U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Researchers are encouraged to apply for funding to expand the use of the All of Us dataset
NIH to award up to $4.75 million in Fiscal Year 2023 for research grants to advance precision medicine
The All of Us Research Program is working with 27 other institutes, centers, and offices from across the National Institutes of Health to support new research on the All of Us Researcher Workbench. These grants, solicited through R03 and R21 funding opportunities, will help support analysis of the Researcher Workbench data using standard tools and methods, as well as the development and use of new tools or methods.
“Our dataset was designed to be relevant across health and disease to maximize the scientific value and accelerate health research for all,” said Geoffrey Ginsburg, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical and scientific officer of All of Us. “Since opening to researchers in May 2020, the Researcher Workbench has served as a springboard for discovery and collaboration. With this new funding, we are looking to inspire new research aligned with NIH institutes’ strategic interests.”
The two companion Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) seek discrete, well-defined projects that can realistically be completed in two years:
This R03 FOA will look to fund applications that propose use of well-accepted analytical tools and methods analysis for the data available within the All of Us Research Program’s Researcher Workbench.
The R21 grant mechanism will be used to support applications to develop new analytical methods, models, and tools. These new tools would be used to analyze data in the All of Us Researcher Workbench and be made broadly available to the scientific community.
Applications must make direct use of the rich data that is available through the cloud-based All of Us Researcher Workbench. The integrated dataset includes data from nearly 100,000 whole genome sequences, survey responses from more than 372,000 participants, and information from more than 258,000 participants’ electronic health records (EHRs), alongside physical measurements and wearable device data. About 80% of the data in the Researcher Workbench is contributed by participants who represent communities that are historically underrepresented in research, including people from racial and ethnic minority groups, people from sexual and gender minority groups, and residents of rural areas.
The dataset is updated twice a year to expand and refresh the participant data available to registered researchers. The next data update, expected in early 2023, will include a large increase in the amount of genomic data available to researchers, as well as additional EHR and survey data.
Access to the All of Us Researcher Workbench is available to registered researchers with an institutional agreement in place. Currently, any U.S.-based academic, nonprofit, or health care institutions can enter into a Data Use and Registration Agreement.
Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards
All of Us intends to commit up to $2 million in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) to fund up to 12 awards, subject to availability of funds and the quality of the applications. Additionally, the National Human Genome Research Institute, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the Office of Data Science Strategy intend to commit funding from FY23 for applications from either FOA that are within the scope of their missions, and the Office of Strategic Coordination intends to commit funding for one award from the R03 FOA.
Other participating institutes, centers, and offices may use their own funds to make additional awards.
Applications are due by March 1, 2023. Letters of Intent will be accepted until January 30, 2023. Letters of intent are not required, but will allow staff to better plan for peer review. Any individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) are invited to work with their organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and women, are always encouraged to apply for NIH support. NIH and All of Us recognize the need to diversify the scientific workforce by enhancing the participation of individuals from groups identified as underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce.
“Diversity, at all levels — from the types of science, to the settings and geographic areas where it is conducted, to the backgrounds of the people conducting it — helps to strengthen research and advance scientific discovery,” said Karriem Watson, DHSc, M.S., MPH, chief engagement officer of All of Us. “Diversity in our researcher cohort also promotes responsible and ethical use of our participant data and returns meaningful value to our participant communities.”
For more information on eligibility and other details, please review the full FOAs:
- Small Grants to Enhance the Use of the All of Us Research Program’s Data (R03)
- Enhancing the Use of the All of Us Research Program’s Data (R21)
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All of Us is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
