Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 14 156
Apply for PA 14 156
- The National Institutes of Health in the education environment health income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Extended Development, Hardening and Dissemination of Technologies in Biomedical Computing, Informatics and Big Data Science (R01)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113 Environmental Health 93.172 Human Genome Research 93.242 Mental Health Research Grants 93.273 Alcohol Research Programs 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs 93.286 Discovery and Applied Research for Technological Innovations to Improve Human Health 93.361 Nursing Research 93.393 Cancer Cause and Prevention Research 93.394 Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research 93.395 Cancer Treatment Research 93.396 Cancer Biology Research 93.399 Cancer Control 93.846 Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research 93.859 Biomedical Research and Research Training 93.865 Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 24, 2014 and posted on Mar 14, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) City or township governments Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Small businesses Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Special district governments State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Independent school districts Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs) Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are eligible to apply. Non domestic (non U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The NIH funding opportunity PA 14-156, titled "Extended Development, Hardening and Dissemination of Technologies in Biomedical Computing, Informatics and Big Data Science (R01)," is an R01 research grant program aimed at taking existing biomedical software and pushing it past the prototype stage into something that is genuinely reliable, maintainable, and widely usable by the broader research community. Rather than focusing on brand-new tool concepts, the emphasis is on extended development work: improving software that already exists by strengthening its engineering foundation, validating that it works well in realistic settings, and making it easier for other scientists to adopt and benefit from it. In practical terms, this includes ongoing maintenance, systematic testing, performance and usability evaluation, "hardening" (making software robust, secure, stable, well-documented, and ready for production-like use), and dissemination activities that help the tool reach and support a larger audience.
A central idea in this announcement is that technology development should be tightly connected to real biomedical or behavioral research needs. NIH is looking for enabling technologies in biomedical computing, informatics, and big data science that directly support progress in areas of scientific opportunity across many NIH Institutes and Centers. Applicants are expected to conduct development in the context of meaningful research problems and to consult domain researchers so the software stays aligned with how scientists actually work, what data they actually have, and what constraints they face. The program is intentionally broad in biomedical scope, covering basic biomedicine through disease-focused work across essentially all organ systems and conditions, as long as the proposed technology can serve a wide biomedical research community.
The scientific and technical themes NIH highlights include collaborative environments that help distributed teams work together, tools and frameworks for data integration (especially relevant when combining heterogeneous biomedical data types and sources), and advanced methodologies for analysis and modeling. The announcement also calls out novel computer science and statistical approaches, reflecting NIH interest in innovations that help researchers handle complexity, scale, and uncertainty in modern datasets. A major driver behind this program is the growing availability of large and complex datasets across biomedicine, which creates a demand for software that can manage, compute on, interpret, and share results from big data in ways that are rigorous and reproducible.
From an implementation standpoint, the program specifically expects applicants to use best practices and proven methods for software design, construction, and deployment. That means NIH is not just funding feature additions; it is funding the unglamorous but critical work that makes software dependable in the real world: improved architecture, automated testing, documentation, packaging, versioning, quality control, scalability work, workflow integration, and other steps that make it more likely the tool will be adopted beyond the originating lab. The overall goal is to extend the applicability of existing technologies so they can serve a broader set of biomedical researchers, not just specialists or early adopters.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the National Institutes of Health under the R01 mechanism. The Funding Opportunity Number is PA 14-156. It was posted March 14, 2014, created March 24, 2014, and had an original and final closing date of May 7, 2017, with an archive date of June 7, 2017. The opportunity spans multiple CFDA program areas across NIH, reflecting its cross-cutting nature (including environmental health, human genome research, mental health, substance use research, technological innovations to improve human health, nursing research, multiple cancer research categories, arthritis and musculoskeletal research, general biomedical research and training, and child health and human development extramural research). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations: city, county, state, special district, and certain tribal government entities; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including but not limited to small businesses); independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and additional categories such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, and certain federal government eligible agencies. Importantly, foreign participation is allowed: non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) may apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components are permitted as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as NIH support for maturing existing biomedical software into robust, community-ready infrastructure. The most competitive projects under this announcement would typically be those that can clearly demonstrate an established software base, a realistic and well-justified plan to improve reliability and usability, strong engagement with domain scientists and intended users, and a dissemination approach that increases adoption and impact across biomedical research fields.
