NLM Research Grants in Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Library of Medicine (NLM), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the Department of Health and Human Services, offers the NLM Research Grants in Biomedical Informatics and Data Science (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) funding opportunity. This program supports innovative, high-impact research projects aimed at advancing biomedical informatics and data science. NLM’s mission emphasizes data-powered health and biomedical discovery by integrating complex research outputs into clinical care, public health, and personal wellness strategies. The scope includes both domain-specific and generalizable, scalable approaches to health-related digital data curation, analysis, and management. This funding opportunity is part of NIH’s broader commitment to the development of scientific and technological innovations in data science and biomedical informatics. NLM encourages applications that foster research in data-driven discovery, focusing on improving health outcomes and decision-making. Research topics may include novel computational approaches for integrating diverse data sources, natural language processing of electronic health records, high-performance cloud computing applications, and scalable analytic models. Projects must propose reusable and reproducible methods and tools aligned with the FAIR data principles and NLM’s strategic goals. The grant offers support for applications that propose or do not propose clinical trials. Projects can include small, early-stage, or Phase I clinical trials as part of evaluation components. Applications must be scientifically rigorous, innovative, and include thorough plans for data management, resource sharing, and reproducibility. Software and tools developed through the grant should be openly disseminated and maintainable beyond the funding period. Applications are expected to demonstrate a multidisciplinary team approach when appropriate and address potential biases in algorithmic methods, particularly for underserved populations. Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S. and foreign organizations, such as higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profits, governments, tribal entities, and other groups. Foreign organizations and components of U.S. institutions are also eligible. Required registrations include SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov, with unique entity identifiers necessary for submission. Applications that exceed the $250,000 annual direct cost limit or the four-year project period maximum will be deemed non-responsive. Applications are accepted on a recurring basis with standard NIH submission deadlines. The earliest submission date is December 5, 2024, and the next application due dates are February 5, 2025, June 5, 2025, and October 5, 2025. Review and award cycles follow each due date, with anticipated start dates occurring approximately four months post-advisory council review. The final expiration date for this funding opportunity is March 6, 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the listed scientific or grants management officers for guidance. Key contacts include Dr. Catherine Farrell for data science inquiries, Dr. Sung Sug Yoon and Dr. Goutham Reddy for clinical informatics, and Dr. Yanli Wang and Dr. Clayton Bingham for broader data science support. Applications must adhere strictly to NIH policies and submission guidelines, including comprehensive review criteria that emphasize significance, innovation, rigor, feasibility, and the qualifications of the research team and environment.