NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research

**NIH Blueprint Overview** **The Blueprint Mission** The [NIH](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/glossary?title=NIH) Blueprint for Neuroscience Research aims to accelerate transformative discoveries in brain function in health, aging, and disease. Blueprint is a collaborative framework that includes the NIH Office of the Director together with NIH Institutes and Centers that support research on the nervous system. By pooling resources and expertise, Blueprint identifies [cross-cutting areas of research](https://blog.ninds.nih.gov/2015/04/13/nih-blueprint-10-year-trans-nih-effort-to-advance-neuroscience-requests-new-ideas-from-scientific-community/) and confronts challenges too large for any single Institute or Center. Since its inception in 2004, Blueprint has supported the development of new research tools, training opportunities, and [resources](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/resources-tools/blueprint-resources-tools-library) to assist neuroscientists. In addition to supporting cross-cutting neuroscience activities like [research training](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/training/endure-undergraduate-education), [workforce diversity](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/about/diversity-and-scientific-excellence), and [therapeutic development](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/neurotherapeutics/bpn-small-molecules), Blueprint also funds research initiatives. Topics have ranged from transforming our understanding of dynamic neuroimmune interactions to enhancing our fundamental knowledge of interoception, supporting the development of innovative tools and technologies to monitor and manipulate biomolecular condensates, and more. To learn about both current and past areas of research, visit the [Blueprint Research Initiatives page](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/funding-research/blueprint-research-initiatives). **Blueprint Grand Challenges** In 2009, the Blueprint Grand Challenges were launched to catalyze research with the potential to transform our basic understanding of the brain and our approaches to treating brain disorders. The [Human Connectome Project (HCP)](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/human-connectome/connectome-programs) is an ambitious effort to map all the connections within the human brain. Beginning in 2010, Blueprint awarded $40 million to two major research consortia which took complementary approaches to deciphering the brain’s complex wiring diagram. In five years, this highly coordinated effort mapped the connections of 1,200 healthy adults paired with behavioral assessments and GWAS results, resulting in the publication of over 100 papers. The MRI scanner system developed by HCP scientists was 4-8 times more powerful than conventional systems, providing ten-fold faster imaging times and better spatial resolution than ever before. Building on the success of the Connectome Project, in 2014 Blueprint authorized funds to expand the age range of normal subjects to include both young people and older adults. The Connectome Coordination Facility, funded by Blueprint in 2015, maintains a central data repository for HCP data and offers advice to the research community regarding data collection strategies and harmonization. The Grand Challenge on Chronic Neuropathic Pain supported research to understand the changes in the nervous system that cause acute, temporary pain to become chronic. The initiative has supported multi-investigator projects partnering researchers in the pain field with researchers in the neuroplasticity field. Starting in 2010, Blueprint funded 10 R01 grants investigating various models, mechanisms, and plasticity in the transition to chronic pain, resulting in more than 80 publications related to pain and neural plasticity. The [Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network (BPN)](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/node/333) helps small labs develop new drugs for nervous system disorders. BPN provides research funding, plus access to millions of dollars’ worth of services and expertise to assist in every step of the drug development process, from laboratory studies to preparation for clinical trials. Since 2010, project teams across the U.S. have received funding to pursue drugs for conditions from vision loss toneurodegenerative disease to depression. A hallmark of the program is the research institution retains the intellectual property rights. Now in its eighth year, BPN has awarded 22 grants resulting in 1 Phase 1 clinical trial, 5 licensed programs, and several successful partnerships with industry. **The BRAIN Initiative®** April 2013 marked the beginning of the [Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® (BRAIN) Initiative](https://braininitiative.nih.gov/), a coordinated effort among public and private institutions and agencies aimed at revolutionizing our understanding of the human brain. [NIH](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/glossary?title=NIH) has a large role in this effort, and Blueprint was one of the inaugural sponsors of the [BRAIN](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/glossary?title=BRAIN) Initiative by investing $10 million in 2014 on initial high priority research areas. Blueprint invested an additional $19 million in BRAIN Initiative research in 2015 and 2016 and continues to support and collaborate with the BRAIN Initiative on various projects. **Historic Blueprint Resources** Since 2004, Blueprint has supported the development of new [resources](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/resources-tools/blueprint-resources-tools-library), tools, and opportunities for neuroscientists. From fiscal years 2007 to 2009, Blueprint focused on three major themes of neuroscience - neurodegeneration, neurodevelopment, and neuroplasticity. These efforts enabled unique funding opportunities and training programs, and helped establish new resources that continue to be available to researchers and the public. Some of these resources include: - The [Gene Expression Nervous System Atlas (GENSAT)](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/node/370) and the [Cre Driver Network](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/node/171) are projects that have developed, characterized and continue to distribute transgenic mouse lines (GFP reporters and Cre drivers) to serve as tools for research on the central nervous system. Over 100 lines are available from the Cre driver network and over 1400 (GFP and Cre) lines are available from GENSAT. - The [Neuroimaging Informatics Tools and Resources Clearinghouse (NITRC)](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/node/189) triad of services include a resources registry, data commons, and cloud-based virtual machine with popular neuroimaging software pre-installed. These services help researchers save time, meet data sharing requirements, and leverage cloud-based computing on increasingly larger data sets. - The [Neuroscience Information Framework (NIF)](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/node/168) is an online portal to neuroscience information that includes a customized search engine, a curated registry of resources and direct access to more than 100 databases. - The [NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/node/169) is a set of integrated tools for measuring neurologic and behavioral function, and for generating data that can be used and compared across diverse clinical studies. - The [NIH Blueprint Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Experiences (ENDURE)](https://neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/node/181) supports undergraduates from underrepresented groups in a two-year neuroscience research program and encourages matriculation into PhD programs.