Health and Extreme Weather Research Coordination and Data Center (U2C - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institutes of Health, within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is planning a funding opportunity through the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to support the Health and Extreme Weather Research Coordination and Data Center. This initiative is designed as part of a broader federal effort to address the growing health impacts associated with extreme weather events. The program is structured as a cooperative agreement using the U2C activity code, which indicates substantial involvement from federal program staff and emphasizes high impact research infrastructure and coordination activities. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to establish a centralized coordination and data support hub for the Health and Extreme Weather initiative. The funded entity will be responsible for two interconnected components: a research coordination function and a data infrastructure function. The coordination component will facilitate engagement among NIH-funded researchers and a broader community of practice, enabling collaboration, dissemination of findings, and development of shared resources. The data component will focus on improving access to and usability of health, environmental, and geospatial datasets relevant to extreme weather research. Funding will support activities such as organizing meetings and working groups, developing training materials, and creating educational resources for stakeholders involved in the initiative. Additionally, the awardee will be responsible for identifying data gaps, supporting data harmonization, and promoting best practices in data sharing and integration. The project is expected to contribute to advancing data science approaches and reducing duplication across NIH-supported data initiatives. While specific funding ceilings and floors are not provided, the total estimated program funding is three million dollars with a single anticipated award. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes a wide range of public, private, nonprofit, and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state and local governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations with or without federal tax exempt status, small and large businesses, tribal governments and organizations, and other entities such as public housing authorities and regional organizations. Federal agencies and U.S. territories may also be eligible, indicating a nationwide scope without geographic restriction. No cost sharing or matching requirement is specified for this program. The application process is expected to follow standard NIH submission procedures once the official notice of funding opportunity is released. Applicants will likely be required to prepare detailed proposals outlining their approach to coordination, data management, and stakeholder engagement. Although specific application components are not listed in the forecast, NIH cooperative agreements typically require technical narratives, budgets, and supporting documentation. The program does not allow clinical trials, focusing instead on coordination and infrastructure. The timeline indicates that the opportunity is currently in a forecast stage, with an estimated posting date in late November 2026 and an anticipated application deadline at the end of January 2027. Awards are expected to be announced in December 2027, with project activities beginning immediately thereafter. As a forecasted opportunity, applicants are encouraged to begin preparing early and monitor updates from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences for the official announcement and detailed guidance.