RESEARCH GRANTS

Research Project Grants (R01)

Research project grants are awarded to institutions on behalf of a principal investigator to facilitate pursuit of a scientific focus or objective in the area of the investigator's interest and competence. Institutional sponsorship assures the NIH that the institution will provide facilities necessary to accomplish the research and will be accountable for the grant funds. Applications are accepted for health-related research and development in all areas within the scope of NIH's mission.

Academic Research Enhancement Award (R15)

The Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) is designed to enhance the research environment of educational institutions that have not been traditional recipients of NIH research funds. This award provides limited funds for faculty members of these institutions to develop new research projects or expand ongoing research activities in areas related to the health sciences and to encourage students to participate in the research activity.

Program Project Grants (P01)

Program project grants are awarded to institutions on behalf of a principal investigator to support a broadly based, often multi disciplinary, long-term research program with a particular major objective or theme. Program projects involve organized efforts of groups of investigators who conduct integrated research projects related to the overall program objectives. The grant can provide support for the projects and for certain shared resources needed for the total research effort. Each project supported under a program project grant is expected to contribute to the overall program objective.

Center Grants (e.g., P30, P50, P60)

Center grants, awarded to institutions on behalf of program directors and groups of collaborating investigators, provide support for long-term, multi disciplinary programs of research and development. The distinction between program project and center grants is that center grants are more likely to have a clinical orientation and are usually developed in response to announcements of specific IC needs and requirements. Center grants support programs in critical health problem areas including: research and development; demonstration of advanced techniques for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, or control of disease; education; and other related nonresearch components.

Although center grants may support both the projects and "core" or shared resources, in some instances only "core" costs are provided under the center grant, and project support must be obtained through the project or program project grant mechanism. Staff of the appropriate IC should be consulted before a center grant application is submitted for review.

Institutional Research Training Grants (T32)

These grants are awarded to eligible institutions to support predoctoral and postdoctoral research training to prepare scientists for careers in behavioral and biomedical research. Graduate students and postdoctoral trainees are appointed to the training grant by the training institution.

Fellowships (F-series)

All NIH awarding components offer individual postdoctoral fellowships, which provide support for doctoral level research training in preparation for careers in biomedical research. Several NIH institutes offer also individual predoctoral fellowships to graduate students for research training leading to the doctorate.

Research Career Awards (K-series)

Various NIH awarding components offer several types of career awards to research and academic institutions on behalf of scientists with clear research potential. Each of these awards is part of an integrated program designed to foster the development of outstanding scientists and enable them to expand their potential for making important scientific contributions.

Small Grants (R03)

Small grants provide research support, specifically limited in time and amount, for activities such as pilot projects, testing of new techniques, or feasibility studies of innovative, high-risk research, which would provide a basis for more extended research.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants (R43, R44)

These grants are made to small business concerns that have the technological expertise to contribute to the biomedical or behavioral research mission of the NIH.

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants (R41, R42)

The purpose of this program is to faciliate cooperative research projects that have the potential for commercialization of the subject of the research, between small business concerns and U.S. research institutions.

Conference Grants (R13)

The NIH provides funding for conferences to coordinate, exchange, and disseminate information related to its program interests. Generally, such awards are limited to participation with other organizations in supporting conferences rather than provision of sole support. Costs eligible for support include salaries, consultant services, equipment rental, travel, supplies, conference services, and publications. Prospective applicants are encouraged to inquire in advance concerning possible interest on the part of an awarding IC, and to obtain more information on application procedures and costs eligible for support.