NIH has released guidance to help applicants understand the important differences between Highlighted Topics and Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs), two distinct tools used to communicate research priorities.
What Are Highlighted Topics?
Highlighted Topics are a simple, centralized way for NIH to signal areas of scientific interest and encourage investigator-initiated research ideas. They are meant to inspire applications, not prescribe them.
How Highlighted Topics Differ From NOFOs
Highlighted Topics:
- Offer more flexibility and creativity for applicants
- Are not prescriptive, they do not specify a required NOFO, due date, budget, mechanism, or eligibility
- Are not funding opportunities; NIH may or may not allocate funds to a given topic area
- Do not influence referral or peer review
- Expire after one year unless renewed
- Are intended to spark ideas and direct investigators toward broad parent announcements or other open NOFOs
NOFOs, in contrast, describe specific funding mechanisms, budgets, due dates, eligibility, and requirements.
What This Means for Applicants
Use Highlighted Topics as inspiration for new projects, then submit through a suitable NIH Parent Announcement or broad NOFO listed on Grants.gov. They are a flexible way to align creative ideas with NIH priorities.
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