NIH Locks Doors for Secret Brain Research Grant Reviews
Published Date: 3/20/2025
Notice
Summary
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke is holding several closed virtual meetings in April 2025 to review and decide on grant applications. These meetings affect researchers and small businesses seeking funding for neurological studies, including Alzheimer's research. The reviews protect private info and trade secrets, helping decide who gets money to push brain science forward.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
NINDS panels will decide grant winners
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke will hold closed panels on April 15-16, April 17-18, April 22, and April 29, 2025 to review and evaluate grant applications. If you are a researcher or a small business seeking NINDS funding for neurological studies (including Alzheimer's research), these meetings determine who receives grant awards.
SBIR application reviews for small businesses
Special emphasis panels will review SBIR and small-business focused applications on April 17-18, April 22, and April 29, 2025 (including an SBIR Devices panel and a Small Business: Advancing Research on Alzheimer's Disease panel). Small businesses that applied for NINDS SBIR funding are directly affected because these meetings evaluate which SBIR applications move forward.
Applicant trade secret and privacy protections
The meetings are closed under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6) to protect confidential trade secrets, commercial property (including patentable material), and personal information in grant applications. This prevents public disclosure of applicants' proprietary technical details and personal data during the April 2025 review panels.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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