Funding Opportunities

NIH Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Validation of Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Tools for Improved Assessment in Biomedical and Behavioral Research

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-CA-24-031.html

Purpose:

The purpose of this Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) is to encourage grant applications to support the evaluation of the utility and validity of digital health and artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) tools and technologies in biomedical and behavioral research. The intent is to support the addition of new measurement modalities to evaluate existing and recently developed but not yet validated digital health and AI tools such as sensor technologies, smartphone applications, software as a medical device (SaMD), and AI/ML algorithms.

Research Objectives:

Research supported by this NOSI is expected to provide support for analytical and/or clinical validation of recently developed digital health and AI/ML technologies. Digital health and AI/ML technologies are defined broadly to include any health technology leveraging mobile health, health information technology, wearable devices, sensors, telehealth and telemedicine, internet of things (IoT), SaMD and/or related AI/ML algorithms and tools to monitor and manage health across the life course. As noted previously, the purpose of this NOSI is not to support the development of new tools or technologies.

Applicants should clearly justify the importance and implications of validating digital health and AI/ML tools and technologies. Studies should apply rigorous research methods to evaluate the analytical and/or clinical validity of any proposed digital health and AI/ML applications including the use of gold-standard comparators. Projects that validate digital health or AI/ML tools for a new context of use, including another disease area or specific populations (e.g., low income, minority group), and research projects that evaluate the reliability of the tool and its sensitivity are encouraged.

Studies proposing secondary analysis should address the sufficiency of existing datasets to validate technologies and deepen the evidence base of digital health and AI/ML applications while also addressing potential bias, including plans for risk mitigation that ensure safety, privacy, and effectiveness among diverse individuals and populations.  For Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulated devices, activities included under this notice should follow FDA guidance and support appropriate activities leading to a future marketing submission to the FDA.

Investigators must carefully review the specific research interests of NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) that are participating in this NOSI.

NSF Dear Colleague Letter: Funding Opportunities for Science and Engineering Research with Impact on Women's Health

https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2024/nsf24068/nsf24068.jsp?WT.mc_ev=click&WT.mc_id=&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery 

With this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), in response to the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) encourages the submission of research and education proposals related to women's health. Despite making up more than half of the population, women are historically understudied and underrepresented in health research. The historical exclusion of women from scientific and biomedical research studies, combined with the undervaluation of research that advances knowledge on conditions that uniquely, differentially, or disproportionately affect women, has resulted in significant knowledge and health gaps. Addressing these research gaps will ultimately advance the health, prosperity, and welfare of all.

NSF continues to support fundamental science and engineering research with implications for women's health. This DCL reaffirms NSF's commitment to fund discovery, innovation, and research translation on topics of relevance to women's health, from the molecular to the ecosystem level, including input from the full range of science, engineering, and education that NSF supports. Pioneering the next generation of discoveries in women's health will require a sustained effort focusing on the socioeconomic impact of women's health, breaking down disciplinary boundaries in carrying out the necessary research to advance understanding of relevant questions, and building a diverse STEM workforce committed to advancing women's health and the health of a citizens.

Please view the DCL NSF 24-068 for a list of potential topics related to women’s health.

NIH Notice of Special Interest: Women’s Health Research

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-24-079.html

In alignment with the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is issuing this Notice of Special Interest to highlight interest in receiving research applications focused on diseases and health conditions that predominantly affect women (e.g., autoimmune diseases; depressive disorders, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD), gender-based-violence), present and progress differently in women (e.g., cardiovascular disease; HIV; reproductive aging and its implications), or are female-specific (e.g., uterine fibroids; endometriosis; menopause).

For consideration under this NOSI, applications must have a central focus on the health of women, as demonstrated through specific aims that EITHER explicitly address a particular condition in women OR focus on one of the high priority topics below. In either approach, intersectional and/or multidimensional approaches that consider the health of women in context (e.g., projects accounting for social and structural variables—including race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status , and State and Federal policies— that affect women’s health) are strongly encouraged. For consideration under this NOSI, projects are not required to exclusively focus on women. However, studies that include more than one sex or gender should be designed and powered to make generalizable conclusions about women and enable sex or gender difference comparison.

Please view the NOSI NOT-OD-24-079 for a list of participating ICs and potential topics of interest.

