Explore NCS Research Grant Opportunities
Advancing Innovation in Neurocritical Care Through Research
The Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) is committed to advancing research that improves outcomes for patients with life-threatening neurological illnesses and injuries. Through targeted grant funding, NCS empowers investigators, clinicians and multidisciplinary teams to develop innovative solutions that address the most pressing challenges in neurocritical care.
Our grant programs foster innovation, generate meaningful clinical evidence and support research with the potential to transform care, improve recovery and advance the field of neurocritical care worldwide.
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
- The Letter of Intent (LOI) period has closed.
- LOI Notification: August 9, 2026
- Full Application Deadline: October 18, 2026
- Awards Announced: Early January 2027
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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
- The application period has closed.
- Award Notification: August 2026
- Project Start Date: September 1, 2026
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