FAQs: NIH PA 14-156 (R01) - Extended Development, Hardening and Dissemination of Technologies in Biomedical Computing, Informatics and Big Data Science
What is NIH PA 14-156?
PA 14-156 is an NIH funding opportunity announcement for an R01 research grant focused on extended development, hardening, and dissemination of existing technologies in biomedical computing, informatics, and big data science. The goal is to move biomedical software beyond the prototype stage into something reliable, maintainable, and broadly usable by the research community.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The main purpose is to support the unglamorous but essential work needed to turn established biomedical software into community-ready infrastructure. That includes strengthening engineering foundations, validating performance in realistic settings, improving usability, and expanding adoption through dissemination and support.
Is this program for brand-new tool concepts or existing software?
The emphasis is on existing software and technologies rather than brand-new tool concepts. Projects should build on an established software base and propose a realistic plan to mature it so it can be adopted and used reliably by a broader community.
What does NIH mean by "extended development" in this announcement?
Extended development refers to ongoing, practical work to improve software that already exists. Examples include maintenance, systematic testing, performance evaluation, usability evaluation, architecture improvements, workflow integration, packaging, documentation, versioning, and quality control.
What does "hardening" mean in the context of PA 14-156?
"Hardening" means making software robust and production-like: secure, stable, well-documented, systematically tested, and reliable under real-world conditions. It also includes steps that increase maintainability and help other groups install, run, and trust the software.
What types of technologies are in scope?
The opportunity targets enabling technologies in biomedical computing, informatics, and big data science that support biomedical or behavioral research needs. NIH highlights themes such as collaborative environments for distributed teams, data integration tools and frameworks (especially for heterogeneous biomedical data), and advanced methodologies for analysis and modeling.
Does the opportunity focus on big data?
Yes. A major driver is the growing availability of large and complex biomedical datasets and the need for software that can manage, compute on, interpret, and share results from big data in rigorous and reproducible ways.
How important is connection to real biomedical or behavioral research problems?
It is central to the announcement. NIH expects technology development to be tightly connected to meaningful biomedical or behavioral research needs, and applicants are expected to consult domain researchers so the software aligns with real workflows, data realities, and scientific constraints.
What biomedical research areas are eligible?
The announcement is intentionally broad and can cover basic biomedicine through disease-focused work across essentially all organ systems and conditions, as long as the technology can serve a wide biomedical research community.
What kinds of project activities does NIH expect applicants to include?
NIH specifically calls for use of best practices and proven methods for software design, construction, and deployment. Expected activities can include improved architecture, automated testing, documentation, packaging, versioning, quality control, scalability improvements, performance and usability evaluation, workflow integration, maintenance, and dissemination efforts that increase adoption.
What is meant by "dissemination" under this opportunity?
Dissemination refers to activities that help the tool reach, support, and be adopted by a larger audience beyond the original development lab. The overall intent is broader use across the biomedical research community, not just by specialists or early adopters.
What NIH grant mechanism is used for PA 14-156?
This funding opportunity uses the NIH R01 research project grant mechanism.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PA 14-156.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on March 14, 2014, created on March 24, 2014, and had an original and final closing date of May 7, 2017. The archive date is June 7, 2017.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed for this opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes many organization types, such as city, county, state, special district, and certain tribal government entities; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including small businesses); independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and other categories including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, AANAPISIs, tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and faith-based or community-based organizations. Certain eligible federal government agencies are also included.
Are foreign organizations allowed to apply?
