PRIMED-AI: Academic-Industrial Partnerships (UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Optional)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is preparing to release a new funding opportunity titled “PRIMED-AI: Academic-Industrial Partnerships,” which will support the development of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) tools that integrate clinical imaging with multimodal health data. This initiative is part of the broader NIH Common Fund’s PRIMED-AI program, which focuses on enhancing personalized medicine for individuals with chronic and complex health conditions. This funding opportunity, listed under Forecast Number RFA-RM-26-012, will use the UG3/UH3 cooperative agreement mechanism and is currently in the forecasted stage, with applications expected to open in April 2026 and close in June 2026. The primary objective of the PRIMED-AI program is to foster academic-industrial partnerships (AIP) that leverage the complementary strengths of research institutions and private sector entities. The first phase of the program (UG3) will concentrate on developing systems for data integration and interoperability. Successful applicants will then progress to the second phase (UH3), which will support further development and rigorous performance testing of AI algorithms. These AI tools should be capable of synthesizing data from various sources—particularly clinical imaging and electronic health records—to improve diagnosis, treatment selection, and patient outcomes. Funding for this opportunity will be structured as a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial programmatic involvement from NIH staff. The total expected program funding is $2.9 million, although specific award ceilings and floors are not disclosed at this time. Importantly, there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for applicants, which may make the program more accessible to a diverse range of institutions and partners. Eligible applicants include a broad spectrum of entities such as for-profit organizations, small businesses, state and local governments, Native American tribal organizations and governments, public housing authorities, school districts, and both public and private institutions of higher education. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) are also eligible. This inclusive eligibility framework supports NIH’s goal of fostering collaborative, multidisciplinary research that bridges academic and industrial domains. Although the formal application process has not yet begun, NIH has issued this early notice to allow potential applicants sufficient time to build strategic partnerships and prepare competitive proposals. Applicants are encouraged to begin planning and forming collaborative teams now, especially if they bring together expertise in academic-industrial collaboration and in the development of AI tools using complex medical data. NIH will provide additional guidance when the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is published, including specific submission requirements and evaluation criteria. Key contacts for this opportunity include Dr. Sahana N. Kukke, who can be reached at 301-402-3756 or via email at [email protected]. The application window is estimated to open on April 17, 2026, with a closing date of June 17, 2026. Awards are expected to be announced by March 1, 2027, which will also mark the project start date. This initiative is funded for Fiscal Year 2027. While there is no recurring cycle explicitly mentioned in the opportunity description, the strategic importance and scope of the program suggest a high level of NIH interest in sustaining innovation in AI-enhanced precision medicine.