The Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has announced its intent to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (F32). This funding opportunity is designed to support postdoctoral fellows conducting research in child health using the ECHO Program’s extensive longitudinal dataset. The initiative aims to enhance the pool of researchers studying early environmental exposures and their effects on child health outcomes.

The purpose of this award is to provide advanced research training for postdoctoral fellows, enabling them to use ECHO Cohort data to investigate significant questions in maternal and child health. The dataset, housed within the NICHD Data and Specimen Hub (DASH), includes de-identified data from over 63,000 maternal and child participants across the U.S. It covers a variety of prenatal and childhood environmental exposures and five key pediatric outcome areas: pre-, peri-, and postnatal outcomes; neurodevelopment; obesity; airway health; and positive health. This funding opportunity is part of ECHO’s mission to maximize the scientific value of its data and encourage new investigators to contribute to child health research.

Eligible applicants include postdoctoral fellowship candidates working in collaboration with an eligible organization, such as public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, Native American tribal entities, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, and other organizations. The NIH encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and women, to apply for this opportunity.

The NOFO is expected to be published on December 20, 2024, with applications due by March 17, 2025. Awards are anticipated to be announced by October 6, 2025, with project start dates on the same day. Prospective applicants are encouraged to begin identifying research questions within the ECHO dataset, forming collaborations, and preparing applications that align with the NOFO’s goals.

Evaluation criteria will include the scientific and technical merit of the proposed research, the applicant’s potential to contribute to the field of child health, and the alignment of the research with ECHO’s mission. Applications should clearly outline the proposed project, its significance, and the training plan. Detailed instructions and submission guidelines will be included in the NOFO.

The estimated total program funding is $300,000, with a maximum award ceiling of $75,000 per fellowship. Up to four awards are anticipated. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, allowing fellows to focus fully on their research and training.

This funding opportunity provides an excellent platform for postdoctoral researchers to engage in impactful studies of early environmental exposures and child health outcomes. Interested candidates and their institutions should monitor Grants.gov and related NIH communications for updates and detailed instructions as the application period approaches.