NIH opens $200M stimulus grants, targeting biomarker, radiology IT research

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) will make $200 million of it stimulus earmarks available for large-scale biomedical, public health and healthcare delivery research projects as part of its new program, the Research and Research Infrastructure "Grand Opportunities" (GO).

According to Acting NIH Director Raynard S. Kington, MD, PhD, grant applicants may propose to address either a specific research question or the creation of a unique infrastructure/resource designed to accelerate scientific progress in the future.

An example of the type of project that could be funded under the GO grants is the identification and validation of biomarkers in human genetics and biology that indicate the risk for disease or that could serve as a marker of disease progression and/or responsiveness to treatment.

Another priority is research on IT that will enable physicians to share radiological images across healthcare institutions, which could result in reduced healthcare costs, as well as improved accuracy for medical decision-making.

For more information, see Recovery Act Limited Competition for NIH Grants: Research and Research Infrastructure "Grand Opportunities" (RC2).