National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. NIH funded research has led to breakthroughs and new treatments, helping people live longer, healthier lives, and building the research foundation that drives discovery.

This 4-part video tutorial series will walk you through the basics of preparing, writing, and submitting your application.

Overview of New NIH Policies on Human Subjects Research

Use this tool to help determine if your research meets the NIH definition of a clinical trial.

2020 Updates

• Upcoming Changes to the Notice of Award (NoA) Beginning October 1, 2020 - Release Date: July 31, 2020
  
• Guidance for Applicants Preparing Applications for the Fall 2020 Due Dates During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Release Date: July 8, 2020
  
• COVID-19 Flexibilities FAQs have been updated - Posted: July 2, 2020
• Notice of Requirement for Electronic Submission of all Administrative Supplements - Release Date: June 30, 2020
• Notice to Extend Eligibility for Submission of Diversity K22 Applications due to COVIDrelated Disruptions - Release Date: June 26, 2020
• Signing Officials Can Access Overall Impact Scores and Summary Statements Starting June 24 - Posted: June 18, 2020
• Late Application Policy for May 25, 2020, Application Due Date of NCI's Cancer Research Education Grants Program (R25) Funding Opportunity Announcements PAR-18-476, PAR-18-477, and PAR-18-478 Due to Public Health Emergency for US Coronavirus Disease 2019 - Posted: May 15, 2020
  
• NIA Late Application Policy for NIA-Specific FOAs with Application Due Dates in May, June, and July 2020 - Release Date: May 14, 2020
• NIH Late Application Policy for Institutional Training Grants to PA-20-142 and PA-20-162 Due to Public Health Emergency for United States Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Release Date: May 11, 2020
• NIAID Late Application Policy for Funding Opportunities RFA-AI-20-001 and RFA-AI-20-009 - Release Date: May 06, 2020
  
• NIGMS Late Application Policy for NIGMS-Specific FOAs with Application Due Dates in May 2020 - Release Date: May 05, 2020
  
• Notice of Information: Contributing to the Global COVID-19 Crisis Response by Allowing Some NCI-supported Projects to be Redirected to COVID-19-related Research During the Crisis - Release Date: April 28, 2020
  
• Revised and Corrected Notice on Policy Regarding Minimum Level of Effort for NCI-Funded Awards - Release Date: April 8, 2020
• Reminder: Changes to Forms and Instructions for Research Training Grant, Fellowship, and Career Development Award Applications for Applications Due on or After May 25, 2020 - Release Date: April 8, 2020
• Notice of NIMHD Withdrawal from Participation in PA-19-054, "NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Required) - Release Date: March 26, 2020
• Notice of NIMHD Withdrawal from Participation in PA-19-053, "NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) - Release Date: March 25, 2020
  
• Notice of NIMHD Withdrawal from Participation in PA-19-092, "NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21 Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required) - Release Date: March 25, 2020
• FORMS-F Grant Application Forms & Instructions Must be Used for Due Dates On or After May 25, 2020- New Grant Application Instructions Now Available (NOT-OD-20-077) - Release Date: March 10, 2020
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year 2020 - Release Date: February 7, 2020
  
• Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements FY 2020 - Release Date: February 05, 2020
  
• Notice of Fiscal Policies in Effect for FY 2020 - Release Date: February 05, 2020
  
• Notice of Legislative Mandates in Effect for FY 2020 - Release Date: February 05, 2020
  
• Updated Guidance for Videos Submitted as NIH Application Materials - Release Date: February 03, 2020
  
• Additional Guidance on the NIH Policy on the Use of a Single Institutional Review Board for Multi-Site Research - Release Date: January 22, 2020
• Update of NIH Continuous Submission Policy: Change in Submission Deadlines and End of Recent Substantial Service Option - Release Date: January 24, 2020

