FY2024 NHGRI Funding Policy

Scientific Priorities

• Applications that address issues in the NHGRI Strategic Vision and NHGRI Building a Diverse Genomics Workforce Action Agenda.
• Development of resources, approaches, technologies that accelerate and support studies focused on the structure and biology of genomes, as applied broadly to many biological systems or generalizable across diseases or molecular and clinical phenotypes.
• New genomic technologies or methods that are applicable to high-throughput, comprehensive data analyses (e.g., for genomes, cells, pathways, or populations).
• Functional genomics and functional characterization of genomic variation.
• Genomics of disease.
• Implementation and effectiveness of genomic medicine.
• Computational genomics and data science.
• Dissemination and implementation of research findings and technology to the broader biomedical and behavioral community.
• Ethical, legal, and social issues related to genomic advances.
• Projects that broaden research involving diverse populations.
• Training, developing, and expanding the diversity of the genomics workforce.

The following sections outline NHGRI’s guidelines and operating procedures for FY 2024.

Commitment to Early-Stage Investigators

As described in the NIH’s Next Generation Researchers Initiative (NGRI) efforts and NIH’s policy on early-stage investigators, NHGRI is committed to providing substantial and sustained support for early-stage investigators (ESIs), new investigators in the early stages of their careers. NHGRI aims to support ESIs on R01-equivalent awards at success rates comparable to success rates of established investigators submitting new (competing, Type 1) R01-equivalent applications.

NHGRI supports early-stage investigators in becoming established investigators by:

• Funding applications that might have an impact score beyond the range of applications from established investigators.
• Generally providing support for up to five years, if requested and approved by the initial review group and NACHGR, as justified by the science proposed, ensuring that budgets are sufficient to support the proposed research.
• Supporting early-stage investigators who are applying for their first competitive renewal.

More information can be found in NHGRI’s resources on Funding for New and Early-Stage Investigators.

Research Training and Research Career Development Awards

NHGRI staff make special efforts to work with trainees and young investigators, beginning with predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows and career development awardees. In the initial phases of these awards, NHGRI staff discuss the importance of obtaining strong mentorship, learning from peer relationships, and generating quality publications. During the last year of the award, NHGRI staff counsel fellows and awardees about the various options for furthering their research careers, whether through a career development award or an investigator-initiated grant. NHGRI staff are always available to answer questions about program priorities, how to prepare a meritorious grant application, how the peer review process works, and how to work within the NIH system.

NOTE: Applications due on or after January 25, 2025, must comply with changes to the fellowship application and review process.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) Fellowships (F)

Activity Codes: F30, F31, F32, F99/K00

Institute-negotiated cost reductions for new and competing fellowship awards, beyond those recommended by peer review and NACHGR, will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Applications may be funded out of priority order based on impact score, timeliness of the project, and program priorities.

The full range of stipend adjustments for FY 2024 is described in NIH Funding Strategies, specifically NOT-OD-24-104. NHGRI will continue to honor NIH’s commitment to pay childcare cost on Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NOT-OD-21-074 and NOT-OD-21-177, with additional details in this blog post from the NIH Office of Extramural Research).

Program Priorities

• Focus on training in genomic sciences, computational genomics and data science, genomic medicine, or genomics and health equity approaches with an emphasis on quantitative sciences, clinical implementation, or technology development; and/or
• Focus on high-priority ethical, social, and legal implications (ELSI) issues and provide multidisciplinary conceptual and methodological training.

Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) Institutional Training Grants (T)

Activity Codes: T32

Institute-negotiated cost reductions for new and competing institutional training grant awards, beyond those recommended by peer review and NACHGR, will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Applications may be funded out of priority order based on impact score, timeliness of the project, and program priorities.

Program Priorities

• Emphasize training in genomic sciences, genomic medicine development and implementation, computational genomics and data science, genomics and health equity, and high priority ethical, social, and legal implications (ELSI) issues in genomics.
• Propose to develop scientists who are equipped with skills and knowledge to work independently and contribute intellectually to interdisciplinary teams.

Research Career Development Awards (K)

Activity Codes: K01, K08, K25, K99/R00

Institute-negotiated cost reductions for new and competing institutional training grant awards, beyond those recommended by peer review and NACHGR, will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Major considerations in funding applications will include: innovation, impact score, timeliness of the project, availability of genomic resources, and responsiveness to program priorities.

