Learn how NIH approaches grant funding and how your research fits a research portfolio.

• Find the Right Fit for Your Research
• What Does NIH Look For?
• Who Is Eligible?
• Types of Grant Programs
• Types of Applications
• Understand Funding Opportunities

Find funding opportunities, get to know the submission process, and learn tips and strategies for planning and organizing your application.

• Understand NIH
• Use RePORTER To Help Identify Where Your Research Fits
• Contact NIH Staff
• Understand Funding Opportunities
• Find a Funding Opportunity
• Determine Application Submission Date
• Plan Within Your Organization
• Obtain Any Prior Approvals From NIH
• Get To Know the NIH Peer Review Process & Criteria
• Consider These Additional Application Elements
• Clinical Trial Requirements for Grants and Contracts
• Decision Support Tool: Features to Consider in Determining if a Clinical Trial is Phase II or Phase III (PDF)
• Organize Your Time To Complete the Application

Six to eight weeks before submission, make sure you have met all of the registration requirements, review the different types of FOAs and applications, and choose the most appropriate submission option.

• Systems and Roles
• Register
• Understand Funding Opportunities
• Clinical Trial Requirements for Grants and Contracts
• Decision Support Tool: Features to Consider in Determining if a Clinical Trial is Phase II or Phase III (PDF)
• Types of Applications
• Submission Options
• Obtain Software
• Application Due Dates
• Foreign Grants
• Grant Writing Tip Sheets
• Protocol Templates for Clinical Trials
• How To Apply – Video Tutorials

Find application forms and get tips for developing your budget and formatting attachments.

• Write Your Application
• Develop Your Budget
• Request a Scientific Review Group
• Format Attachments
• Page Limits
• Data Tables
• Reference Letters
• Biosketches
• Forms and Instructions Library

No matter your career stage, we strongly encourage you to communicate with NIH staff throughout the life cycle of every grant. The best people to talk with about the scientific, review, or administrative information in your application or award are in the NIH Institute or Center that may fund the grant. Learn about the different NIH staff roles and how you can contact the right person at each phase of the application and award process.

• Contacting Staff at the NIH Institutes and Centers
• Find NIH Program Officials in Your Research Area
• NIH Disease Prevention-Related Programs, Offices, and Divisions

Submit your application at least 2 days before the due date to make sure you have time to review it and correct any errors. Track and view your application to confirm it has been received and is correct.

• Submission Policies
• Before You Apply: Request a Scientific Review Group
• Submitting Your Application
• Submit, Track, and View
• How NIH Checks for Completeness
• Submit a Changed/Corrected Application

Most applications are assigned to the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) study sections for review, while about 30% of the applications are reviewed by review groups organized by an NIH Institute or Center. Learn how you can request a specific assignment, as well as what happens to your application after it is received.

• Submission & Assignment Process
• CSR Study Sections
• Prevention-Related Study Sections 
• What Happens to Your Application During and After Review?

Grant applications are reviewed through a rigorous two-stage process. The first level of review is primarily done by non-federal scientists, while the second level of review is performed by Advisory Councils or Boards.

• Overview
• Simplifying Review of Research Project Grant Applications
• First Level of Review – Scientific Review Groups
• Second Level of Review – Advisory Council/Board
• Post-Review
• Frequently Asked Questions for Applicants
• Peer Review Webinars & Videos
• NIH Peer Review Briefing for Basic Research Applicants and Reviewers (Video)
• Eight Ways To Successfully Navigate NIH Peer Review and Get an R01 Grant (Video)
• Eight Ways To Successfully Navigate NIH Peer Review and Get a Fellowship Grant (Video)

If you score well in peer review, your application is reviewed by the Advisory Council of the Institute or Center (IC). You may be asked to submit additional information, just in time for the award. After that, final administrative reviews are conducted and Notice of Award documents are sent to successful applicants.

• Roles and Responsibilities
• Pre-Award Process – Competing Applications
• Pre-Award Process – Non-Competing Awards
• Award Process

NIH monitors grants carefully. Active monitoring includes reports and correspondence from the grantee, audit reports, site visits, and other information.

• Policy & Compliance