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Who this is for: early-career neuroscientists and the research offices supporting them who need to decide whether a Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF) grant fits, and what the Young Investigator application package requires. All program facts below are as described on the official BBRF pages and the 2026 Young Investigator application guidelines on 2026-11-12; programs change, so confirm current terms with BBRF before you plan.
What it is and who runs it
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation is a nonprofit based in New York. Its stated mission is “to reduce the suffering caused by mental illness by funding research.” It has provided seed money to neuroscientists since 1987, and some web links still use its former name, NARSAD. Its site describes three grant programs: Young Investigator, Independent Investigator and Distinguished Investigator.
The foundation reports that 100% of donations designated for research go to grants, with operating costs covered by separate foundation grants. Grantees are chosen on the recommendation of its Scientific Council, which the site describes as an all-volunteer body. The site also reports cumulative totals (more than $487 million across 7,062+ grants to 5,902+ scientists at 613+ institutions); these figures change, so treat them as a snapshot from 2026-11-12.
Eligibility (summary, with the official source)
Source: 2026 BBRF Young Investigator Grant application guidelines, read 2026-11-12.
- A doctoral degree (for example an MD with at least PGY-IV, PhD, PsyD or PharmD) and a position in research training or a faculty research role, at the level of advanced postdoctoral fellow, instructor, assistant professor or equivalent.
- Anyone who is or has been principal investigator on an NIH R01 or equivalent (the guidelines give VA Merit as an example) is not eligible for the Young Investigator grant.
- Associate professors and above are not eligible.
- An on-site mentor or senior collaborator is required.
- One principal investigator per application.
- Limits: a maximum of 3 applications for an initial Young Investigator grant and a maximum of 2 Young Investigator grants in total. A second grant cannot overlap the first, only one second application is allowed, and it must document productivity and show how the grant facilitates competing for an NIH R01.
What it funds or requires
The Young Investigator grant in the 2026 cycle provides up to $35,000 per year for up to two years (maximum $70,000), with no institutional overhead. It supports basic, translational and clinical research that is relevant to serious psychiatric disorders; the guidelines name schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, mood and anxiety disorders, and early-onset brain and behavior disorders. The guidelines note the amount is not sufficient for expensive large-sample patient studies.
Budget use is flexible: equipment and stipends are allowed when they serve the project. The budget page must state that the grant does not duplicate or reduce support from the host institution. Because no indirect costs are paid, your sponsored-programs office should confirm this early.
Application or compliance steps
Applicants complete an online form on the BBRF site and then upload a single PDF in NIH format (Arial, Helvetica, Palatino Linotype or Georgia, 11 point or larger, 0.5-inch margins). Each section starts on its own page.
| Section | Limit stated in the 2026 guidelines |
|---|---|
| Face sheet | Lists any Scientific Council conflicts |
| Abstract | Under 500 words, lay language |
| Applicant CV | 5 pages (NIH biosketch or its biographical portion) |
| Proposal | 2 pages, no appendices |
| Research training and career plans | Half a page |
| Budget | 1 page, itemized, no more than $35,000 per year |
| Mentor or sponsor letter | 1 page per mentor |
| Mentor CV | 5 pages |
| References | Optional, 1 page, up to 10 |
| Collaborator letter | Optional |
| Institutional assurance letter | 1 page, signed by the grants or sponsored research office |
| Final progress report | Second-grant applications only, 1 page |
IRB and IACUC approvals are not included in the application; the guidelines say they are verified at the time of the grant. Your Office of Sponsored Programs typically owns the assurance letter, so request it well before the window closes.
Typical timeline phases
In the 2026 cycle the sequence was: an acceptance window in late winter to early spring, review by the volunteer Scientific Council, notification in September, and an earliest project start in mid-January of the following year. The grants page carried inconsistent window statements for some programs, so use these as phases rather than a calendar and check the live page for current dates. BBRF gives no feedback to applicants beyond the funding notification, so plan any resubmission without reviewer comments.
Common mistakes
- Applying as a Young Investigator after serving as PI on an R01 or equivalent, which excludes you.
- Exceeding the 3-application or 2-grant limits, or submitting a second grant that overlaps the first.
- Omitting Scientific Council conflicts on the face sheet.
- Budgeting indirect costs or an amount above $35,000 per year.
- Leaving the institutional assurance letter until the last week.
- Adding appendices to the 2-page proposal.
Related programs (table)
Which BBRF program fits depends on career stage and funding history. Figures are from the BBRF grants page and Young Investigator guidelines, 2026-11-12.
| Program | Level | Amount stated |
|---|---|---|
| Young Investigator | Advanced postdoc, instructor, assistant professor; no R01 PI history | Up to $35,000/yr, up to 2 years (max $70,000) |
| Independent Investigator | Associate professor level, independent with national competitive PI support (an assistant professor who is now an NIH R01 PI is eligible) | Up to $50,000/yr, 1-2 years (max $100,000) |
| Distinguished Investigator | Full professor level | Up to $100,000 for one year |
For other private foundation funders in neuroscience, see CASRAI’s guides to the Dana Foundation and the McKnight Foundation.
FAQ
What is the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation?
A New York nonprofit that funds research on mental illness through Young, Independent and Distinguished Investigator grants, as described on its About page on 2026-11-12.
Is NARSAD the same as BBRF?
NARSAD is the foundation’s former name, which still appears in some web links, per the BBRF About page.
Does the Young Investigator grant pay indirect costs?
No. The 2026 guidelines state the award carries no institutional overhead.
Can an NIH R01 principal investigator apply for a Young Investigator grant?
No. Current or former PIs on an R01 or equivalent are not eligible; the Independent Investigator program may fit instead.
Will I get reviewer feedback?
No. BBRF provides no feedback other than the funding notification.
Sources
- BBRF, About, read 2026-11-12.
- BBRF, Grants and Prizes, read 2026-11-12.
- 2026 BBRF Young Investigator Grant application guidelines, read 2026-11-12.
