Become a Research Partner

Our Research Partners Program offers donors the opportunity to personally select and support scientists based on various criteria, including, but not limited to, illness specialty area or specific institutions, or a combination thereof. Researchers are selected by the donor (Research Partner) after members of our volunteer Scientific Council have conducted an independent peer-review of all the submitted applications and have been recommended for a grant award. The Research Partners Program enables donors to choose among the best and brightest scientists and the most promising, cutting-edge proposals in mental illness research, as reviewed and selected by the Scientific Council. 100% of dollars raised for research are invested in research grants.

Working in conjunction with our Brain & Behavior Research Foundation staff, the donor may review approved scientists’ grant abstracts and select one based on specific criteria as outlined above. The Research Partner may elect to review the researcher’s documents such as project summary, bios, publications or the submitted proposals. If the scientist has been previously funded, the donor may also review prior work and progress reports. Depending on the funding amount, a Research Partner may select any combination of investigators to support.

Through our Young Investigator (YI) Research Grant Program you may select a young scientist who is working within the field of psychiatric and neuroscience research. The goal of the YI Research Grant Program is to discover, encourage and facilitate highly promising projects of gifted young scientists who are the potential neuroscience leaders of the future. Funding these scientists is fundamental to helping these researchers at key career stages when they need funding the most.

Grantees receive a two-year grant up to $70,000 ($35,000 for a one year grant, renewable for one additional year) to launch or advance their independent research programs. The results from these studies often provide the pilot data needed to submit for much larger federally funded projects (i.e.: National Institute of Mental Health).

Learn more about our Young Investigator Grant Program.

Once scientists have been selected for the Research Partners Program, the Research Partner and the scientist are both sent confirmation letters, naming the Investigator as designated by the Research Partner. Typically, Research Partners are named after the donor or a family member, such as, “Jones Family Investigator” or “Jones Investigator.”

Within the course of the Research Partnership, and after Investigators have begun work on their project, donors will receive summaries of the scientist’s annual progress, as well as an Investigator’s final report. When possible, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation will request copies of the publications generated by the scientist throughout the term of the Research Partnership.

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation encourages interaction between the Research Partner and the scientist via email, telephone, letter or personal visit. Scientists are also encouraged to communicate with their Research Partner as it is hoped this initial contact will result in on-going communication for years to come.

Individuals, families, foundations and corporations may all fund Research Partnerships. Our staff will work with the donor or group of donors to select researchers based on specified interests.

Please Remember…

Changes from the scientists’ host institutions, along with the sensitivity and immediacy of research, may affect the Investigator’s participation in the Research Partners Program. And while these factors operate outside the scope of a grant, Brain & Behavior Research Foundation will try its best to ensure that the needs of the donor are always met. Any changes or adjustments to the grant award will be shared with the donor. They may include, but are not limited to:

• Scientists changing their research focus or relinquishing their grants. Research Partner project schedules – from start dates to end dates – are subject to change based on the above.
• Availability of a specific project or institution may change, and a scientist may leave their institution mid-grant.

Again, any changes to the terms of the original NARSAD Grant award to the scientist will be shared, in advance, with the donor; the donor will have the right to change their Research Partner designation accordingly.

For more information on the Research Partner Program, please call 646-681-4889 or email researchpartner@bbrfoundation.org.