Explore NCS Grant Opportunities
Advancing Innovation in Neurocritical Care Through Research
The Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) is committed to accelerating discoveries that improve outcomes for patients facing life-threatening neurological illnesses and injuries. Through targeted research funding, NCS empowers investigators, clinicians, innovators and multidisciplinary teams to develop, test and implement transformative solutions that address some of the most complex challenges in neurocritical care.
Our grant programs are designed to foster innovation, generate meaningful clinical evidence and support projects with the potential to reshape care delivery, improve recovery, and advance the science of neurocritical care across the globe.
Small Grants for Big Ideas
Sponsored by the HEARD Center
The HEARD (Henderson Equity And Research on Disparities) Center is proud to launch its Small Grants for Big Ideas (SGBI) Program, a new funding opportunity designed to spark innovative research that addresses disparities in neurocritical illness care and advances health equity across diverse patient populations.
Through this program, the HEARD Center will award up to three grants of $10,000 each to clinicians and scientists pursuing bold, actionable projects that align with the Center's mission to improve equity, access and outcomes in neurocritical care. Whether exploring barriers to care, developing inclusive interventions or identifying strategies to reduce disparities, investigators are encouraged to bring forward creative ideas with the potential to make a meaningful impact.
Applications are welcomed from professionals across disciplines, including nurses, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, social workers, rehabilitation specialists, physicians, scientists and international investigators.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: September 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT
- Award Notifications: October 2026
- Project Start Date: November 1, 2026
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Innovative Treatments in Disorders of Consciousness (ITDC) Grant
Sponsored by Spaulding Rehabilitation
The Innovative Treatments in Disorders of Consciousness (ITDC) Grant supports transformative research aimed at improving outcomes for patients living with disorders of consciousness, including coma, vegetative state and minimally conscious state. Sponsored by Spaulding Rehabilitation through the Rehabilitation Outcomes Center at Spaulding (ROCS), in collaboration with the Curing Coma® Campaign, this program is designed to accelerate discovery, foster multidisciplinary collaboration and generate the pilot data necessary to support future multicenter clinical trials.
This funding opportunity is intended to help investigators build research infrastructure, establish proof of concept and lay the groundwork for larger-scale studies that can meaningfully change patient care.
Key Dates
- LOI Notification: August 9, 2026
- Full Application Deadline: October 18, 2026
- Awards Announced: Early January 2027
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Annual Meeting Travel Grant
Sponsored by the Integra Foundation
The Annual Meeting Travel Grant, funded by the Integra Foundation, helps ensure that financial barriers do not prevent members from participating in the premier educational and networking event in neurocritical care.
This program provides funding for NCS members, particularly early-career professionals and first-time attendees, to attend the NCS 24th Annual Meeting, where they can connect with peers, engage with world-renowned experts and gain access to the latest advances shaping clinical practice, research and patient outcomes.
This year, 25 travel grants of $1,000 each will be awarded, helping recipients take advantage of unparalleled learning, mentorship and professional development opportunities.
Key Dates
- Awards Announced: August 2026
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Small Grants for Big Ideas
Sponsored by the Curing Coma® Campaign
The Curing Coma® Campaign Small Grants for Big Ideas Program is designed to support promising early-stage research that has the potential to advance the science of coma and disorders of consciousness. This funding opportunity encourages investigators to pursue innovative, high-impact ideas that may be too early for larger grant mechanisms but have the potential to generate meaningful pilot data, establish feasibility and position researchers for future external funding opportunities.
By supporting novel concepts and emerging investigators, the program aims to accelerate scientific discovery, strengthen the neurocritical care research pipeline and ultimately improve outcomes for patients with severe brain injury and disorders of consciousness.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: July 1, 2026, at midnight CST
- Award Notification: August 2026
- Project Start Date: September 1, 2026
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