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HR6572119th Congress

Launching X–Labs for Breakthrough Science Act

Sponsored By: Representative Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]

Introduced

Summary

long-term institutional awards to catalyze breakthrough biomedical research. The bill creates the X-Labs Initiative at the National Institutes of Health to give eligible institutions multiyear funding to build research programs and R&D plant.

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  • Research institutions get a new institutional award track (XL01 through XL03) that offers stable, multiyear grants sized between $5.0 million and $50.0 million per fiscal year for 7 consecutive years, with one possible 7-year renewal after competitive review. Awardees for XL01-XL03 generally may not compete for or receive other Federal research grants as research grants during the award period.
  • Nonprofit funders that receive XL03 awards must regrant funds within the United States to early-stage teams or projects unlikely to get traditional NIH support, and must publish a public summary of their funding and evaluation method within one year.
  • Organizations planning new scientific institutions can seek XL04 planning awards of $1.0 million to $5.0 million per year for 1–3 years. The NIH Director administers the program, may use flexible authorities to implement it, and must deliver initial, annual, and periodic evaluations of program outcomes.

*Authorizes appropriations "such sums as may be necessary" for fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to carry out the program.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

NIH long-term research awards

This bill would create four X-Labs award types called XL01, XL02, XL03, and XL04. XL01–XL03 awards would be $5,000,000 to $50,000,000 per year for seven consecutive fiscal years and could be renewed once for another seven years after competitive review, available appropriations, and a Director-set cap. XL04 awards would be $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 per year for one to three consecutive fiscal years and may not be renewed. XL01–XL03 recipients would not be allowed to compete for or receive other Federal research grants during the award period (training grants excepted). XL03 awardees would have to regrant funds to U.S.-based research teams or projects, use innovative selection and evaluation methods, and publish a public summary of their regrant method within one year. The bill would define eligible entities to include nonprofit research organizations, institutions of higher education, certain for-profit arrangements with nonprofit scientific subsidiaries, and individuals planning nonprofit research organizations, and would allow awards to fund R&D plant such as research buildings and major equipment. NIH could suspend or terminate awards and reallocate remaining funds if recipients fail to meet deliverables or lose eligibility.

New X-Labs program at NIH

This bill would require the NIH Director to establish an X-Labs Initiative and an XL-series activity code. The Director would administer the program and could let NIH institutes and centers make awards if coordinated and funds are available. The Director could use certain other‑transactions authorities to carry out the program. The bill would authorize Congress to appropriate "such sums as may be necessary" for fiscal years 2026 through 2031, but it would not set specific dollar amounts.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Obernolte, Jay [R-CA-23]

    CA • R

    Sponsored 12/10/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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