Investigator Initiated Innovation in Computational Genomics and Data Science (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for biomedical researchers and academic institutions seeking NIH funding for investigator-initiated research projects in computational genomics and data science. Eligible applicants include domestic and foreign institutions, nonprofit organizations, academic medical centers, and individual researchers affiliated with research institutions. The program supports innovative research that advances computational methods, data analysis techniques, and genomic science, but explicitly excludes applications proposing clinical trials. Geographic scope is nationwide and international. Funding is available for project periods typically up to 5 years and supports personnel, equipment, supplies, travel, and indirect costs necessary to conduct the proposed research.
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Program description
The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to invite applications for a broad range of research efforts in computational genomics, data science, statistics, and bioinformatics relevant to one or both of basic or clinical genomic science, and broadly applicable to human health and disease. This FOA supports fundamental genomics research developing innovative analytical methodologies and approaches, early-stage development of tools and software, and refinement or hardening of software and tools of high value to the biomedical genomics community. Work supported under this FOA should be enabling for genomics and be generalizable or broadly applicable across diseases and biological systems. All applications should address how the methods would scale to address increasingly larger data sets.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) - Research & Related Activities form
- Project Narrative/Research Strategy (typically 12-15 pages)
- Specific Aims page (1 page, usually first page of narrative)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (for PI and key personnel, 5 pages each)
- Current and Pending Support documentation
- Letters of Support (if involving collaborations)
- Preliminary Data or published work examples
- Human Subjects Protection documentation (if applicable)
- IRB/IACUC approvals (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.879 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$31,424,450
-
$21,310,613
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$18,962,515
-
$18,266,443
-
$14,828,350
-
$14,642,836
-
$13,681,359
-
$13,351,995
-
$12,454,032
-
$11,107,283
Top States by Funding
- MA 9 awards $61.2M
- NY 12 awards $58.1M
- TN 3 awards $50.1M
- TX 4 awards $36.4M
- CA 9 awards $25.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.879). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $78,196,782 | |
| 2025 | $79,391,024 | |
| 2026 est. | $70,230,119 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Domestic and foreign nonprofit institutions, academic medical centers, universities, and individual researchers with institutional affiliation are eligible. Both new and experienced investigators may apply.
What type of research is supported?
Innovative, investigator-initiated research in computational genomics and data science methods. Clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this mechanism.
When are applications due?
The standard NIH submission window typically opens well before the September 7, 2027 deadline. Applications are usually submitted electronically via NIH's eRA Commons system.
How competitive is this funding?
R01 grants are highly competitive. Success rates for NIH R01s typically range from 15-25%. Strong preliminary data, feasibility studies, and a clear innovation story are essential.
What funding levels should I expect?
R01 awards vary widely depending on scientific discipline and scope, but typically range from $200,000 to $500,000+ in total costs annually. Consult the NIH website for specific program funding levels.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Establish clear innovation: Articulate what is novel about your computational or data science approach compared to existing methods, and explain why it matters for genomics research.
- Show feasibility with preliminary data: Include proof-of-concept results, pilot studies, or published preliminary findings to demonstrate your team can execute the proposed work.
- Assemble a strong team: Highlight the expertise of co-investigators in computational biology, bioinformatics, statistics, and wet-lab genomics as appropriate for your project.
- Build a realistic budget and timeline: NIH reviewers scrutinize budgets carefully; justify all personnel costs, equipment, and subawards with clear justifications.
- Follow NIH guidelines strictly: Use the current SF-424 (R&R) form, adhere to page limits, font sizes, and inclusion/exclusion criteria; even minor formatting violations can lead to desk rejection.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications are often rejected due to insufficient preliminary data or unclear innovation—reviewers need evidence that the computational methods are novel and that the applicant can execute the work. Another common pitfall is proposing a clinical trial component (explicitly not allowed under this mechanism), which results in immediate rejection. Weak team composition or lack of demonstrated collaboration between bioinformaticians and bench scientists, or failure to address impact and significance, also weakens competitiveness.
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