OpenFederal grantOpen to for-profit businessesRFA-OD-24-011

NIH Research Software Engineer (RSE) Award (R50 Clinical Trials Not Allowed)

National Institutes of HealthCloses Dec 4, 2026(52 days left)

Does this fit your business?

This NIH program pays the salary of a Research Software Engineer who builds and shares biomedical, behavioral, or health-related software and trains people to use it. It fits universities, hospitals, nonprofits, and software firms whose work is genuinely health-focused; retail, finance, and housing businesses with no health software angle should not apply. Clinical trials are not allowed, and foreign organizations are ineligible.

Best for
Universities and research institutions hiring biomedical software engineers, Software developers building biomedical, behavioral, or health-related tools, Organizations that train users of health-related research software, Nonprofits and small businesses developing health software
Not for
Retail, finance, or housing businesses with no health software angle, Foreign organizations and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations, Clinical research teams seeking to fund clinical trials
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Healthcare & BiotechMatches your industry (health, medical, biomedical, clinical)
96
Strong Match
Education & TrainingMatches your industry (training)
85
Strong Match
Technology & SoftwareMatches your industry (software)
85
Strong Match
Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Nothing in this notice points to agriculture & farming
54
Possible Match
Arts & CultureLimit: Nothing in this notice points to arts & culture
54
Possible Match
Construction & InfrastructureLimit: Nothing in this notice points to construction & infrastructure
54
Possible Match
Show all 15 industries
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Energy & Clean TechLimit: Nothing in this notice points to energy & clean tech
54
Possible Match
Environment & ConservationLimit: Nothing in this notice points to environment & conservation
54
Possible Match
Finance & BankingLimit: Nothing in this notice points to finance & banking
54
Possible Match
Food & BeverageLimit: Nothing in this notice points to food & beverage
54
Possible Match
Housing & Real EstateLimit: Nothing in this notice points to housing & real estate
54
Possible Match
ManufacturingLimit: Nothing in this notice points to manufacturing
54
Possible Match
Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Nothing in this notice points to retail & e-commerce
54
Possible Match
Social Services & NonprofitLimit: Nothing in this notice points to social services & nonprofit
54
Possible Match
Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Nothing in this notice points to transportation & logistics
54
Possible Match

These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.

What this funds

Money can be used for
Hiring, Training, Operating support
Who can apply
Small businesses, For-profit companies, Nonprofits, State and local governments, Tribal governments and organizations, Colleges and universities, Other applicants (see eligibility)

Questions about this grant

When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is December 4, 2026.
Who can apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include state, local, and tribal governments, public and private institutions of higher education, independent school districts, public housing authorities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. Certain other entities such as HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions are also eligible. Foreign organizations and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Can a sole proprietor or single-member LLC apply?
The facts do not specifically address sole proprietors or single-member LLCs. Small businesses are listed as eligible applicants, but the notice does not say whether that includes sole proprietorships or single-member LLCs.
Can a nonprofit apply?
Yes. Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, other than institutions of higher education, are both listed as eligible applicants.

Summary

NIH salary support for exceptional Research Software Engineers who develop and disseminate biomedical, behavioral, or health-related software, tools, and algorithms and train prospective users. Eligible applicants include universities, governments, tribes, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations including small businesses; clinical trials are not allowed.

About this grant

The purpose of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) is to provide salary support for exceptional Research Software Engineers (RSEs) that contribute their skills to the development and dissemination of biomedical, behavioral or health related software, tools, and algorithms as well as to the training of prospective users of these tools.

Who can apply

Other Eligible Applicants include the following:

Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession; Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.

Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Topics and uses of funds

Topics

  • Health
  • Science
  • Technology

Program contact

National Institutes of Healthgrantsinfo@nih.gov301-402-2541

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