NIH Novel Approaches to Support Therapeutic Development in Ultra-Rare Cancers (U01)

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-FD-24-038.html

Funding Opportunity Purpose:

The purpose of this NOFO is to encourage new approaches to support therapeutic development in ultra-rare pediatric and adult cancers, including molecularly-defined subsets of more common cancers. The purpose of this NOFO is to fund research to develop approaches to support drug development in ultra-rare pediatric and adult cancers, including molecularly-defined subsets of more common cancers. The NOFO focuses on supporting studies to improve therapeutic development in ultra-rare cancers with high unmet medical need where there is little economic incentive for commercial entities to conduct the research.

The primary focus of this NOFO is to support research that incorporates new approaches that could be either be applied to facilitate the development of new drugs for the treatment of ultra-rare cancers in general, or one or more specific ultra-rare cancers, including but not necessarily limited to the examples below.

1. Studies to investigate the natural history of ultra-rare cancers. This work could involve analyses of registries and/or other real world data sources
2. Innovative approaches to identify new biologically-driven opportunities for clinical development of previously approved drugs or biologics (hereafter referred to as drugs), including drugs for which development has been discontinued, in ultra-rare cancers.
3. Research to exhaustively characterize the plasma-membrane protein expression (surfaceome) of an ultra-rare cancer and the presumed healthy tissue of origin, as well as the resident-tissue stem cells, by single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics. These studies, and available correlative database analyses, should be designed to identify possible combinatorial signatures of plasma membrane proteins unique to the ultra-rare tumor
4. Research to develop novel approaches to preserve the availability of drugs for which commercial developers have discontinued adult development that have strong potential in ultra-rare cancers but lack financial incentives for commercial development

Direct funding of interventional trials is outside the scope of this NOFO. In addition, studies with a primary goal of developing a specific therapeutic product will not be supported.

Application Deadline: April 5, 2024

Dear College Letter: Funding Opportunities for Engineering Research in Artificial Intelligence

NSF 24-039

Program Synopsis: 

With this Dear Colleague Letter, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering (ENG) encourages the submission of research and education proposals related to Artificial Intelligence as an Emerging Industry. Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly and is increasingly demonstrating its potential to significantly transform our lives. NSF and the Engineering Directorate have a long and rich history of supporting AI research, setting the stage for today’s widespread use of AI technologies in a range of sectors, from commerce to healthcare to transportation. NSF’s AI portfolio spans AI theory, algorithms, robotics, human-AI interaction, and advanced cyberinfrastructure for AI, as well as use-inspired research in neuroscience, design and performance of engineered civil infrastructure systems, electric power grid, intelligent integrated manufacturing systems, intelligent transportation, robotics, and many other areas.

Deadline: For consideration during fiscal year 2024, proposals to programs without deadlines should be submitted by April 30, 2024; proposals submitted later will be considered for fiscal year 2025.

Dear Colleague Letter: Funding Opportunities for Engineering Research in Biotechnology

NSF 24-040

Synopsis of Program: 

With this Dear Colleague Letter, the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering (ENG) encourages the submission of research and education proposals related to Biotechnology as an Emerging Industry. The U.S. is a world leader in biotechnology, a field that comprises the data, tools, research infrastructure, workforce capacity, and innovations that enable the discovery, utilization, and reprogramming of living organisms, their constituent components, and their biologically related processes. Advances supported by NSF and the Engineering Directorate include genome sequencing, editing, and synthesis; synthetic and engineered biology; imaging and biosensing; and tissue engineering and biomanufacturing. These capabilities also provide solutions to societal challenges, such as climate change and infectious disease, and provide the foundational and use-inspired research that will lead to the creation of goods and services that contribute to agriculture, health, security, manufacturing, energy, and environmental needs of the nation.

Deadline: For consideration during fiscal year 2024, proposals to programs without deadlines should be submitted by April 30, 2024; proposals submitted later will be considered for fiscal year 2025.

a2Pilot Awards

https://www.a2collective.ai/pilotawards?is=6591d298a09e0ae892cedb0c

Funding purpose:

To improve the health and quality of life for older adults, including those with dementia and their caregivers. Each year, research collaboratories at Johns Hopkins (JH AITC), UMass Amherst (MassAITC), and UPenn (PennAITech) provide zero equity funding of up to $200k to 25+ academics/startups for 12-month pilot projects. These projects focus on the development, adaptation, and feasibility testing of novel AI-driven technologies in clinical and real-world settings.

