Biomedical Data Repositories and Knowledgebases (DRKB)

DRKB Early-Stage Repositories

Funds biomedical data repositories through cooperative agreements supporting standards and shared knowledgebases.

The NIH Office of Data Science Strategy (ODSS) leads the Biomedical Data Repositories and Knowledgebases (DRKB) program, a NIH-wide effort to build and sustain the data infrastructure underlying biomedical science. PAR-23-236, issued August 31, 2023 as a multi-year program announcement, funds the development of early-stage biomedical data repositories and knowledgebases — resources that store, curate, and make broadly accessible data generated by NIH-funded research. The program distinguishes repositories (storage and distribution) from knowledgebases (curated annotation and cross-linking). PAR-23-236 specifically targets new and emerging resources; established repositories must apply under the companion PAR-23-237.

Funding is delivered through U24 cooperative agreements, meaning NIH actively participates in project scope, direction, and milestones — not a passive grant relationship. Award budgets are not published as a fixed ceiling; applicants propose based on scope and contact drkb@list.nih.gov for guidance. Applications may be submitted by U.S. nonprofits, universities, and research organizations; for-profit entities and individual investigators are not eligible. The program requires that funded data resources be open-access or made broadly accessible under NIH's data-sharing policy.

Applicants should position their resource as a community-serving asset that fills a documented gap in the NIH data ecosystem, not an internal data management system. Reviewers will assess the resource's ability to attract deposits from the broader NIH-funded community, its curation model, data standards adherence, and sustainability plan. Prior DRKB-funded repositories include PhysioNet, BindingDB, BioPortal, MetabolomicsWorkbench, and the Human Disease Ontology — the competitive bar is set by resources with demonstrated community adoption. Multi-year PAR window remains open; confirm current acceptance status in the NIH Guide before applying.