PRIMED-AI: Multi-use Framework Playbooks (UG3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through its Common Fund in collaboration with other NIH Institutes and Centers, has announced its intention to publish a future Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the PRIMED-AI program. This forecasted initiative is titled “PRIMED-AI: Multi-use Framework Playbooks (UG3 Clinical Trial Not Allowed).” The PRIMED-AI program seeks to support the development of artificial intelligence tools that integrate clinical imaging with multimodal health data to advance precision medicine. The program is designed to produce innovative, reliable, and cost-effective AI-based technologies to improve outcomes for patients with chronic and other health conditions. The focus of the funding initiative is on creating structured playbooks that guide the responsible use of PRIMED-AI models. These playbooks are expected to cover areas such as error mitigation, technical data management, ontology and linkage development, and preparation for regulatory approval, including FDA pathways. The UG3 cooperative agreement activity code will be used, which means applicants will collaborate closely with NIH staff during the project’s development and implementation stages. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad, encompassing state, county, and tribal governments, housing authorities, independent school districts, nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, for-profit organizations including small businesses, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. This wide eligibility pool is intended to encourage diverse expertise and collaboration in tackling the challenges of integrating clinical imaging with other complex and multiscale data sources. Applications from investigators with relevant expertise in multimodal AI integration and harmonization processes are strongly encouraged. The forecast provides a clear timeline for prospective applicants to begin preparing. The estimated posting date for the NOFO is December 11, 2025. Applications are expected to be due on February 11, 2026, with award notifications projected for December 1, 2026. The funded projects are anticipated to begin on the same date. This advance notice allows organizations and institutions to develop partnerships, align research strategies, and prepare competitive proposals in anticipation of the formal solicitation. The total estimated program funding is $650,000, though no specific ceiling or floor amounts for individual awards have been provided in the forecast. The number of anticipated awards has also not been disclosed, and applicants are advised that these details may become available when the final NOFO is published. Cost sharing or matching is not required for this program. As the program is categorized under health, the focus remains squarely on leveraging AI to advance patient-centered healthcare solutions. Potential applicants seeking further details may contact Sahana N. Kukke, PhD, at the NIH Office of the Director/NIH Common Fund, DPCPSI, OD. Contact is available via phone at 301-402-3756 or email at ODPRIMED-AI@od.nih.gov. Since this is a forecasted opportunity, no applications are currently being accepted. The NIH advises interested parties to use this time to establish collaborations and prepare strategies for responsive applications once the NOFO is formally posted.