PAR-26-040: Advancing Bioinformatics, Translational Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Research (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

PAR-26-040 invites research teams to lead transformational advances in bioinformatics, translational bioinformatics, and computational biology. This opportunity from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) supports projects that create cutting-edge methods, tools, and computational approaches for extracting actionable knowledge from complex biological and biomedical data. Applications open April 6, 2026 and follow NIH standard due dates (first due June 5, 2026). This initiative supports scalable, generalizable innovations that accelerate biomedical discovery and improve health outcomes.

How much funding would I receive?

• Direct cost limit: Up to $250,000 per year (applicants must justify budget based on project needs).

• Anticipated total program funding: Approximately $2,500,000.

• Estimated number of awards: 10.

What could I use the funding for?

Fund research projects that:

• Develop new computational methods and tools for bioinformatics and biomedical data science.

• Leverage AI, machine learning, and large-scale computation to interpret diverse biological datasets.

• Produce durable, generalizable artifacts (software, workflows, resources) that benefit the wider research community.

• Enable translational insights with potential impact on health outcomes.

Excluded: incremental tweaks to existing tools, projects outside core bioinformatics/computational biology focus, social/ethical studies unrelated to computational method advancement.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Projects are expected to produce open science outputs (e.g., FAIR tools, publicly available code, datasets).

• Participation in NIH peer review and community of biomedical informatics researchers.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Standard NIH due dates: June 5, October 5, February 5 recurring through 2029 (all due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant).

• NOFO expiration date: March 6, 2029.

• Earliest possible project start: July 2026.

Where does this funding come from?

This opportunity is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Higher education institutions (public and private).

• Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status).

• For-profit organizations, including small businesses.

• Local and state governments.

• Tribal governments and organizations.

• Foreign organizations (subject to NIH policies).

Important NIH policy: NIH will not issue awards for applications that include foreign subawards or subcontracts unless submitted to a NOFO specifically for international collaborations.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Competitive applications will:

• Demonstrate high innovation and impact in computational biology/bioinformatics.

• Deliver tools and methods that are publicly accessible and broadly usable.

• Show rigorous validation and clear plans for dissemination.

• Integrate interdisciplinary approaches and emphasize scalability.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Foreign subawards/subcontracts are not allowed (projects with those elements will be noncompliant).

• Cost sharing/matching is not required.

• The project must align with NLM’s focus areas; non-responsive or tangential projects will not be reviewed.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation time varies by complexity, but obtaining organizational registrations (SAM, eRA Commons) alone can take several weeks. Technical application drafting with rigorous computational research plans, data management strategy, and dissemination plans typically requires multiple months of coordinated effort.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can:

• Translate scientific aims into NIH-aligned application narratives.

• Help articulate innovation, significance, and approach clearly.

• Build budget justification and milestone plans that meet NIH expectations.

• Develop data management, dissemination, and impact strategies that strengthen score.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements for submitting application ($13,000) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

PAR-26-042: Research Grants in Clinical Informatics (R01 Clinical Trial Optional)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

This funding opportunity from the National Library of Medicine (NLM) at NIH supports investigator-initiated research grants in clinical informatics that develop innovative, generalizable methods and tools to transform complex health data into actionable knowledge and improve decision-making and health outcomes. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM local time on one of the standard NIH due dates (next dates include June 5, 2026; October 5, 2026; February 5, 2027, etc.) and the NOFO remains active until its expiration on March 6, 2029.

How much funding would I receive?

• Direct cost limit: Up to $250,000 per year (applicants must justify budget based on project needs).

• Anticipated total program funding: Approximately $2,500,000.

• Estimated number of awards: 10.

What could I use the funding for?

Fund research focused on the design, implementation, and evaluation of clinical informatics tools and methods that:

• Enable data-driven discovery and evidence-based decision-making.

• Transform raw, heterogeneous health data (e.g., EHRs, clinical notes, imaging, patient-generated data) into usable knowledge.

• Produce scalable, reproducible, domain-independent approaches broadly applicable across clinical settings.

• Improve clinical workflows, predictive analytics, decision support, interoperability, and precision health.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Potential to accelerate scientific insights and inform future research beyond the project period.

• Alignment with NLM’s mission to advance data-driven biomedical research and healthcare.

• Software, datasets, methods, and resources are expected to be disseminated widely to maximize impact.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Standard NIH due dates: June 5, October 5, February 5 recurring through 2029 (all due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant).

• NOFO expiration date: March 6, 2029.

• Earliest possible project start: July 2026.

Where does this funding come from?

This opportunity is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include:

• Higher education institutions (public and private).

• Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status).

• For-profit organizations, including small businesses.