• Parent FOAs for Clinical Trials to be used for applications targeting due dates on or after January 25, 2018 - Posted: November 30, 2017
• How to Apply - Application Guide - Posted: June 7, 2017
• NIH "FORMS-E" Grant Application Forms and Instructions Coming for Due Dates On or After January 25, 2018 - Release Date: April 27, 2017
  
• The Ultimate NIH Application Cheat Sheet - Annotated Form Set for NIH Grant Applications - Updated: January 12, 2017
  
• Grant Application Form PHS 2590 Instructions - Updated: April 2015
  Non-Competing Continuation Progress Report (PDF)
  
  • For submission of PHS 2590 for non-SNAP awards, all Training awards and SBIR/STTR Fast-Track Phase II applications.
    
  • For NIH awards issued under SNAP, and all NIH F awards with budget start dates on or after July 1, 2013, use RPPR instructions (PDF).

Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions on Other Support and Foreign Components - Initial Posting: June 19, 2019
• NIH Releases Protocol Template for Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Involving Humans - Posted: March 28, 2019
  
• NIH Public Access Policy guide - Posted: August 30, 2018
  
• eRA Latest News
• Revised SF424 (R&R) Application Guides and Supplemental Instructions Available - Release Date: December 15, 2016
  
• Advice to Investigators Submitting Clinical Research Applications
• Ask the Experts FAQs for Research Administrators (PDF: 37 KB) - Posted: January 6, 2016
• Ask the Experts FAQs for R01 Applicants (PDF: 38 KB)  - Posted: January 6, 2016
• All About Grants at NIH
  The Office of Extramural Research (OER) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) presents a wealth of information on the grant process, including videos and podcasts. Designed for investigators, fellows, students, research administrators, and others, to provide insights on grant topics from those who live and breathe the information.
• The Dangers in Delay
  As the electronic submission process has improved, so have the potential dangers when submitting an application near the deadline.
• NIH/eRA YouTube Playlist
• Tutorial: How to Comply with NIH Public Access Policy
  
• Tutorial on Submitting a Reference Letter in eRA Commons

2019 Updates (Archived)

• Publication of the Revised NIH Grants Policy Statement (Rev. December 2019) for FY 2020 - Release Date: December 10, 2019
  • Summary of Significant Changes to the NIH GPS for December 2019 Version (Guide Notices Issued Before October 1, 2019)
    
• NIH and AHRQ Announce Upcoming Changes to Policies, Instructions and Forms for Research Training Grant, Fellowship, and Career Development Award Applications - Release Date: December 3, 2019
• Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity - Release Date: November 22, 2019
  
• NIH Extension Policy for Eligibility Window for Pathway to Independence Awards (K99/R00) - Release Date: October 30, 2019
• Extramural Research Letter: Clarifying Long-Standing NIH Policies on Disclosing Other Support - July 11, 2019
• Reminders of NIH Policies on Other Support and on Policies related to Financial Conflicts of Interest and Foreign Components (NOT-OD-19-114) - Release Date: July 10, 2019
• Frequently Asked Questions on Other Support and Foreign Components - Initial Posting: June 19, 2019
• Notice of Change to Activity Codes allowed for Administrative Supplement for Research on Bioethical Issues - Posted: April 16, 2019
  
• NIH Update on Efforts to Address Sexual Harassment in Science - Posted: February 28, 2019

2018 Updates (Archived)

• Notice of the Publication of an NIH Proposal to Amend the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules to Streamline Oversight of Human Gene Transfer Protocols - Release Date: August 16, 2018
  
• Notice of Changes to NICHD Acceptance of Diversity and Re-Entry Supplement Applications - Release Date: August 8, 2018
  
• NIH Synchronizes Institutional Delegations and Now Allows Decimals in Effort Reporting Field in Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR) - Release Date: July 3, 2018
  
