The Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science (SCH) program, funded in collaboration by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), offers a significant opportunity for interdisciplinary teams to make transformative advancements in the fields of biomedical research and public health. This program is designed to support high-risk, high-reward projects that utilize artificial intelligence (AI), advanced data science, and engineering to solve some of the most pressing challenges in healthcare.
Funding Opportunity Details
Deadline: October 3, 2025
Location: U.S.-based institutions or organizations
Program Overview
The program aims to foster innovative solutions to complex biomedical and public health problems. By supporting interdisciplinary research, the program encourages collaboration across various fields, including computer science, information science, engineering, behavioral and cognitive science, and public health.
Transformative advancements are expected in the development of novel methods for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data from individuals, devices, and systems. The focus is on improving health outcomes, optimizing healthcare delivery, and enhancing the ability to address both existing and emerging health issues. These innovations will hinge on the development of new technologies and data-driven approaches that can be applied in real-world healthcare settings to enable discovery and optimize health.
Eligibility Criteria
Proposals may only be submitted by:
- Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Both two- and four-year accredited IHEs, including community colleges, that are located in the U.S. and can submit proposals on behalf of their faculty members.
- Non-profit, Non-academic Organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities.
One critical detail to note: If a proposal includes funding for international branch campuses of U.S.-based institutions, the proposer must justify the benefits of conducting the research at the international campus and explain why the project cannot be performed at the U.S. campus.
Proposal Participation Limits
In each annual competition, there are specific restrictions on how many proposals an investigator may participate in. An individual may serve as Principal Investigator (PI), co-Principal Investigator (co-PI), Project Director (PD), Senior/Key Personnel, or Consultant in no more than two proposals submitted in response to each annual deadline. This restriction is strictly enforced to ensure fairness across all applicants.
Proposals that exceed this limit will be accepted based on the earliest submission time, with proposals exceeding the limit being returned without review. It is important to plan accordingly and submit your proposals on time to avoid disqualification.
Furthermore, proposals submitted in response to this solicitation must not duplicate or be substantially similar to any other proposals under review by NSF or NIH programs. If proposals are found to be duplicates or significantly similar to other submissions, they will be returned without review. Additionally, NIH will not accept applications that are substantially the same as one already reviewed within the past 37 months.
Key Focus Areas:
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in healthcare
- Advanced Data Science for public health optimization
- Behavioral and Cognitive Science for understanding health outcomes
- Data Collection and Interpretation for advancing healthcare technologies
This funding opportunity presents an exciting prospect for researchers eager to explore the intersection of technology and health. By encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration, the program aims to develop scalable, transformative solutions that can improve healthcare systems and address significant public health concerns.
How to Apply
Eligible institutions and organizations can submit proposals directly through the NSF’s proposal submission portal. The application process involves submitting detailed information about your project, including the research goals, methods, and the potential impact of your proposed solution on public health or biomedical fields.
For those interested in applying, be sure to carefully review the full guidelines and eligibility requirements on the NSF website. The proposal submission deadline for this round of funding is October 3, 2025.