Program Priorities

• For genomic sciences and genomic medicine applications: funding priority will be given to individuals who seek cross-training in genomic sciences or genomic medicine, with an emphasis in the quantitative sciences, technology development, clinical implementation, and computational genomics and data science.
• For genomics and society applications: funding priority will be given to individuals who propose to develop a strong foundation in: 
  • Current developments in genomic science and medicine
  • Core principles and conceptual frameworks in bioethics
  • Qualitative and quantitative behavioral and social science research methodologies
  • Conceptual and analytic research approaches
  • Design and implementation of inter- or trans-disciplinary research projects.

Commitment to Supporting Institutions and Investigators from Diverse Backgrounds

NHGRI seeks to support investigators from diverse populations, including those from groups underrepresented in biomedical research in areas within NHGRI’s mission. 

Opportunities for funding include:

• Applications for Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. support;
• Applications in response to all NHGRI’s notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs); and/or 
• Applications to NIH parent NOFOs in which NHGRI participates.

NHGRI’s Diversity Action Plan focuses on NHGRI Building a Diverse Genomics Workforce Action Agenda. Some programs that significantly invest in NIH-funded genomics research or research training include:

• Broadening Opportunities for Computational Genomics and Data Science Education (RFA-HG-23-002)
• Educational Hub for Enhancing Diversity in Computational Genomics and Data Science (RFA-HG-22-002)
• Diversity Centers for Genome Research (RFA-HG-22-026 and RFA-HG-22-027);
• Research Opportunities for New and "At-Risk" Investigators to Promote Workforce Diversity (PAR-22-181) and Small Grants for New Investigators to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (PAR-21-313), both of which support early stage investigators and new Investigators from diverse backgrounds;
• The Genome Research Experiences to Attract Talented Undergraduates into Genomic Fields to Enhance Diversity (GREAT) program (RFA-HG-22-004), which supports educational activities that encourage undergraduates from diverse backgrounds to pursue further training and careers in genomics research; and the 

Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA; PAR-23-137) program that supports educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a diverse workforce and the support of diversity supplements to parent applications. 

NIH Grant Policies

Applications Requesting $500,000 or More in Direct Costs for Any One Year

NIH requires pre-approval for single applications or for multi-site collaborative studies requesting $500,000 or more in annual direct costs in any year. 

• Applicants are encouraged to interact with NHGRI staff during the concept development of applications that request $500,000 or more in direct costs. 
• Applicants planning large grants should request approval from NIH staff at least eight weeks in advance for planned receipt dates between January 2 and February 15 (inclusive) of any calendar year and at least six weeks in advance for planned receipt dates between February 16 and December 30 (inclusive). 
• For more details, see:
  • Program Guidance to Potential Applicants for NHGRI Support (Applications Requesting More Than $500K in Direct Costs in Any Year)
  • NHGRI Implementation of NIH Policy on Acceptance for Review of Applications Requesting $500,000 or More in Direct Costs in a Single Year (NOT-HG-22-033)

NIH and NHGRI Expectations for Data Sharing

The NIH requires researchers to prospectively plan for how scientific data will be preserved and shared through submission of a Data Management and Sharing Plan (Plan) as part of the grant or contract application (NOT-OD-21-013, NOT-OD-23-053). All research funded or conducted in whole or in part by NIH that results in the generation of scientific data must submit a Plan. Plans will undergo programmatic assessment by NHGRI, and the final negotiated Plan will become a Term and Condition of the Notice of Award.

Researchers must also comply with the NIH Genomic Data Sharing (GDS) Policy (NOT-OD-14-124). Per NOT-OD-22-198, Plans for sharing genomic data as expected by the GDS Policy are to be described in the DMS Plan submitted at the time of application.

NHGRI-funded researchers are expected to share comprehensive and high-quality metadata and phenotypic, clinical, and environmental exposure data associated with the study (NOT-HG-21-022).

For additional information on NHGRI-specific expectations and guidance for complying with NIH data sharing policies, see Data Sharing Policies and Expectations.

Salary Limitations on Grants, Cooperative Agreements, and Contracts

NHGRI adheres to the salary limitations for NIH grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts, as detailed in NOT-OD-24-057. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 restricts the amount of direct salary to Executive Level II of the Federal Executive pay scale, as released by the Office of Personnel Management. Effective January 1, 2024, the salary limitation for Executive Level II is $221,900.