![](\"https:\/\/mms.businesswire.com\/media\/20260701500443\/en\/2843442\/5\/FNIH_Logo_%281%29.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/a><\/a>\n\u201cMusic, rhythm and movement have powerful psychological and emotional resonance for people,\u201d said Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH, President and CEO of FNIH. \u201cThis program will deepen the scientific understanding of how music and music therapy can affect the brain and be leveraged to improve patient care.\u201d<\/p>
\nThe research grants will fund scientists with innovative proposals in the following areas:<\/p>
- \n
- \nBasic research to explore the underlying biological or neurological mechanisms through which music influences human health and well-being<\/li>\n
- \nClinical research to investigate how to develop, test, optimize or personalize music or music-based interventions to improve health, cognitive function, mental health and quality of life<\/li>\n
- \nResearch examining strategies to integrate, scale and make accessible music-based interventions within healthcare and community settings<\/li>\n<\/ul>
\n\u201cEmerging research continues to demonstrate that music can meaningfully improve the lives of people living with Parkinson\u2019s disease, Alzheimer\u2019s disease and other conditions that affect memory, movement and emotional well-being,\u201d said Assal Habibi, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Southern California and chair of the Music as Medicine Scientific Selection Committee. \u201cThese grants will help advance an exciting new generation of interdisciplinary researchers working at the intersection of music, neuroscience and medicine.\u201d<\/p>
\nThe initiative was established in collaboration with Ren\u00e9e Fleming<\/a>, acclaimed soprano and arts advocate; Mickey Hart<\/a>; and Jim Weiss<\/a>, founder of Real Chemistry and member of the FNIH Board of Directors. Additional support has been provided by Paul Sekhri<\/a>, biotech CEO and investor. Music as Medicine builds on work commenced by the former Sound Health partnership, which included the National Institutes of Health, the National Endowment for the Arts, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Ren\u00e9e Fleming Foundation and FNIH.<\/p>
\nThe Music as Medicine Neuroscience Research Initiative is the latest addition to a growing FNIH neuroscience portfolio, including the Deeda Blair Research Initiative for Disorders of the Brain; the Accelerating Medicines Partnerships\u00ae for Alzheimer\u2019s disease, Parkinson\u2019s disease, schizophrenia, and ALS; Biomarkers Consortium projects focused on Alzheimer\u2019s and frontotemporal degeneration; and an upcoming project on major depressive disorder.<\/p>
\nNominations open today and will be accepted through Friday, July 31, 2026, at 5 p.m. EDT. The scientific committee chaired by Dr. Habibi will review applications and select grant recipients in late fall. Learn more about the program, including how to submit nominations and donate to support, at fnih.org\/musicnomination<\/a> and listen to a conversation<\/a> with Ren\u00e9e Fleming and Jim Weiss about the program.<\/p>
\nAbout the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health\n