Application deadline: April 30, 2024

ACED: Accelerating Computing-Enabled Scientific Discovery (ACED)

https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/aced-accelerating-computing-enabled-scientific?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Synopsis

The ACED program seeks to harness computing to accelerate scientific discovery, while driving new computing advancements. The intent is to catalyze advancements on both sides of a virtuous cycle that: (a) benefit scientific disciplines through computational technologies and (b) foster novel computing technologies that will enable advances beyond the specific use cases or domains originally targeted. The program seeks continuous collaborations between at least two groups of researchers. One group is expected to consist of researchers in computing, which, for the purposes of this solicitation are those disciplines that are supported by the Core Programs of National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) directorate. The other group of researchers are expected to represent another scientific or engineering discipline, which, for the purposes of this solicitation, are defined as those supported within existing programs of the following NSF directorates: Biological Sciences, Engineering, or Mathematical and Physical Sciences.

The ACED program solicits proposals in two tracks: 

Track I: Emerging Ideas Proposals: This track is intended to support speculative multidisciplinary projects that explore bold new research directions. The goal of these projects should be to obtain preliminary results, refine the overall research plan based on these results, and garner insights into whether these advances generalize beyond the targeted use case or domain. Projects are limited to $500,000 in total budget, with durations of up to 18-24 months. Proposals accepted in 2024 Deadline Date.

Track II: Discovery Proposals: The objective of this track is to support transformative interdisciplinary research that will significantly advance both computing and the scientific discipline(s) to be studied. Proposals should clearly identify the scientific problem(s) to be addressed; the specific computing techniques to be developed; and be supported by preliminary collaborations and/or results that demonstrate the potential of the proposed ideas. Projects are limited to $750,000 per year for a duration of up to 4 years for a total budget of up to $3,000,000.  Proposals accepted in 2025-2026 Deadline Dates.

Application Deadlines: May 13, 2024 (Track I only); January 14, 2025 (Track II only)

NIH Use of Digital Health Technologies in Clinical Investigations to Support Drug and Biological Product Development (U01) Clinical Trials Optional

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-FD-24-037.html

Funding purpose:

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to address topics related to the use of digital health technologies (DHTs) for remote data acquisition in clinical investigations to support drug development.

Application deadline: May 20, 2024

NIH Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01)

PAR-24-075 (no clinical trial)

PAR-24-076 (with human subjects)

Purpose:  

The Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant supports an innovative project that represents a change in research direction for an early stage investigator (ESI) and for which no preliminary data exist. Applications submitted to this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) must not include preliminary data. Applications must include a separate attachment describing the change in research direction. The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions.

Deadlines: May 29, Sept 26

NIH Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) Award (R16 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-24-144.html

Funding Opportunity Purpose:

The SuRE program supports research capacity building at eligible higher education institutions by funding investigator-initiated biomedical research in basic, social, clinical, behavioral, or translational science that falls in the mission areas of the NIH. 

The purpose of SuRE awards is to provide research grant support for faculty investigators at resource-limited institutions who are not currently funded by any NIH Research Project Grants (RPGs) with the exception of SuRE or SuRE-First awards, to furnish students with high-quality undergraduate and/or graduate research experiences and to enhance the institutional scientific research culture.  

This NOFO requires a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP), which will be assessed as part of the scientific and technical peer review evaluation.  Applications that fail to include a PEDP will be considered incomplete and will be withdrawn. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the NOFO instructions carefully and view the available PEDP guidance material.

Application Deadline: May 29, 2024 and September 27, 2024

NIH Support for Research Excellence - First Independent Research (SuRE-First) Award (R16 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-24-145.html

Funding Opportunity Purpose:

The SuRE program supports research capacity building at eligible higher education institutions through funding investigator-initiated biomedical research in basic, social, clinical, behavioral, or translational science that falls in the mission areas of the NIH. 

The purpose of SuRE-First awards is to provide research grant support for faculty investigators who have not had prior independent external research grants, to furnish students with high-quality undergraduate and/or graduate research experiences and to enhance the institutional scientific research culture.

This NOFO requires a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP), which will be assessed as part of the scientific and technical peer review evaluation. Applications that fail to include a PEDP will be considered incomplete and will be withdrawn. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the NOFO instructions carefully and view the available PEDP guidance material.