• Local and state governments.

• Tribal governments and organizations.

• Foreign organizations (subject to NIH policies).

Important NIH policy: NIH will not issue awards for applications that include foreign subawards or subcontracts unless submitted to a NOFO specifically for international collaborations.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Competitive applications will:

• Address transformative clinical informatics challenges and align tightly with NLM goals.

• Demonstrate innovation, scalability, and generalizability beyond narrow disease-specific problems.

• Provide clear plans for evaluation, dissemination, and sustainability of tools and methods.

• Present metrics for impact and comparison to existing approaches.

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Projects must be clearly focused on clinical informatics and not be incremental improvements of existing tools.

• Projects primarily focused on social determinants of health or ethical/legal/social issues are considered non-responsive.

• Applications with foreign subawards/subcontracts are noncompliant and will not be reviewed.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation time depends on your readiness, but NIH typically recommends starting months before the nearest due date to:

• Complete registrations (Grants.gov, eRA Commons, SAM/NCAGE, UEI).

• Develop a rigorous research plan with evaluation and dissemination strategies.

• Coordinate any institutional approvals.

Begin ASAP to ensure you meet the due date’s 5:00 PM local time deadline.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can:

• Translate scientific aims into NIH-aligned application narratives.

• Help articulate innovation, significance, and approach clearly.

• Build budget justification and milestone plans that meet NIH expectations.

• Develop data management, dissemination, and impact strategies that strengthen score.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements for submitting application ($13,000) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The Fiscal Year 2026 Tick-Borne Disease Research Program (TBDRP) pre-announcement was released by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) on February 12, 2026. This pre-announcement signals anticipated funding opportunities aimed at high-impact research to prevent, detect, and resolve Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases that affect Service Members, Veterans, families, and the general public. Funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) — including pre-application and full application deadlines — have not yet been released and must be monitored on Grants.gov and eBRAP.

How much funding would I receive?

Award-specific maximums from the pre-announcement:

• Idea Development Award – Up to $800,000 total costs over up to 3 years.

• Idea Development Award – Career Development Option – Up to $550,000 total costs over up to 3 years.

• Therapeutic/Diagnostic Research Award – Up to $1,325,000 total costs over up to 3 years.

What could I use the funding for?

Funding is intended to support innovative, high-impact research addressing tick-borne diseases. The pre-announcement defines mechanism-specific focus areas:

A) Idea Development Award

Pathogenesis

• Assess interactions among tick-borne pathogens (emphasis Lyme and co-infections)

• Study persistent clinical manifestations (neurologic symptoms encouraged)

• Studies on maternal health, pregnancy outcomes, congenital infections

Treatment

• Proof-of-concept for novel therapeutics or repurposing existing compounds

• Target identification/validation and early refinement of therapeutic candidates

Diagnosis

• Development/optimization of improved diagnostics for:

  • Single or multiple tick-borne pathogens (priority on direct detection of Borrelia burgdorferi)

  • Distinguish active Lyme infection from past exposure

  • Detect/diagnose maternal-to-fetal transmission, including relevant animal models

B) Therapeutic/Diagnostic Research Award

• Treatment – Evaluation/refinement of therapeutic candidates, including PK/PD and toxicology; designed to advance early/preclinical drug development.

• Diagnosis – Validation of novel diagnostics capable of single or multi-pathogen detection, distinguishing active from past infection, and detecting maternal-to-fetal transmission pathways.

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• The program explicitly supports career development options for early-career investigators (with mentorship).

• Pre-application requirements and peer review support transparency in mechanism expectations.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Application deadlines: Not yet released. The pre-announcement states that FOAs containing specific pre-application and application deadlines will be posted on Grants.gov and through the eBRAP portal once available.

• Funding start: After successful review, awards typically begin in the fiscal year following announcement (FY26), but exact start dates are not yet published.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding for TBDRP is provided by the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act, and administered by the Defense Health Agency Research and Development / Medical Research and Development Command (CDMRP).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility varies by mechanism. From the pre-announcement:

• Independent investigators at all career levels are eligible for many mechanisms.

• Career Development Option has specific requirements:

  • PI must be within 10 years of terminal degree (with exceptions for residency/family leave)

  • Mentor must be experienced (≥5 year track record in tick-borne disease research)

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that are highly innovative, directly related to the defined focus areas, and translational in nature (with clear clinical relevance) are likely to be competitive. Specifically:

• Approaches that address persistent Lyme disease, novel diagnostics, and novel therapeutic strategies

• Research that demonstrates strong rationale or preliminary data aligned with CDCMRP priorities

• Early-career investigators partnered with experienced mentors (for Career Development Option)

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• Clinical trials cannot be supported under these mechanisms; human studies are permitted where applicable.

