Category: NIH Highlighted Topics

NIH’s Highlighted Topics are selected research priority areas within one or more NIH Institutes, Centers, or Offices (ICOs) that may or may not have dedicated funding. The amount of funding awarded will depend on the availability of funds, the number of meritorious applications, and competing ICO priorities. After identifying an appropriate funding opportunity, an investigator should reach out to the appropriate scientific contact to discuss how their research idea may align with a Highlighted Topic and the funding opportunity. Applying in a Highlighted Topic area will not affect NIH referral or review of applications.

NIH Highlighted Topic: Research on the Transition from Pediatric to Adult Health Care

This topic encourages applications aimed at linking health care transition (HCT) practices to improved health and well-being outcomes for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN). Participating Institutes and Centers include NIDDK and NICHD. [Expires 8/29/27.]

NIH Highlighted Topic: Advancing Autoimmune Disease Research: Integrating Genetic, Environmental, and Immunological Factors to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment

The purpose of this topic is to advance scientific understanding of autoimmune disease development, progression, and impact, and to improve health outcomes for those affected. Encouraged research projects are those that Harness computational tools and collaborative networks to investigate protective and driving factors of pre-clinical autoimmunity, disease inception, and flares in human cohorts; advance diagnostic testing, biomarkers, predictive models and technologies; and/or develope novel research models. Participating Institutes and Centers include NIDDK, NIA, NICHD, NINDS, and NIAID. [Expires 2/12/28.]

NIH Highlighted Topic: Advancing Toward a Cure for Acquired Neuropathy

This topic encourages research on biomarkers, clinical outcome measures, and regenerative and neuroprotective therapeutics for neuropathy. Participating Institutes and Centers include the NIDDK. [Expires 4/6/28.]

NIH Highlighted Topic: Training and Career Development in Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) Science

The purpose of this highlighted topic is to encourage research training in D&I science via appropriate NIH funding categories, including those for Fellowships, Career Development Awards, Institutional Research Training Grants, and Education Projects. The overarching objective is to facilitate career success as well as the ability to conduct high-quality independent or collaborative D&I research. Participating Institutes and Centers include NIDDK, NICHD, NINDS, and NIAID. [Expires 4/14/28.]

NIH Highlighted Topic: GLP-1s: Implications for Nutritional Status and Metabolic Health Outcomes

This topic encourages research on the interaction of GLP-1s and nutrient metabolism and status, and population health and the roles of dietary supplements in addressing nutrient gaps that may arise with GLP-1 use, as well as on the composition, safety, and usage patterns, and biological mechanisms of supplements marketed to mimic GLP-1 activity. Participating Institutes and Centers include NIDDK and NIA. [Expires 4/24/28.]

NIH Highlighted Topic: Enhancing Scientific Rigor, Transparency and Replicability

This Highlighted Topic encourages research that improves validity and reliability of findings by enhancing rigorous and transparent experimental design, methodology, analysis, and interpretation. Participating Institutes and Centers include NIDDK, NIA, NIAID, NINDS, and NICHD. [Expires 4/27/28.]

NIH Highlighted Topic: Health and Extreme Weather: Advancing Critical Research to Address the Direct and Indirect Health Impacts of Weather-Related Natural Disasters and Emerging Weather-Related Harms

The NIH Health and Extreme Weather (HEW) Program aims to support research to increase understanding of how extreme weather, including weather-related natural disasters and emerging weather-related harms, impacts human health. Participating Institutes and Centers include NIDDK, NIA, and NIAID. Relevant areas of study include effects of discontinuity of care, changes in aging-related processes and responses, immune responses, and pathogens. [Expires 5/1/28.]

NIH Highlighted Topic: New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for Dietary Supplement and Nutrition research

This topic encourages innovative research on human-relevant new approach methodologies (NAMs) (e.g., organoids, tissue chips, microphysiological systems, multi-omics technologies, computational models) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of foods, food components, and dietary supplements for health optimization and chronic disease risk reduction across the lifespan. Participating Institutes and Centers include NIDDK and NIA. [Expires 5/20/28.]

NIH Highlighted Topic: Enhancing Data Usage and Utility to Advance Biomedical Research

This Highlighted Topic encourages rigorous, innovative research in utilizing publicly accessible, high-quality datasets. The ultimate goal is to enhance reproducibility, enable data-driven hypothesis generation, accelerate scientific discovery, and improve disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes. Participating Institutes and Centers include NIDDK, NIA, and NIAID. [Expires 6/24/28.]

NIH Highlighted Topic: Digital Twins for Biomedical, Biological and Behavioral Research

A digital twin is a set of virtual information constructs that mimics the structure, context, and behavior of a natural, engineered, or social system (or system-of-systems), is dynamically updated with data from its physical twin, has a predictive capability, and informs decisions that realize value. This topic encourages innovative research and prototype development of digital twin technologies. Participating Institutes and Centers include NIDDK and NIAID. [Expires 9/10/28.]