Application Deadline: May 29, 2024 and September 27, 2024

AHRQ Health Services Research Projects (R01)

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-24-154.html

Funding Opportunity Purpose:

The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to seek health services research grant applications focused on AHRQ research priorities, including improving healthcare quality and patient safety, improving healthcare delivery and practice improvement, and enhancing whole-person healthcare delivery. AHRQ supports research in all healthcare settings, including the hospital, long-term care, ambulatory care, home healthcare, pharmacy, and care transitions between settings. Research may involve many partners and other groups, including patients, families, clinicians, non-clinical healthcare staff, policymakers, payers, healthcare organizations, providers and accreditors, local and State governments, the Federal Government, and others. 

Application Deadline: June 5, 2024

NIH Leveraging Data at Scale to Understand Natural Product Impacts on Whole Person Health (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-AT-24-008.html

Funding purpose:

This notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) will support development, adaptation, and/or applications of computational tools to aggregate and analyze orthogonal chemical and/or biological data sets related to natural products with the aim of generating novel testable hypotheses regarding their biological activity and role in the context of whole person health research.  Projects must leverage and merge multiple compatible or interoperable sources and/or types of data.  Use of artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches is encouraged. This NOFO is part of the Consortium Advancing Research on Botanicals and Other Natural Products (CARBON) Program. Other components of this Program include the Botanical Dietary Supplements Translational Research Teams (RM1) and RFA-AT-24-007 Limited Competition: Research Resource for Natural Product Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Data (R24).

Letter of Intent deadline (not required): May 28, 2024

Application deadline: June 28, 2024

NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)

https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/faculty-early-career-development-program-career?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Synopsis of Program:

CAREER: The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.

Program Description:

This premier program emphasizes the importance the Foundation places on the early development of academic careers dedicated to stimulating the discovery process in which the excitement of research is enhanced by inspired teaching, enthusiastic learning, and disseminating new knowledge. Effective integration of research and education generates a synergy in which the process of discovery stimulates learning, and assures that the findings and methods of research and education are quickly and effectively communicated in a broader context and to a large audience. The CAREER program embodies NSF’s commitment to encourage faculty and academic institutions to value and support the integration of research and education. Successful Principal Investigators will propose creative, effective research and education plans, developed within the context of the mission, goals, and resources of their organizations, while building a firm foundation for a lifetime of contributions to research, education, and their integration. 

Integration of Research and Education - All CAREER proposals should describe an integrated path that will lead to a successful career as an outstanding researcher and educator. NSF recognizes that there is no single approach to an integrated research and education plan, but encourages all applicants to think creatively about the reciprocal relationship between the proposed research and education activities and how they may inform each other in their career development as both outstanding researchers and educators. These plans should reflect the proposer's own disciplinary and educational interests and goals, as well as the needs and context of his or her organization. Because there may be different expectations within different disciplinary fields and/or different organizations, a wide range of research and education activities may be appropriate for the CAREER program. In addition, NSF recognizes that some investigators, given their individual disciplinary and career interests, may wish to pursue an additional activity such as entrepreneurship, industry partnerships, or policy that enhances their research and education plans. Proposers are encouraged to communicate with the CAREER contact or cognizant Program Officer in the Division closest to their area of research to discuss the expectations and approaches that are most appropriate for that area (see https://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/career/contacts.jsp for a list of CAREER contacts by division).

Application Deadline: July 24, 2024

NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program (DP2 Clinical Trial Optional)

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-24-003.html

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program supports early stage investigators of exceptional creativity who propose bold and highly innovative research projects with the potential to produce a major impact on broad, important areas relevant to the mission of NIH. For the program to support the best possible researchers and research, applications are sought which reflect the full diversity of the research workforce. To support innovative and novel research across the vast NIH mission, individuals from diverse backgrounds (including those from underrepresented groups; see Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity) and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are encouraged to apply to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome, including, but not limited to, behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. The NIH Director's New Innovator Award Program complements other ongoing efforts by NIH and its Institutes and Centers to fund early stage investigators. The NIH Director’s New Innovator Award Program is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund.

Application Deadline: August 19, 2024

*This award is for early-stage investigators only

NIH Director’s Transformative Research Awards (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-24-004.html

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award supports individual scientists or groups of scientists proposing bold, groundbreaking, exceptionally innovative, original, and/or unconventional research with the potential to create new scientific paradigms, establish entirely new and improved clinical approaches, or develop transformative technologies. To support innovative and novel research across the vast NIH mission, individuals from diverse backgrounds (including those from underrepresented groups; see Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity) and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are encouraged to apply to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome in all topic areas relevant to the broad mission of NIH, including, but not limited to, behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. No preliminary data are required. Projects must clearly demonstrate, based on the strength of the logic, a compelling potential to produce a major impact in a broad area of relevance to the NIH. The NIH Director’s Transformative Research Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund.