Yes. Non-U.S. entities (foreign organizations and foreign institutions) may apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are eligible, and foreign components are permitted as defined under the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Does this opportunity involve multiple NIH Institutes and Centers?
Yes. It is described as cross-cutting across NIH, spanning multiple CFDA program areas (including environmental health, human genome research, mental health, substance use research, technological innovations to improve human health, nursing research, multiple cancer research categories, arthritis and musculoskeletal research, general biomedical research and training, and child health and human development extramural research).
What would a competitive application typically demonstrate?
Based on the description, strong applications would typically show (1) an established software base (not just an early prototype), (2) a realistic and well-justified plan to improve reliability, maintainability, and usability, (3) meaningful engagement with domain scientists and intended users, and (4) a dissemination approach designed to increase adoption and impact across biomedical research fields.
Is the goal to support a narrow niche tool or a broader community?
The stated goal is to extend the applicability of existing technologies so they can serve a broader set of biomedical researchers, not only specialists or early adopters.
What role do software engineering best practices play in this program?
They are explicitly expected. NIH is not only funding new features; it is funding proven approaches to software design, construction, testing, documentation, deployment, and other practices that make tools dependable and more likely to be adopted beyond the originating lab.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: Early Stage Development of Technologies in Biomedical Computing, Informatics, and Big Data Science (R41/R42)
Previous opportunity: Early Stage Development of Technologies in Biomedical Computing, Informatics, and Big Data Science (R01)
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PA 14 156
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PA 14 156) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Early Stage Development of Technologies in Biomedical Computing, Informatics, and Big Data Science (R41/R42) Apply for PA 14 157 Funding Number: PA 14 157 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genomic Research Small Research Grant Program (R03) Apply for PA 14 277 Funding Number: PA 14 277 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genomic Research Regular Research Program (R01) Apply for PA 14 276 Funding Number: PA 14 276 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of Genomic Research Exploratory/Developmental Research Program (R21) Apply for PA 14 278 Funding Number: PA 14 278 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Neuroscience Information Framework (U24) Apply for RFA DA 15 009 Funding Number: RFA DA 15 009 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Limited Competition for a Connectome Coordination Facility (R24) Apply for RFA MH 15 750 Funding Number: RFA MH 15 750 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R21) Apply for PAR 14 331 Funding Number: PAR 14 331 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| Global Brain and Nervous System Disorders Research Across the Lifespan (R01) Apply for PAR 14 332 Funding Number: PAR 14 332 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Womens Health (K12) Apply for RFA OD 15 001 Funding Number: RFA OD 15 001 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Systems Science and Health in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R21) Apply for PAR 15 047 Funding Number: PAR 15 047 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Systems Science and Health in the Behavioral and Social Sciences (R01) Apply for PAR 15 048 Funding Number: PAR 15 048 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Lifespan Human Connectome Project Aging (U01) Apply for RFA AG 16 004 Funding Number: RFA AG 16 004 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Lifespan Human Connectome Project Development (U01) Apply for RFA MH 16 150 Funding Number: RFA MH 16 150 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Early life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R01) Apply for PA 15 126 Funding Number: PA 15 126 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Early life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R21) Apply for PA 15 125 Funding Number: PA 15 125 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Early life Factors and Cancer Development Later in Life (R03) Apply for PA 15 124 Funding Number: PA 15 124 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Lifespan Human Connectome Project Baby Connectome (U01) Apply for RFA MH 16 160 Funding Number: RFA MH 16 160 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,700,000 |
| Summer Research Education Experience Programs (R25) Apply for PAR 15 184 Funding Number: PAR 15 184 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Neuroimaging Informatics Tools and Resources Clearinghouse (U24) Apply for RFA EB 15 005 Funding Number: RFA EB 15 005 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Short Term Institutional Research Training Grants (T35) Apply for PA 08 227 Funding Number: PA 08 227 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Education Environment Health Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PA 14 156", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.