NIH uses activity codes (e.g. R01, R43, etc.) to differentiate the wide variety of research-related programs we support. NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) may vary in the way they use activity codes; not all ICs accept applications for all types of grant programs or they apply specialized eligibility criteria. Look closely at Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) to determine which ICs participate and the specifics of eligibility.
Important note: NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) may vary in the way they use activity codes; not all ICs accept applications for all types of grant programs or they apply specialized eligibility criteria. Look closely at funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) to determine which ICs participate and the specifics of eligibility.
Used to support a discrete, specified, circumscribed research project
NIH's most commonly used grant program
No specific dollar limit unless specified in FOA
Advance permission required for $500K or more (direct costs) in any year
Generally awarded for 3-5 years
Utilized by all ICs
See parent FOAs: PA-20-183 (Clinical Trial Required), PA-20-184 (Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required), and PA-20-185 (Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Provides limited funding for a short period of time to support a variety of types of projects, including: pilot or feasibility studies, collection of preliminary data, secondary analysis of existing data, small, self-contained research projects, development of new research technology, etc.
Support small research projects in the biomedical and behavioral sciences conducted by undergraduate and/or graduate students and faculty in institutions of higher education that have not been major recipients of NIH research grant funds
NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21)
Encourages new, exploratory and developmental research projects by providing support for the early stages of project development. Sometimes used for pilot and feasibility studies.
Limited to up to two years of funding
Combined budget for direct costs for the two year project period usually may not exceed $275,000.
No preliminary data is generally required
Most ICs utilize
See parent FOAs: PA-20-194 (Clinical Trial Required), PA-20-195 (Clinical Trial Not Allowed), and PA-20-196 (Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
Designed to permit early peer review of the rationale for the proposed clinical trial and support development of essential elements of a clinical trial
Usually project period of one year, sometimes up to 3
Usually, allows for a budget of up to $100,000 direct costs, sometimes up to $450,000
Intended to stimulate scientific and technological innovation through cooperative research/research and development (R/R&D) carried out between small business concerns (SBCs) and research institutions (RIs)
Fosters technology transfer between SBCs and RIs
Assists the small business and research communities in commercializing innovative technologies
Three-phase structure:
I - Feasibility study to establish scientific/technical merit of the proposed R/R&D efforts (generally 6 months to 2 years; normally may not exceed $295,924)
II - Full R/R&D efforts initiated in Phase I (generally 1 to 3 years; normally may not exceed $1,972,828)
III- Commercialization stage (cannot use STTR funds)
Eligibility limited to U.S. small business concerns
Project Director/Principal investigator (PD/PI) may be employed with the SBC or the participating non-profit research institution as long as he/she has a formal appointment with or commitment to the applicant SBC.
Intended to stimulate technological innovation in the private sector by supporting research or research and development (R/R&D) for for-profit institutions for ideas that have potential for commercialization
Assists the small business research community in commercializing innovative technologies
Three-phase structure:
I - Feasibility study to establish scientific/technical merit of the proposed R/R&D efforts (generally 6 months to 2 years; normally may not exceed $295,924)
II - Full research or R&D efforts initiated in Phase I (generally 1 to 3 years; normally may not exceed $1,972,828)
III- Commercialization stage (cannot use SBIR funds)
Eligibility limited to U.S. small business concerns
The primary employment of the Project Director/Principal investigator (PD/PI) must be with the small business concern.
Will fund, for one or two years, high-priority new or competing renewal R01 applications with priority scores or percentiles that fall just outside the funding limits of participating NIH Institutes and Centers (IC). Investigators may not apply for R56 grants.
U01
Research Project Cooperative Agreement
Supports discrete, specified, circumscribed projects to be performed by investigator(s) in an area representing their specific interests and competencies
Used when substantial programmatic involvement is anticipated between the awarding Institute and Center
Provides up to five years of support consisting of two phases
I - will provide 1-2 years of mentored support for highly promising, postdoctoral research scientists
II - up to 3 years of independent support contingent on securing an independent research position
Award recipients will be expected to compete successfully for independent R01 support from the NIH during the career transition award period
Eligible Principal Investigators include outstanding postdoctoral candidates who have terminal clinical or research doctorates who have no more than 4 years of postdoctoral research training
Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply
PI does not have to be a U.S. citizen
See parent FOAs: PA-20-187 (Independent Clinical Trial Required), PA-20-188 (Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed), and PA-20-189 ( Independent Basic Experimental Studies with Humans Required)
Program Project/Center Grants (P series)
The following represents the most frequently used programs. A comprehensive list of all activity codes is also available. Program project/center grants are large, multi-project efforts that generally include a diverse array of research activities. NIH Institutes and Centers issue funding opportunity announcements to indicate their interest in funding this type of program.
Centers (ICs) may vary in the way they use activity codes. Look closely at funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) to determine which ICs participate and the specifics of eligibility.
P01
Research Program Project Grant
Support for integrated, multi-project research projects involving a number of independent investigators who share knowledge and common resources
Each project contributes or is directly related to the common theme of the total research effort, thus forming a system of research activities and projects directed toward a well-defined research program goal
Specific dollar limit unless specified in FOA
P20
Exploratory Grants
Often used to support planning activities associated with large multi-project program project grants
P30
Center Core Grants
To support shared resources and facilities for categorical research by a number of investigators from different disciplines who provide a multidisciplinary approach to a joint research effort or from the same discipline who focus on a common research problem.
The core grant is integrated with the center's component projects or program projects, though funded independently from them.
P50
Specialized Center
To support any part of the full range of research and development from very basic to clinical
May involve ancillary supportive activities such as protracted patient care necessary to the primary research or R&D effort.
The spectrum of activities comprises a multidisciplinary attack on a specific disease entity or biomedical problem area.
Receive continuous attention from staff funding IC.
Centers may serve as regional or national resources for special research purposes.
Resource Grants
The following represent some of the more frequently used types of grant programs that provide research-related support or access to resources. This list is by no means exhaustive. A comprehensive list of all activity codes is also available.
Important note: NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) may vary in the way they use activity codes; not all ICs accept applications for all types of grant programs or they apply specialized eligibility criteria. Look closely at funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) to determine which ICs participate and the specifics of eligibility.
R24
Resource-Related Research Projects
Used in a wide variety of ways to provide resources to research projects or to enhance research infrastructure
R25
Education Projects
Used in a wide variety of ways to promote an appreciation for and interest in biomedical research, provide additional training in specific areas, and/or to develop ways to disseminate scientific discovery into public health and community applications
X01
Resource Access Program
A Program to invite eligible institutions to seek access to NIH research resources. This includes programs where institutions will request access to submit to the resource, e.g., high throughput screening assays. It also includes programs where access to a specific NIH research resource is needed to conduct certain research.
The Common Fund has been used to support a series of short term, exceptionally high impact, trans-NIH programs known collectively as the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research. As the Common Fund grows, and research opportunities and needs emerge in the scientific community, the portfolio of programs supported by the Common Fund will likely evolve to encompass a diverse set of trans-NIH programs, although the NIH Roadmap is likely to remain a central component.
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)
Program with listing of NIH Recipients since 1996. NIH nominates investigator for this award.
NIH Grants and Funding
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NIH Staff 
may vary in the way they use activity codes; not all ICs accept applications for all types of grant programs or they apply specialized eligibility criteria. Look closely at Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) to determine which ICs participate and the specifics of eligibility.