that acknowledge “outstanding research leadership and contributions to mental health research” and include the Lieber Prize for Schizophrenia Research, the Colvin Prize for Mood Disorder Research, the Ruane Prize for Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research, the Goldman-Rakic Prize for Cognitive Neuroscience Research and the Matz Prize for Innovative Schizophrenia Research.
The Pardes Humanitarian Prize recognizes an individual who “has made a profound and lasting impact by improving the lives of people suffering from mental illness and by advancing the understanding of mental health.”
Productive Lives Awards acknowledge the contributions of individuals whose work helps people and families who are affected by mental illnesses to lead productive and rewarding lives.
Important Grant Details
The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation made $15 million in grants in a recent year, with grants generally awarded in set amounts as per its young, independent and distinguished investigator grantmaking programs. Grantees include researchers from distinguished universities and institutes in the U.S., Europe and Asia, with a majority of grants supporting U.S.-based researchers. For information about past grantees, refer to the individual program summaries linked to the foundation’s listing of grantees page.
BBRF accepts applications for each of its grant programs. Guidelines and due dates vary by program and are available at the foundation’s grants page. Grantseekers are advised to sign up for email updates about grantmaking opportunities with BBRF. General inquiries may be addressed to the foundation’s staff via email.
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