Application Deadline: September 3, 2024

NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Program (DP1 Clinical Trial Optional)

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-RM-24-002.html 

Funding Opportunity Purpose

The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award Program supports individual scientists of exceptional creativity who propose bold and highly innovative research projects with the potential to produce a major impact on broad, important areas relevant to the mission of NIH. To be considered pioneering, the proposed research must reflect substantially different scientific directions from those already being pursued in the investigator’s research program or elsewhere. To support innovative and novel research across the vast NIH mission, individuals from diverse backgrounds (including those from underrepresented groups; see Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity) and from the full spectrum of eligible institutions in all geographic locations are encouraged to apply. Applications in all topics relevant to the broad mission of NIH are welcome, including, but not limited to, topics in the behavioral, social, biomedical, applied, and formal sciences and topics that may involve basic, translational, or clinical research. The NIH Director’s Pioneer Award is a component of the High-Risk, High-Reward Research (HRHR) Program of the NIH Common Fund.

Application Deadline: September 9, 2024

A Science of Science Approach to Analyzing and Innovating the Biomedical Research Enterprise (SoS:BIO)

https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2023/nsf23569/nsf23569.pdf

Program Description:

Science of Science Approach to Analyzing and Innovating the Biomedical Research Enterprise (SoS:BIO) is a joint program between the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Science of Science: Discovery, Communication, and Impact Program (SoS:DCI) of the National Science Foundation (NSF). SoS:BIO supports research that advances the scientific basis of science and innovation policy, with a focus on the biomedical sciences. Consistent with the SoS:DCI program, SoS:BIO will fund the development of models, analytical tools, data and metrics that can inform science policy and the development of the scientific enterprise. SoS:BIO welcomes individual and collaborative research projects and places a high priority on interdisciplinary research and on broadening participation.

Application Deadline: September 9, 2024, February 10, 2025

NSF Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI): Biocomputing through Engineering Organoid Intelligence

https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/emerging-frontiers-research-innovation-efri?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdeliver

Synopsis of Program:

The Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) program of the NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG) serves a critical role in helping ENG focus on important emerging areas in a timely manner. The EFRI Biocomputing through EnGINeering Organoid Intelligence (BEGIN OI) solicitation supports foundational and transformative research to advance the design, engineering, and fabrication of organoid systems that are capable of processing information dynamically while interfacing with non-living systems.

This solicitation will be coordinated with the Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO), the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE).

The EFRI program seeks proposals with potentially transformative ideas that represent an opportunity for a significant shift in fundamental engineering knowledge with strong potential for long term impact on national needs or a grand challenge. The proposals must also meet the detailed requirements delineated in this solicitation.

Letter of Intent Deadline: Sept 12, 2024

Application Deadline: Dec 12, 2024

Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant (R01)

PAR-24-075 (no clinical trial)

PAR-24-076 (with human subjects)

Purpose:  

The Stephen I. Katz Early Stage Investigator Research Project Grant supports an innovative project that represents a change in research direction for an early stage investigator (ESI) and for which no preliminary data exist. Applications submitted to this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) must not include preliminary data. Applications must include a separate attachment describing the change in research direction. The proposed project must be related to the programmatic interests of one or more of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) based on their scientific missions.

Deadline: Sept 26, 2024

Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators (ESI) - R35

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-23-145.html

Purpose:

The NIGMS Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) provides support for the NIGMS-relevant program of research in an investigator's laboratory. For this NOFO, the "program of research" is defined as a collection of projects in an investigator's laboratory that are within the mission of NIGMS. This NOFO allows applications from eligible Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) who are NIH-defined Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) at the time of submission.

Overview of ESI MIRA:

An NIGMS ESI MIRA is intended to provide support for the NIGMS-related research program in an ESI's laboratory. NIGMS supports research on basic biological processes as well as translational and clinical research in certain areas. In addition to research designed to answer scientific questions and generate new ideas and hypotheses, the development of technology and computational approaches are supported. Within the scope of the MIRA, investigators will have the freedom to explore new avenues of inquiry that arise during the course of their research, as long as they remain within the mission of NIGMS. 

