The Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI) is launching a new initiative to catalyze research efforts in the broad area of brain health. Interdisciplinary researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign seeking center- and program-level grants and contracts focused on brain health may apply for buyout funds from IHSI.
Up to two buyout awards of $75,000 each are available to promote the pursuit of large-scale research opportunities by alleviating time constraints on researchers associated with teaching, administrative, and service commitments. The buyout funds will help researchers focus on the design, preparation, and submission of large-scale grant and contract applications.
“Brain health touches every aspect of our human experience, across our lifespan, and interdisciplinary partnerships can broaden and deepen the impacts of newly formed brain-health research centers,” said Cathlene Hardy Hansen, IHSI Director of Research and Innovation who joined IHSI in Spring 2026. “This is an opportunity I could only dream about in past years. I cannot wait to see the response from our university community!”
This is an opportunity I could only dream about in past years. I cannot wait to see the response from our university community!
To apply, research teams must first identify the funding mechanism and targeted submission date that they wish to apply to and include a link to the RFA in their application. Proposed centers may cover any area of brain health, including research on cognitive, sensory, social-emotional, behavioral, and motor domains, as well as neuroimaging and neurotechnology, and with determinants such as physical health, environment, safety, lifelong learning, social connection, and access to quality services, all of which shape how our brains develop, adapt, and respond to stress and adversity.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with awards starting at least 6 months prior to the target submission deadline.
IHSI will be offering support in both the pre-proposal phase and post-award period. IHSI will provide in-kind staff support to bring together new teams of researchers to develop research questions and viable partnerships, build research networks, assist with proposals, and synthesize data to develop the scientific infrastructure to launch a center in the future. The center or program proposal will be submitted under the IHSI organization code with the assistance of the IHSI grants management team, and all pre- and post-award administration will be conducted by IHSI staff.
Interested researchers are encouraged to review the IHSI website for details, the full request for proposals, and to submit an application. Questions may be directed to Cathlene Hardy Hansen, IHSI Director of Research and Innovation, chhansen@illinois.edu, or email healthinstitute@illinois.edu.
The Brain Health Center Proposal Planning Grants are supported by the Edward Heiken Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute Fund. The late Edward (Rick) Heiken, a 1972 economics graduate and long-time donor and supporter of Illinois, gave a more than $4.5 million estate gift to IHSI toward brain health research and innovation.