GREGoRi Data Coordination and Outreach Center (U01, Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

The GREGoRi Data Coordination and Outreach Center funding opportunity is issued by the National Human Genome Research Institute, a component of the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The institute’s mission is to advance genomic research and translate discoveries into improved human health outcomes. This opportunity is part of the broader GREGoRi initiative, which builds on prior efforts to improve rare disease diagnosis through innovative genomic technologies, computational tools, and collaborative research frameworks. The program specifically focuses on addressing the persistent gap in diagnosing rare genetic disorders, where a significant portion of cases remain unsolved even after advanced sequencing approaches. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish a centralized Data Coordination and Outreach Center that will support the GREGoRi research consortium. This center will act as the operational backbone of the program, ensuring that data, metadata, analytical tools, and research outputs are systematically collected, standardized, and shared with the broader scientific community. The initiative emphasizes interoperability, open science principles, and the creation of a robust data ecosystem that can accelerate discovery and facilitate collaboration across institutions and disciplines. Funding will support a wide range of activities required to coordinate large-scale genomic research. These include data ingestion and quality control, development and maintenance of data models, integration with existing NIH platforms such as AnVIL, and support for computational tool development. The award also funds outreach activities such as workshops, meetings, and communication platforms that foster collaboration within the consortium and engagement with external researchers. Costs associated with data sharing compliance, meeting logistics, and infrastructure development are allowable, while clinical trials are explicitly prohibited under this opportunity. Eligible applicants include a broad range of U.S.-based organizations such as higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, and government agencies at the state, local, or tribal level. Foreign organizations are not eligible to apply directly, although certain non-funded collaborations may be permitted. Applicants must complete required federal registrations, including SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons, prior to submission. The program encourages participation from investigators with the expertise and resources necessary to manage complex, multi-institutional data coordination efforts. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov or NIH systems and must adhere strictly to the NIH application guidelines. Required components include a detailed research plan describing operational structure, data coordination strategies, outreach activities, and collaboration mechanisms. Applicants must also include a Data Management and Sharing Plan and demonstrate compliance with NIH genomic data sharing policies. Review criteria focus on the significance and innovation of the proposed work, the rigor and feasibility of the approach, and the expertise and institutional resources available to the applicant. The application timeline includes an opening date of September 30, 2026, and a submission deadline of October 30, 2026. Applications undergo a two-stage review process, including scientific peer review and advisory council evaluation, with the earliest anticipated project start date in July 2027. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement with substantial NIH involvement, and the project period may extend up to five years. This opportunity represents a strategic investment in infrastructure and coordination to enable transformative advances in rare disease genomics.

Emphasize data sharing infrastructure, interoperability, and collaboration plans; demonstrate strong organizational capacity and consortium coordination experience