Cellular and Molecular Biology of Complex Brain Disorders (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

This opportunity encourages research on the biology of high confidence risk factors associated with complex brain disorders. The research should focus on the intracellular, transcellular, and circuit substrates of neural function. The goal is to elucidate the neurobiological impact of individual or combined risk factors and to bridge the gap between disease risk factors, biological mechanisms, and therapeutic target identification. • The research can utilize in vivo, in situ, or in vitro experimental paradigms, such as model organisms or human cell-based assays. • Behavioral paradigms and outcome measures can be incorporated into the research design to facilitate the characterization of intracellular, transcellular, and circuit mechanisms. • The resulting paradigms, component pathways, and biological processes should be disseminated with sufficient detail to enrich common and/or federated data resources. • The present NOFO (R21 activity code) can be used for applications to develop early-stage, high-risk, exploratory approaches or establish proof-of-concept where there is little or no preliminary data.