The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and specifically the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) and National Cancer Institute (NCI), has reissued the Genomic Community Resources funding opportunity (PAR-23-124) to support high-value genomic resources with broad utility for both basic and clinical genomics research. This Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) seeks to facilitate genomics research by developing and sharing genomic resources that are accessible to the scientific community, thereby encouraging the integration and analysis of multiple genomic data types. This initiative is structured as a cooperative agreement (U24 activity code), meaning substantial programmatic involvement from NIH staff is expected in project oversight and collaboration.

The FOA's scope covers several areas: developing analysis tools and software, establishing community data standards and ontologies, producing specific genomic data, collecting biological samples (like cell lines or iPSCs), and organizing cooperative activities for genomic analysis. Projects must demonstrate broad relevance, support the advancement of community standards, and provide accessible, reusable data and tools. NHGRI-supported resources must be cost-efficient, innovative, and responsive to evolving technological and scientific needs, ensuring significant value to the genomics research field. Collaborations with other resources to enhance efficiency and data integration are encouraged.

Funding levels are contingent on NIH appropriations, and application budgets should reflect project needs without a set limit, with a maximum project period of five years. Applicants from diverse organizations—including higher education institutions, nonprofits, local governments, small businesses, and foreign institutions—are eligible, provided they meet NIH registration requirements, such as active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) and the eRA Commons. Key project personnel, including the principal investigator, must also hold an eRA Commons account. Applications may be submitted as new, renewal, resubmission, or revision applications but must be distinct to avoid overlap.

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. local time on specified standard due dates, beginning May 25, 2023, and ending January 25, 2026. Submission requires using either the NIH ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or a compatible institutional system. Letters of intent are optional but recommended 60 days before the due date to facilitate review planning. Applications must follow strict formatting and submission instructions outlined in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, including a 30-page limit for the research strategy section and adherence to NIH’s policies on data management and sharing.

Evaluation criteria include project significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and environment. Reviewers will assess whether the proposed resource has broad applicability, supports community standards, and fills a unique gap in genomics research. Projects will also be reviewed for scientific rigor, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with NIH’s sharing policies. Additional considerations include the quality of the resource sharing plan, community dissemination and outreach plans, and a governance structure featuring a Scientific Advisory Board for projects over $500,000 annually.

Following peer review, NIH will consider project merit, available funds, and relevance to NIH priorities before issuing awards. This FOA represents an opportunity for applicants to contribute to the broader genomic research infrastructure by creating tools and resources that enhance data accessibility, reproducibility, and collaborative research within the genomics community.