Advancing breakthroughs in neurocritical care requires bold ideas — and the resources to bring them to life. Through collaborative initiatives led by the Neurocritical Care Foundation and the Neurocritical Care Society, a range of targeted funding opportunities are helping researchers, clinicians and educators tackle some of the most urgent challenges facing patients with life-threatening neurological conditions. These initiatives rely on philanthropic and partner support to accelerate discovery, expand training and drive meaningful progress in the field.
Explore the available opportunities below to learn how you can help advance the future of neurocritical care.
Curing Coma
World Coma Day (March 22)
Requested Funds: $100,000 annually
World Coma Day, established in 2021, is an annual event that unites scientists, clinicians, advocates, patients and families in a global day of recognition and support. The event features educational sessions streamed via Zoom and YouTube, making them accessible to audiences worldwide. Central to the day are “Stories of Hope” and “Shout-Outs” from patients, families, ICUs, rehabilitation units and research labs. On the day itself, live international sessions are hosted through NCS International Regional Chapters, while “Event-in-a-Box” kits empower hospitals and labs to run local activities and celebrations.
Curing Coma Patient and Family Council (PFAC)
Requested Funds: $50,000
Project Summary with Objectives: This project will expand the Patient and Family Council, enhancing its role in raising awareness of coma and disorders of consciousness (DoC) recovery while providing vital support to patients and families. Council members will also serve as key stakeholders for CCC projects across the organization. Approximately $10,000 of the requested funds will support council members’ attendance at the NCS Annual Meeting, fostering engagement and collaboration.
Estimated Completion Timeline: 1 year (renewable)
Coma Quality Universal Registry
Requested Funds: $200,000 ($800,000 cumulative for initial four years)
Project Summary with Objectives: The registry is a prospective database of neurocritical care performance measures, initially focusing on metrics for assessing the quality of coma care. Developed jointly by the CCC and the NCS Quality Committee, it will allow hospitals and providers worldwide to submit patient-level data, similar to established quality registries such as Get With The Guidelines–Stroke, The Joint Commission and the American College of Surgeons Trauma registry. Participants will receive feedback and recognition for compliance, supporting continuous quality improvement in coma care.
Estimated Timeline to Achieve Self-Sufficiency: 4 years
Stories of Hope
Requested Funds: $40,000
Project Summary with Objectives: This project will develop a lasting videography collection of Stories of Hope featuring coma patient and family dyads. The videos will be distributed via a sustainable electronic platform, such as YouTube, to maximize accessibility and impact for patients, families and the broader neurocritical care community.
Estimated Completion Timeline: 18 months
Coma Research Common Data Elements (CDE) REDCap Database
Requested Funds: $60,000
Project Summary with Objectives: This project will translate all case report forms (CRFs) from the Coma and Disorders of Consciousness (DoC) Common Data Elements (CDEs) into a REDCap database. The database will be freely downloadable and available for use by researchers worldwide, promoting standardized data collection and advancing global neurocritical care research.
Estimated Completion Timeline: 6 months
NCRC
INCLINE Grant
Requested Funds: $100,000
Project Summary with Objectives: This 1-year research grant provides support for members at all career stages to foster innovative, collaborative, multi-center research. The grant aims to advance clinical or translational strategies that improve patient outcomes in neurocritical care.
Fellowship Grant
Requested Funds: $100,000
Project Summary with Objectives: This 1-year research training fellowship provides early career support for physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, scientists and other professionals involved in neurocritical care. The fellowship aims to build research skills and foster the next generation of investigators in neurocritical care.
NCRC Research Network Proposal (Non-Coma Related Research)
Requested Funds: $100,000
Project Summary with Objectives: This project will fund one researcher within the consortium to develop and populate a non-coma-related database (e.g., REDCap). Support will also cover a project manager to coordinate data entry and necessary regulatory costs associated with data sharing and management.
HEARD Center
HEARD Research Grant
Requested Funds: $100,000 annually
The HEARD Research Grant provides early-stage or pilot funding for clinicians and researchers conducting neurocritical care–focused research. Early funding enables investigators to generate preliminary data, remain engaged in research, compete successfully for larger grants and influence both research agendas and clinical practice. By supporting early projects, the grant helps shape long-term competitiveness, visibility and impact in academic medicine. Funding supports studies addressing priority research questions and the development of preliminary datasets.
Community Engagement and Partnerships
When clinicians in rural and low-resource settings are provided with practical tools, decision-support resources and connections to tertiary neurocritical care centers,
neurological emergencies can be recognized earlier, stabilized more effectively and escalated appropriately. Clear protocols and trusted relationships reduce hesitation, miscommunication and delays — ensuring timely, life-saving care when every minute counts.
OTHER
Design Your Impact
If you are passionate about a neurocritical care condition (e.g., intracerebral hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury), a patient population (e.g., underserved communities) or a particular clinician or investigator, we want your donation to support the research that matters most to you. If you don’t see the perfect project in this Prospectus, let us know — we’ll work with you to create a project that aligns with your goals and commitment to advancing neurocritical care.