Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 079
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity PAR 23 079, titled "Biomedical Data Repository (U24 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)," supports the operation and enhancement of biomedical data repositories through a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism. The core purpose of the program is to fund repositories whose main job is to take in (ingest) biomedical data, archive and preserve it for the long term, manage it in a sustainable and organized way, and distribute it so that it is accessible and usable by the relevant research communities. In other words, this opportunity is aimed at strengthening the infrastructure that keeps valuable biomedical datasets available, dependable, and findable over time, particularly when the repository is focused on data related to a specific biological system or set of systems.
A central expectation is that funded repositories function as reliable stewards of data across the full lifecycle: intake, storage, preservation, governance, access controls where appropriate, and dissemination to users. The announcement emphasizes that any data curation activities must be tightly scoped. Curation is allowable only to the extent that it makes ingestion and management more efficient and improves user ability to access, use, and reuse the data. This framing signals that the program is not intended to fund broad or open-ended curation, extensive manual annotation efforts, or large new scientific interpretation projects. Instead, curation should be practical and operational, focused on improving quality, consistency, and usability in ways that directly support repository performance and community reuse.
Similarly, software and tool development can be supported, but only in a limited and clearly justified way. The FOA allows development that provides essential repository functions or that significantly improves operational efficiency, such as tools needed for submission workflows, automated validation, metadata handling, data access services, or system reliability and scalability. At the same time, NIH makes it explicit that applications centered on software/tool building as the primary aim are not a good fit for this mechanism. The repository itself must remain the main product, with software serving that product rather than becoming the main deliverable.
This opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and falls under NIH health-related activity areas, with multiple CFDA numbers listed (including 93.113, 93.233, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.393 through 93.399, and 93.837 through 93.840, 93.846, 93.853, 93.855, 93.859, and 93.867), reflecting the broad range of NIH institutes and centers that could be relevant depending on the repository's scientific domain. The "Clinical Trials Not Allowed" designation means proposed activities cannot include clinical trials, reinforcing that the focus is on data repository infrastructure and services rather than interventional human studies.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, and federally recognized Native American tribal governments, as well as tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. It also includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses. In addition, the announcement explicitly calls out other eligible applicant groups such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations). This wide eligibility reflects NIH's interest in supporting repositories that serve important user communities wherever the operational capability and stewardship plans are strong.
The FOA was created on 2022-12-22, with an original closing date listed as 2023-05-08. The posted summary does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which typically means applicants would need to consult the full announcement and related NIH institute guidance for budget expectations, scope alignment, and any institute-specific priorities. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as support for established or developing biomedical data repositories that can demonstrate clear community need, strong operational plans for ingestion and long-term preservation, effective access and distribution methods, and carefully bounded curation and software work that directly improves repository function rather than pursuing standalone tool-building projects.Apply for PAR 23 079
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Biomedical Data Repository (U24 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.233, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.846, 93.853, 93.855, 93.859, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-12-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - NIH PAR-23-079: Biomedical Data Repository (U24 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
What is NIH PAR-23-079?
PAR-23-079 is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity titled "Biomedical Data Repository (U24 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)." It supports the operation and enhancement of biomedical data repositories through a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism.
What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?
The main goal is to strengthen biomedical data repository infrastructure so valuable datasets remain available, dependable, findable, and usable over time. Funded repositories are expected to ingest biomedical data, archive and preserve it long term, manage it sustainably, and distribute it to relevant research communities.
What kind of resource is NIH trying to fund under this FOA?
NIH is trying to fund repositories whose primary job is data stewardship across the full lifecycle, including intake (ingestion), storage, preservation, governance, access controls (when appropriate), and dissemination to users.
What does the U24 cooperative agreement mechanism imply for this program?
This opportunity uses a U24 cooperative agreement mechanism, meaning it is intended to support a biomedical data repository as a shared resource and infrastructure effort. (The summary provided does not describe additional details about NIH involvement beyond the mechanism type.)
Are clinical trials allowed under PAR-23-079?
No. The FOA is explicitly designated "Clinical Trials Not Allowed," meaning proposed activities cannot include clinical trials. The focus is on repository infrastructure and services rather than interventional human studies.
What activities are expected of a funded biomedical data repository?
Funded repositories are expected to function as reliable stewards of data across the full lifecycle. This includes taking in data, storing and preserving it for the long term, organizing and managing it sustainably, applying governance and appropriate access controls, and distributing data so it is accessible and usable by the relevant research communities.
Does the repository need to focus on a particular scientific area?
The opportunity is particularly aimed at repositories focused on data related to a specific biological system or set of systems, and that serve a relevant research community for that domain.
Is data curation allowed, and if so, how much?
Yes, but curation must be tightly scoped. Curation is only allowable to the extent that it improves ingestion and management efficiency and improves users' ability to access, use, and reuse the data. The FOA framing indicates it is not meant to fund broad or open-ended curation, extensive manual annotation, or large new scientific interpretation projects.
What kinds of curation are considered in-scope based on the summary?
In-scope curation is practical and operational: improving quality, consistency, and usability in ways that directly support repository performance and community reuse (for example, curation that streamlines submission/ingestion and improves downstream access and reuse).
Can this funding be used for extensive manual annotation or major interpretation of datasets?
The summary indicates no. NIH emphasizes curation should not become broad, open-ended, or interpretation-heavy. The intent is operational improvements that help the repository run well and help users reuse the data.
Is software or tool development allowed?
Yes, but only in a limited and clearly justified way. Software and tool development can be supported when it provides essential repository functions or significantly improves operational efficiency.
What types of software/tool development fit this FOA?
