RNomics Molecular Standards

The NIH Common Fund, in collaboration with multiple NIH Institutes and Centers, is preparing to issue a funding opportunity for the RNomics Molecular Standards initiative, part of the broader RNomics program aimed at advancing the study of the complete RNA landscape in biological systems. This initiative will focus on developing, testing, refining, and distributing molecular reference standards for RNA modifications, including modified nucleosides and oligonucleotides, to ensure accurate, reproducible, and comparable results across diverse research platforms and laboratories. The standards will serve as benchmarks for evaluating RNA detection and analysis technologies and will be accompanied by guidance on their optimal selection and application, with plans in place for their sustained availability beyond the funding period. While applications are not currently being accepted, this forecast notice alerts the research community to an upcoming opportunity to engage in creating critical resources that will underpin the entire RNomics program. The standards developed under this initiative will support the broader goals of enhancing scientific rigor, facilitating cross-laboratory validation, and enabling the integration of multi-omic RNA data. The funding opportunity is administered by the National Institutes of Health under the Department of Health and Human Services, with inquiries directed to the Common Fund RNomics Program via cfrnomics@od.nih.gov and a North American Industry Classification System code of 541715. The posting date indicates this forecast is active as of August 5, 2026, and interested parties are encouraged to build collaborations and prepare proposals in advance of the formal solicitation.