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BRAINSTORM NEUROSCIENCE PITCH COMPETITION

Mind Science Foundation

about our funding

In 1958, our founder Tom Slick created the Mind Science Foundation to leverage the power of the scientific method to comprehend what he called the “vast potential of the human mind.” We believe the best way to honor his vision is by funding research on human consciousness that can produce improvements in the health and well-being of humankind. We are committed to finding novel ways in which to do so, funding research on the neuroscience of consciousness since 2004.

Our current funding model focuses on supporting early-career neuroscientists, with a broader goal of bolstering the pipeline of researchers entering the field of consciousness. We strongly believe that providing career support for budding researchers, along with opportunities to hone their communications skills, is critical to the advancement of science.

The Mind Science Foundation has hereby issued an open request for proposals (RFP) to support original research resulting in significant advancements in the science of consciousness and/or improvements in the health and well-being of humankind. Fields of inquiry include but are not limited to: consciousness, sleep and dreaming, neurodevelopment & neurodevelopmental disorders, aging, neurodegeneration, dementia, Parkinson’s Disease & other movement disorders, psychedelics, artificial intelligence, creativity, education, or cognitive performance, and may reflect basic or translational neuroscience studies, cognitive science, psychology, or experiential/subjective studies.

The 2026 funding round is currently open. Applications are due by May 1, 2026. For questions please contact Ben Rein, Chief Science Officer brein@mindscience.org

AI Based Application Success Predictor

MSF was founded to support research addressing fundamental questions about:

Conscious awareness
Subjective experience
Cognition
Brain function
Mind–brain relationships

Projects that directly investigate mechanisms of consciousness, perception, awareness, sleep, attention, or related phenomena align most closely with the Foundation's mission.

2. Innovative and Bold Research Questions

MSF repeatedly emphasizes groundbreaking neuroscience and frontier research.

Successful projects often involve:

Novel hypotheses
Emerging technologies
Unconventional ideas
High-risk/high-reward concepts
New approaches to studying consciousness

The Foundation's BrainStorm competition specifically seeks pioneering neuroscience ideas rather than incremental advances.

3. Scientific Quality and Feasibility

Although innovation is highly valued, reviewers also expect:

Testable hypotheses
Sound methodology
Clear experimental plans
Realistic milestones
Appropriate analytical approaches

Funded projects are generally pilot studies that balance creativity with feasibility.

4. Strong Early-Career Investigator Potential

A major objective of the BrainStorm program is supporting early-career neuroscientists.

Competitive applicants typically demonstrate:

Strong scientific promise
Research productivity
Emerging independence
Potential to become future leaders in neuroscience

MSF explicitly structures its programs around early-career researchers.

5. Excellent Mentorship and Laboratory Environment

MSF encourages early-career investigators to work alongside established principal investigators in strong research environments.

Successful applications often include:

Accomplished mentors
Well-equipped laboratories
Access to advanced neuroscience methodologies
Strong institutional support

Mentorship is repeatedly highlighted in BrainStorm program descriptions.

6. Potential to Generate Future Funding

MSF funding is designed largely as seed funding.

Reviewers favor projects capable of generating:

Pilot data
Preliminary evidence
Publications
Competitive NIH, NSF, or foundation applications

Projects that can launch larger research programs align well with MSF's goals.

7. Interdisciplinary Approaches

Historically, MSF-supported work spans multiple disciplines:

Neuroscience
Psychology
Cognitive science
Computational neuroscience
Artificial intelligence
Philosophy of mind
Neuroimaging

Applications combining multiple fields often stand out.

8. Impact on Human Health and Well-Being

Recent awardees have investigated topics such as:

Alzheimer's disease
Sleep and cognition
Misinformation processing
Brain excitability
Cognitive decline

Projects that improve understanding of human well-being while advancing neuroscience are highly aligned with current MSF interests.

9. Public Communication Skills

A distinctive feature of the BrainStorm program is that applicants present their science through public-facing pitches and videos.

Successful applicants generally demonstrate:

Clear communication
Ability to explain complex neuroscience
Public engagement potential
Effective science storytelling

Communication ability is an explicit goal of the program.

10. Scientific Productivity

Although MSF supports emerging investigators, competitive applicants often show:

Publications
Conference presentations
Prior neuroscience research
Evidence of research momentum

A strong trajectory can compensate for limited career length.

Frequently Funded Research Themes

Recent and historical MSF-supported projects commonly involve:

Consciousness research
Sleep and dreaming
Cognitive neuroscience
Attention and perception
Neural correlates of consciousness
Alzheimer's disease and aging
Learning and memory
Brain circuitry
Neuroimaging studies
Human cognition and behavior
Addiction neuroscience
Meditation and altered states of consciousness

Funding Strategy

A highly competitive Mind Science Foundation application typically includes:

A major question about consciousness, cognition, or brain function.
A highly innovative and original hypothesis.
Strong methodological rigor.
Feasible pilot-study objectives.
Outstanding mentorship and institutional support.
Clear potential for future external funding.
The ability to communicate the science effectively to a broad audience.

Specialties

Neurosciences

Eligibility Requirements

• ECRs are defined as individuals who are within six (6) years of completing their terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D.). Applicants who hold the title graduate student (M.S. or Ph.D.), post-doctoral fellow, or research scientist are eligible as long as no more than six years have elapsed since completing their terminal degree.

• All applicants must be affiliated with an accredited higher-education institution; all BrainStorm-funded research projects must be conducted at the affiliate college or university and must receive approval from all applicable institutional review boards.

• Submissions are welcome from any accredited higher education institution globally. Applications are not restricted to the United States. All studies must be conducted under the supervision of all appropriate institutional review boards.

• Each ECR is limited to one submission per grant cycle.

• ECRs who have previously received a BrainStorm award are not eligible to apply.

• BrainStorm awards are intended to support research projects that advance our understanding of consciousness, but we also welcome submissions focused on improving the health and well-being of humankind.

• Lab or PI Limit

• No more than one BrainStorm grant will be awarded to any laboratory or PI during each funding cycle.

• No more than one BrainStorm grant will be awarded to any laboratory or PI in consecutive years.

• If multiple applications are submitted from one laboratory or PI, the scope of the projects must be distinct and independent. Mind Science reserves the right to reject applications based on overlapping study focus if they are from the same lab.

• Compliance and Enforcement

• Grant applicants must confirm their eligibility and adherence to this policy during the application process.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Mind Science Foundation

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 117 W El Prado Dr, San Antonio, TX 78212

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