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NIH Planning Grant Program (R34)

Introduction

The NIH Planning Grant Program (R34) provides support for the initial development of a clinical trial or research project. This program may support:

  • establishment of the research team,
  • development of tools for data management and research oversight
  • development of a trial design or experimental research designs 
  • finalization of the protocol
  • preparation of an operations/procedures manual
  • pilot studies or collection of feasibility data for subsequent research projects*

*When used as a planning grant for clinical trials, this program is not designed for the collection of preliminary data or the conduct of pilot studies to support the rationale for a clinical trial.

R34 Characteristics
  • Renewal applications not allowed
  • Project period limited to 3 years
  • Direct costs limited to $225,000 per year and $450,000 over the 3-year project period
  • Modular budgets required except for applications from foreign institutions
  • Funding opportunity should define outcomes to be achieved by the end of the project period
  • For a list of institutes and centers participating in the R34 program, see your funding opportunity.

For clinical trials, the planning grant is designed to:

  • permit early peer review of the rationale and concept for the proposed clinical trial;
  • support development of essential elements of a clinical trial
  • lead to an application for support of a full-scale trial, based on elements developed under the planning period

Due Dates

Standard receipt dates are February 16June 16, and October 16. AIDS and AIDS-related grant application due dates are May 7, September 7, and January 7. For additional information, the receipt, review and award cycle schedules are posted on: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/submissionschedule.htm.

Related Activity Codes
  • U34 Planning Cooperative Agreement
  • P20 Exploratory Grant (multicomponent)

Active Funding Opportunities