Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) in Health Information Technology
This grant funds innovative projects to improve health IT by addressing barriers to EHR data use, interoperability, and integration of new clinical knowledge into healthcare delivery.
Funder: Office of the National Coordinator
Due Dates: June 30, 2026 (Letter of Intent) | July 16, 2026 (Full application)
Funding Amounts: Up to $1,000,000 (Area 1); up to $500,000 (Areas 2 & 3); project period up to 2 years (with possible extension to 3 years). Expected 3 awards.
Summary: Supports innovative projects to address critical challenges in health IT interoperability, AI integration, API monitoring, and laboratory data standards.
Key Information: For-profit and foreign organizations may only participate as consortia members or sub-recipients; not eligible as lead applicants.
Description
This opportunity funds Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) in Health Information Technology to address urgent and emerging challenges that hinder the development, use, and advancement of interoperable health IT. The program seeks to catalyze breakthrough solutions that maximize the potential of health IT to transform healthcare delivery. For the 2026 cycle, three priority areas are defined:
- Area 1: Accelerate the use of agentic artificial intelligence (AI) solutions in clinical care and/or clinical trials.
- Area 2: Expand Lantern’s API monitoring with secure, community-driven feedback to improve FHIR API reliability and transparency.
- Area 3: Assess and address laboratory interoperability gaps by promoting the adoption of standardized terminology among small, independent laboratories.
Projects are expected to develop, pilot, and disseminate innovative tools, methods, or standards-based solutions; all software developed must be open-source. Each area of interest has specific objectives and deliverables, including stakeholder engagement, technical expert panels, and dissemination of findings.