• Notice of Elimination of the Interview Requirement for Applicants to RFA-RM-18-010 "NIH Director's Early Independence Awards (DP5 Clinical Trial Optional)" - Release Date: June 27, 2018
• Notice of Fiscal Policies in Effect for FY 2018 - May 16, 2018
  
• Notice of Legislative Mandates in Effect for FY 2018 - May 16, 2018
  
• Transition from Inclusion Management System to New Human Subjects System (HSS) as of June 9, 2018 - Release Date: May 11, 2018
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Stipends, Tuition/Fees and Other Budgetary Levels Effective for Fiscal Year 2018 - Release Date: May 9, 2018
• Correction to Fellowship Administrative Supplement Package Associated with PA-18-591 "Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements" - Release Date: March 13, 2018
• Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements FY 2018 - Release Date: March 7, 2018
• NIH Operates Under a Continuing Resolution Through March 23, 2018 - Release Date: March 7, 2018
• Further Refining Case Studies and FAQs about the NIH Definition of a Clinical Trial in Response to Your Questions - Posted: January 4, 2018

2017 Updates (Archived)

• Be Careful to Pick the Right Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) - Posted: December 7, 2017
• Statement on Article Publication Resulting from NIH Funded Research - Release Date: November 3, 2017
• NIH Plans for Clinical Trial Specific Parent R01 and Parent R21 Funding Opportunity Announcements - Release Date: October 25, 2017
• Publication of the Revised NIH Grants Policy Statement (Rev. October 2017) for FY 2018 - Release Date: October 12, 2017
  This revision is applicable to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements with budget periods beginning on or after October 1, 2017.
  • Summary of Significant Changes to the NIH GPS (PDF) - October 2017
    
  • NIH Grants Policy Statement (PDF) - October 2017
• NIH Operates Under a Continuing Resolution Through December 8, 2017 - Release Date: October 2, 2017
• Policy Supporting the Next Generation Researchers Initiative - Release Date: August 31, 2017
• Revision: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) Predoctoral Stipends, Training Related Expenses, Institutional Allowance, and Tuition/Fees Effective for Fiscal Year 2017 - Release Date: June 27, 2017
• Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance - Release Date: June 23, 2017
• Revision: Notice of Extension of Effective Date for Final NIH Policy on the Use of Single Institution Review Board for Multi-Site Research - Release Date: June 16, 2017
• Next Generation Researchers Initiative - Posted: June 16, 2017
• Notice of Legislative Mandates in Effect for FY 2017 - Release Date: June 9, 2017
• Change to the NIH/AHRQ/NIOSH Policy on Post-Submission Materials for Applications Submitted for Due Dates On or After September 25, 2017 - Release Date: May 30, 2017
• NIH Operates Under a Continuing Resolution - Release Date: March 17, 2017
• Interim Guidance on Salary Limitation for Grants and Cooperative Agreements - Release Date: March 17, 2017
• eRA Enhancements: Two More Prior Approval Requests Go Electronic March 2, 2017 - Tuesday, February 28, 2017
• NIH Implementation of the Interim-RPPR while a Renewal Application is Under Consideration - Release Date:  January 19, 2017
  
• NIH & AHRQ Update Font Guidelines for Applications to Due Dates On or After January 25, 2017 - Release Date: January 4, 2017
  

2016 Updates (Archived)

• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSA) Postdoctoral Stipends, Training Related Expenses, Institutional Allowance, and Tuition/Fees Effective for Fiscal Year 2017 - Release Date: December 15, 2016
  • The above notice on NRSA levels for FY2017 is for postdocs only. NIH has not yet determined NRSA levels for predocs. Until a notice is released, please continue to use the FY2016 levels for grad students and undergrads. Actual levels will be determined at the time of award. 
• NIH Implementation of Final Research Performance Progress Reports (Final RPPR) - Release Date: November 23, 2016
  
• Optional Electronic Submission Method to Request to Submit An Unsolicited Application That Will Exceed $500,000 In Direct Costs - Release Date: October 6, 2016