NIH AIM-AHEAD

Supports United States institutions through NIH AIM-AHEAD with AI capacity routes for health equity and workforce development.

AIM-AHEAD is NIH's Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Consortium to Advance Health Equity and Researcher Diversity. Launched in July 2021 under the NIH Office of Data Science Strategy, it builds AI talent, supports multidisciplinary health research, and strengthens AI capacity at limited-resourced institutions such as HBCUs, Tribal Colleges, and community health centers.

The consortium runs through a Coordinating Center led by the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth and eight regional hubs spanning states and territories. Funding flows through an Other Transactions award, OT2OD032581, with total FY2021-FY2025 issuance of $165.3 million. Its program set includes the Research Fellowship Program, PAIR, CLINAQ, and the Federated Network Program, and PAIR offers up to $100,000 in phase 1.

Applicants are strongest when they fit one of the consortium's North Star themes: workforce development, data and infrastructure, community capacity, or applied health research. The best proposals usually bring clear partnerships, a concrete operating plan, and an obvious route for using AI or machine learning to improve health outcomes.