Examples called out include tools needed for submission workflows, automated validation, metadata handling, data access services, and improvements to system reliability and scalability.
Are applications that primarily focus on tool building a good fit?
No. NIH explicitly notes that applications centered on software/tool building as the primary aim are not a good fit. The repository must remain the main product; software should support the repository rather than be the main deliverable.
What does NIH mean by "repository as the main product"?
Based on the summary, it means the funded effort should primarily deliver and sustain the operational repository services: ingestion, preservation, governance, access, and dissemination. Any software work should be justified as enabling or improving those core repository functions.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include many U.S. governmental entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), independent school districts, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, federally recognized Native American tribal governments, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. It also includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses.
Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISISs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, TCCUs, and faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
Yes. The summary explicitly lists eligible federal agencies among eligible applicant groups.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible?
Yes. The summary explicitly includes U.S. territories or possessions.
Are non-U.S. (foreign) organizations eligible?
Yes. The summary explicitly includes non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations) as eligible applicants.
Does broad eligibility mean any project idea will be competitive?
Eligibility is broad, but the FOA is specifically aimed at biomedical data repositories and their operation/enhancement. Projects that do not center the repository mission (ingestion, preservation, sustainable management, and distribution) or that emphasize unrelated aims (like tool-building as the primary goal) are described as not a good fit.
What funding category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and falls under NIH health-related activity areas.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The summary lists multiple CFDA numbers, including 93.113, 93.233, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.393 through 93.399, and 93.837 through 93.840, 93.846, 93.853, 93.855, 93.859, and 93.867.
Why are multiple CFDA numbers listed?
The summary indicates the multiple CFDA numbers reflect a broad range of NIH institutes and centers that could be relevant depending on the repository's scientific domain.
When was the FOA created and what is the closing date shown in the summary?
The FOA was created on 2022-12-22, and the original closing date listed in the summary is 2023-05-08.
Does the summary provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The posted summary does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What does it mean that budget expectations are not specified in the summary?
Based on the summary, it means applicants would typically need to consult the full announcement and any related NIH institute guidance for budget expectations, scope alignment, and institute-specific priorities.
What types of repositories are best aligned with this opportunity?
Based on the summary, the opportunity is best aligned with established or developing biomedical data repositories that can demonstrate clear community need; strong operational plans for ingestion and long-term preservation; effective access and distribution methods; and carefully bounded curation and software work that directly improves repository function.
What is NIH expecting around long-term preservation and sustainability?
The summary emphasizes long-term archiving and preservation, sustainable and organized management, and dependable availability over time. In practical terms, the repository should be able to preserve data and keep it usable and accessible for the relevant research community over the long term.
What does "access controls where appropriate" imply for repository operations?
It implies that repositories are expected to have governance and access management practices and apply access controls when appropriate, as part of being a reliable data steward across the data lifecycle.
Is the program focused on generating new datasets or on managing and distributing existing/ingested datasets?
The summary focuses on repositories that ingest, archive, preserve, manage, and distribute biomedical data so it remains accessible and usable. The emphasis is on infrastructure and stewardship services rather than on running new scientific interpretation projects.
How should applicants think about the balance between repository operations and enhancements?
Based on the summary, the balance should keep the repository as the central deliverable: operate the repository reliably while making targeted enhancements that improve efficiency, reliability, scalability, ingestion workflows, validation, metadata handling, and user access/distribution.
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| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Biomedical Knowledgebase (U24 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 078 Funding Number: PAR 23 078 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Time-Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 23 004 Funding Number: RFA ES 23 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Medical Scientist Partnership Program (FM1 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 109 Funding Number: PAR 23 109 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| CCRP Initiative: NIH Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT) Translational Exploratory/Developmental Research Projects (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 139 Funding Number: PAR 23 139 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| Limited Competition: Superfund Hazardous Substance Research and Training Program (P42 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA ES 23 001 Funding Number: RFA ES 23 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| STrengthening Research Opportunities for NIH Grants (STRONG): Structured Institutional Needs Assessment and Action Plan Development for Resource Limited Institutions (RLIs) (UC2 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 144 Funding Number: PAR 23 144 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Tobacco Regulatory Science (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA OD 23 017 Funding Number: RFA OD 23 017 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR) High Throughput Sequencing and Genotyping Resource Access (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 184 Funding Number: PAR 23 184 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Time-Sensitive Research Opportunities in Environmental Health Sciences (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 23 011 Funding Number: RFA ES 23 011 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $275,000 |
| NIH Brain Development Cohorts (NBDC) Biospecimen Access (X01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 229 Funding Number: PAR 23 229 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Senior Fellowship (Parent F33) Apply for PA 23 263 Funding Number: PA 23 263 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Enhancement and Management of Established Biomedical Data Repositories and Knowledgebases (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 237 Funding Number: PAR 23 237 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Early-stage Biomedical Data Repositories and Knowledgebases (R24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 23 236 Funding Number: PAR 23 236 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R21 Clinical Trials Optional) Apply for PAR 23 299 Funding Number: PAR 23 299 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Intervention Research to Improve Native American Health (R34 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PAR 23 285 Funding Number: PAR 23 285 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Center for Exposome Research Coordination to Accelerate Precision Environmental Health (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA ES 23 010 Funding Number: RFA ES 23 010 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Transformative Research to Address Health Disparities and Advance Health Equity (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA NR 24 004 Funding Number: RFA NR 24 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Emergency Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Awards (Emergency Supplement - Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 24 201 Funding Number: PA 24 201 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PA 24 188 Funding Number: PA 24 188 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research (Parent K24 Independent Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PA 24 187 Funding Number: PA 24 187 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education, Environment, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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