• Full application submission is by invitation only after pre-proposal review.

• Mechanism‐specific eligibility and focus area alignment are strict and will be enforced in the FOA.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation time varies significantly by mechanism and institutional support, but given the requirement for pre-proposals, preliminary data, and alignment with specific focus areas, investigators should plan for 6–12 weeks of preparation once the FOA is released. This accounts for drafting, internal review, and compliance checks prior to pre-application submission.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can help you:

• Interpret and map your research to specific TBDRP focus areas

• Develop pre-proposal drafts and strategic research narratives

• Identify data needs and plan for compliant application packages

• Coordinate mentor relationships for career development submissions

• Set milestones to meet pre-application and full application deadlines

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.

CDMRP: Lupus Research Program (LRP)

Below is a brief summary. Please check the full solicitation before applying (link in resources section).

Executive Summary:

The CDMRP’s FY26 Lupus Research Program (LRP) pre-announcement signals anticipated funding opportunities supporting innovative, high-impact lupus research aimed at understanding, preventing, diagnosing, and treating lupus, as well as improving the quality of life for individuals living with lupus. This pre-announcement does not include application deadlines or guarantee funding — the official Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) will be posted on Grants.gov with formal deadlines and requirements. Investigators should begin planning now to align with expected FY26 mechanisms and program goals.

How much funding would I receive?

The pre-announcement outlines multiple award mechanisms with specified maximum total costs:

• Idea Award – up to $300,000 (2 years)

• Impact Award – up to $1,000,000 (4 years)

• Transformative Vision Development Award – up to $250,000 (2 years)

• Transformative Vision Award – up to $2,000,000 (4 years)

What could I use the funding for?

Funding must support research aligned with one or more LRP focus areas:

Biological & Clinical Research

• Mechanisms of lupus disease and pathobiology

• Genetic, epigenetic, and gene–environment interaction studies

• Disease heterogeneity, presentations, and outcomes
  Applies to Idea & Impact Awards

Quality of Life & Intervention Studies

• Addressing social determinants of health

• Nutrition, symptom control, comparative effectiveness

• Outcomes research and patient-reported outcomes
  Applies to Impact, Transformative Vision Development, and Transformative Vision Awards

Innovative Health Care Delivery Models

• Models improving lupus outcomes
  Applies to Impact, Transformative Vision Development, and Transformative Vision Awards

Are there any additional benefits I would receive?

• Mechanism clarity ahead of FOAs allows early planning.

• Subscribe to email updates through eBRAP for timely notifications when FOAs are released.

• Being positioned early can improve competitiveness.

What is the timeline to apply and when would I receive funding?

• Pre-announcement released: February 11, 2026.

• Formal FOAs — will be posted on Grants.gov with official pre-application and full application deadlines.

• Investigators must submit a pre-application through eBRAP prior to the pre-application deadline specified in the FOAs.

Where does this funding come from?

Funding is provided through the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act appropriated to the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) and managed by the Defense Health Agency Research & Development and Medical Research and Development Command (DHA R&D-MRDC).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is defined by mechanism:

• Idea Award: Investigators at or above postdoctoral level.

• Impact & Transformative Awards: Investigators at or above Assistant Professor (or equivalent).

• Team Requirements: Transformative mechanisms must include at least one lupus consumer advocate as part of the research team.

What companies and projects are likely to win?

Projects that:

• Align tightly with the specified focus areas.

• Demonstrate high innovation and impact potential.

• Involve strong preliminary data (as required for Transformative Vision Award).

• Include meaningful involvement of lupus consumer advocates (for transformative mechanisms).

Are there any restrictions I should know about?

• This pre-announcement is not a funding commitment; only the FOAs establish requirements and obligations.

• Applications cannot support clinical trials in Idea or Impact Awards; Transformative Vision Awards may support clinical trials but not animal studies.

• Transformative Vision Development Awards cannot support clinical trials or animal studies.

How long will it take me to prepare an application?

Preparation time depends on mechanism and complexity, but begin planning now — especially for pilot data and consumer engagement for transformative mechanisms. Historically, competitive CDMRP applications often require several weeks to months of focused preparation.

How can BW&CO help?

BW&CO can:

• Develop alignment narratives tied to LRP focus areas.

• Assist with preliminary data framing and research strategy articulation.

• Craft strong consumer advocacy integration plans.

• Ensure conformity with CDMRP review criteria once FOAs are released.

How much would BW&CO Charge?

We have both fractional engagements ($250 an hour) and full engagements ($13,000 + 5%) available.

Additional Resources

Review the solicitation here.