NHGRI Investigator-Initiated Research in Computational Genomics and Data Science

NHGRI's Investigator-Initiated Research in Computational Genomics and Data Science is the institute's main route for investigator-driven work on computational methods, tools, and data science applied to genomics. It sits under the National Human Genome Research Institute and covers both substantial projects and exploratory ideas. The current FOAs are PAR-25-228, an R01 for larger innovation awards, and PAR-25-229, an R21 for early-stage exploratory research. Both follow NIH submission windows in February and June each year through 2027. The program is open to universities, non-profits, research organizations, and for-profit companies that are U.S.-registered, with the work falling within computational genomics, data science, or bioinformatics. This route suits teams with a clear method or software contribution rather than a purely descriptive study. NHGRI encourages early contact with program staff, which matters because the institute wants work that aligns tightly with genomics priorities and can stand on its own as investigator-initiated science. Strong proposals usually show a concrete computational bottleneck, a credible validation plan, and a genomics use case that matters beyond a single dataset.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.