Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort Data and Biospecimen Access (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers seeking access to Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) cohort data and biospecimens for secondary data analysis and research purposes. Eligible applicants are NIH-eligible institutions (universities, research centers, hospitals, and nonprofit organizations) with qualified principal investigators. Applications must propose research using existing ECHO data and biospecimens—no primary data collection or clinical trials are permitted. The program supports investigators across all career stages and disciplines who wish to leverage this large, prospectively-collected multi-site pediatric environmental health cohort. Geographic scope is nationwide, and applicants must comply with NIH regulatory requirements and Data Use Agreements.
Program description
The purpose of this Program Announcement with Special Receipt, Referral, and/or Review Considerations (PAR) is to solicit applications to access limited identifiable data or biospecimens from the ECHO Cohort to study high-priority areas of maternal and child health.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Community Health Center
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) and SF-424 (R&R) Cover Page Supplement
- Project Narrative/Research Plan (typically 6-15 pages)
- Budget and Budget Justification (with justification for data analysis costs)
- Biographical Sketch(es) for PI and key personnel
- Data Use Agreement (or confirmation of ECHO Data Coordination Center approval)
- Institutional support letter or commitment
- Protection of Human Subjects documentation (if applicable)
- Resource sharing plans (data management and sharing)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.310 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$973,507,476
-
$383,462,829
-
$190,396,050
-
$179,743,190
-
$169,422,678
-
$167,922,818
-
$143,679,156
-
$134,358,531
-
$115,739,255
-
$91,722,927
Top States by Funding
- NC 5 awards $1,419.6M
- WA 1 awards $383.5M
- MD 2 awards $303.8M
- NY 3 awards $192.1M
- NJ 1 awards $179.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.310). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,174,839,078 | |
| 2025 | $1,062,277,534 | |
| 2026 est. | $28,100,048 |
FAQ
What types of research are eligible for ECHO data access?
Secondary analyses using existing ECHO cohort data and biospecimens are eligible. Clinical trials and primary data collection are not permitted. Research must align with ECHO's focus on environmental influences on child health.
Who can serve as the Principal Investigator?
Any qualified researcher at an NIH-eligible institution can serve as PI, including early-career investigators, postdoctoral fellows, and established researchers across all disciplines.
What documents are required in the application?
Standard NIH forms including SF-424, Project Narrative, Budget and Budget Justification, biographical sketches, and a Data Use Agreement are typically required.
How competitive is this funding mechanism?
X01s are typically highly competitive. Success depends on the scientific merit of the proposed analysis, feasibility of using ECHO data, and alignment with ECHO research priorities.
What is the typical funding range?
X01 mechanisms typically provide modest funding for secondary data analysis costs. Consult the current funding opportunity announcement for exact budget caps.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate how your proposed research questions are best addressed using ECHO data and why secondary analysis is appropriate rather than primary data collection.
- Demonstrate familiarity with the ECHO cohort structure, available variables, biospecimens, and existing literature to show you understand the data's strengths and limitations.
- Build a compelling case for why ECHO's multi-site, prospectively-collected environmental health data is essential to your research aims and cannot be replicated with other resources.
- Ensure your timeline and budget are realistic for secondary data analysis; reviewers will scrutinize whether costs are justified for analyzing existing data.
- Coordinate early with ECHO Data Coordination Center to confirm data and biospecimen availability for your proposed analysis and include their support letter or confirmation in your application.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often lack sufficient preliminary evidence that the proposed research question is both scientifically important and well-suited to ECHO's environmental health focus. Many applicants underestimate the effort required for data harmonization, validation, and analysis across ECHO's multiple cohorts, or propose analyses that duplicate existing ECHO research. Weak applications sometimes fail to clearly explain why existing public datasets are insufficient and why ECHO specifically provides added value.
Similar grants
- OPEN Rural Community Health Integration2026 — New York State Department of Health
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Rangeland Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Cultural and Paleontological Resource Management – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN FY26 Bureau of Land Management Youth Conservation Corps – Bureau wide — Bureau of Land Management
- OPEN Infertility Training Center — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health