Research involving human subjects is permitted in the MIRA program. Clinical research must be completely within the context of the NIGMS clinical areas (anesthesiology, perioperative pain, clinical pharmacology, sepsis, injury and critical illness, wound healing, innate immunity and inflammation). Clinical research that involves recruitment of human subjects at more than one site, or the substantial financial support of multiple collaborators and subcontractors, is not allowed, because these fixed commitments are not consistent with the highly flexible nature of the MIRA program. Mechanistic clinical trials are permitted in MIRA when the mechanistic study is an essential part of the research program. Clinical trials that are designed to test safety and efficacy of interventions (Phase I, Phase II, Phase III) for the purpose of future clinical treatment and/or regulatory approval are not permitted in MIRA. Studies that propose clinical dissemination and implementation research, comparative effectiveness research, and/or pragmatic clinical trials are also not permitted.

MIRA may not be the best mechanism to support all kinds of research, even though the research may be within the NIGMS mission. Because the MIRA is expected to provide support for the research program of an independent investigator’s laboratory, PDs/PIs may find other grant programs better suited to research requiring financial support of collaborators and subcontractors.

Because the MIRA is intended to support a significant and ambitious program of research, the PD/PI is required to devote at least 51% of their total research effort to this award. See Section III.1 Eligible Individuals for more information about this requirement.

Application Deadlines: Oct 3, 2024

Designing Synthetic Cells Beyond the Bounds of Evolution (Designer Cells)

NSF 24-505

Synopsis of Program:

Because of recent technological advances in synthetic biology and bioengineering, researchers are now able to tailor cells and cell-like systems for a variety of basic and applied research purposes. The goal of this solicitation is to support research that (1) develops cell-like systems to identify the minimal requirements for the processes of life, (2) designs synthetically-modified cells to address fundamental questions in the evolution of life or to explore biological diversity beyond that which currently exists in nature, and (3) leverages basic research in cell design to build novel synthetic cell-like systems and cells for innovative biotechnology applications.

Highest funding priority is given to proposals that have outstanding intellectual merit and broader impacts, while proposals with weaknesses in either category (or those that are perceived as likely to have an incremental impact) will not be competitive. Proposals submitted to this solicitation should address social, ethical, and safety issues associated with designing and building synthetically modified cells as an integrated component of the project.

Application Deadline: Feb 1, 2026

Research on Diet-Related Health Data Access Awards

https://www.rwjf.org/en/grants/active-funding-opportunities/2024/research-on-diet-related-health-data-access-awards.html

Program Description:

RWJF, in collaboration with Komodo Health and Mathematica, has launched the Diet-Related Health (DRH) Research Program that will fund innovative studies to explore the impact of diet-related diseases across the country. DRH will provide eight grantees free access to Komodo’s Healthcare Map, which captures real-world patient data. The data will allow researchers to explore the impact of diet on health, improve treatment, and reduce barriers to treatment.

Application Deadline: Feb 21, 2024

RWJF is holding a webinar on Jan 22 from 1-2 pm to provide more information on the program and the data that will be available to awardees. You can register for the webinar here.

The Hannah H Gray Fellows Program from Howard Hughes Medical Institute

https://www.hhmi.org/programs/hanna-h-gray-fellows

Program Description:

The Hanna H. Gray Fellows program seeks to increase diversity in the professoriate by supporting early career researchers who show exceptional promise of becoming academic scientists, which includes the potential to build and contribute to an equitable and inclusive scientific culture. The program targets early career scientists who have fewer than 24 months of postdoctoral research experience by the application due date (2/28/24) with up to $1.5M in funding. For more information, please contact Katie Mackey in RIT Foundation Relations.

Application Deadline: February 28, 2024

NIH U01 Transformative Research to Address Health Disparities and Advance Health Equity

https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-NR-24-004.html

Program Description:

The Transformative Research to Address Health Disparities and Advance Health Equity initiative is soliciting applications to support unusually innovative intervention research addressing social determinants of health (SDOH) which, if successful, would have a major impact on preventing, reducing, or eliminating health disparities and advancing health equity. Projects should clearly demonstrate, based on the strength of the logic, a compelling potential to produce a major impact on advancing NIH’s commitment to addressing SDOH to accelerate progress in improving health for all. Preliminary data are not required for this initiative.

This NOFO requires a Plan for Enhancing Diverse Perspectives (PEDP), which will be assessed as part of the scientific and technical peer review evaluation. Applications that fail to include a PEDP will be considered incomplete and will be withdrawn.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the NOFO instructions carefully and view the available PEDP guidance material.

Application Deadline: March 22, 2024
Letter of Intent Deadline (encouraged, but not required): February 22, 2024