NIH Grants and Funding
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NIH Staff 
Release Date: March 31, 2016
Expiration Date: May 8, 2019
Introduction
The R21 grant mechanism is intended to encourage exploratory/developmental research by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of project development. The NIH has standardized the Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) application characteristics, requirements, preparation, and review procedures in order to accommodate investigator-initiated (unsolicited) grant applications. See the NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21) page for more information.
There is also a list of ICs that do not accept unsolicited R21 applications. Non-participating ICs might solicit other R21 applications using Requests for Applications (RFAs) or Program Announcements (PAs) to meet specific program needs. Information about such initiatives can be obtained in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts at https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html and by consulting with NIH staff. In some cases those announcements may specify different application characteristics, review criteria, and receipt dates.
NIH Institutes and Centers that accept Investigator-Initiated R21 applications in response to the Parent R21 Announcement - (PA-16-161): NCCIH, NEI, NHGRI, NIA, NIAAA, NIAID, NIAMS, NIDA, NIDCD, NIDCR, NIEHS, NIMH, NIMHD, NINR and NLM.
NIH Institutes and Centers that DO NOT ACCEPT R21 applications in response to the Parent R21 Announcement but ONLY accept R21 applications in response to their specific funding opportunity announcements: FIC, NCI, NCATS, NHLBI, NIDDK, NIGMS, NINDS, and ORIP.
| NIH Institute/Center |
Scientific/Research Contact |
Financial or Grants |
|---|---|---|
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National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) |
NCCIH Program contacts, listed by program portfolio, may be found at: The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) will accept investigator-initiated exploratory/developmental projects (R21) for all program areas supported by the Center. Potential applicants are encouraged to view Research Funding Priorities at http://NCCIH.nih.gov/grants/priorities/. |
Shelley Carow |
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Bettie J. Graham, Ph.D. The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) will accept investigator-initiated exploratory/developmental projects (R21) for all program areas supported by the Institute. NHGRI uses the R21 mechanism for pilot projects or feasibility studies to develop new, and/or to significantly improve existing genomics and proteomics technologies and to encourage high risk/potential high payoff research. Potential applicants are encouraged to review the Institute's goals in its latest program planning document, "A Vision for the Future of Genomics Research," http://www.genome.gov/11007524. |
Deanna L.Ingersoll |
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Dr. Ellen Liberman The National Eye Institute (NEI) will accept investigator-initiated exploratory/developmental projects (R21) for all program areas supported by the Institute. For information regarding specific programmatic priorities, see http://www.nei.nih.gov. The NEI also solicits R21 applications for a specialized program which has particular research objectives and application and review procedures. Information regarding the NEI Research Grant for Secondary Data Analysis is available on our website. |
William W. Darby |
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Sanoj Suneja, Ph.D. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) will accept investigator-initiated exploratory/developmental projects (R21) for all program areas supported by the Institute. For information regarding specific programmatic priorities, see Research Projects. |
Traci Lafferty
Phone: 301-496-8987
FAX: 301-402-3672
Email: laffertt@nia.nih.govov
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Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research
Division of Medications Development Research
Division of Metabolism and Health Effects
Division of Neuroscience and Behavior The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) will accept investigator-initiated exploratory/developmental projects (R21) for all program areas supported by the Institute, particularly those defined as NIAAA special emphasis areas. The Institute's mission statement, extramural research program descriptions, list of special emphasis areas, active program announcements may be found at the NIAAA web site: http://www.niaaa.nih.gov. The NIAAA R21 program provides limited support for exploring the feasibility of innovative or creative research questions within the research interests of the NIAAA. This includes basic and applied research on biochemical, physiological, genetic, and behavioral mechanisms leading to pathological drinking behavior; mechanisms of alcohol-induced organ damage, including fetal injury; and clinical, behavioral, and epidemiological approaches to more effective diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of alcoholism, alcohol abuse and alcohol-related problems. While applications may involve a wide variety of biomedical, behavioral, clinical, sociocultural, or other disciplines, relevance to the mission of the NIAAA must be clear. To obtain more information about existing NIAAA program areas and the corresponding program administrators for R21 awards, please refer to the NIAAA extramural website. |
Judy Fox |
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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) |
Conrad Mallia, Ph.D.
Madelon Halula, PhD
Clayton Huntley, PhD For general information about NIAID support of R03 applications, e-mail NIAIDReceiptReferral@niaid.nih.gov
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) will accept investigator-initiated exploratory/developmental projects (R21) for all program areas supported by the Institute, but will not accept R21 applications that include clinical trials. |
Ann Devine |
|
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) |
For information regarding NIAMS supported scientific areas/programs and contacts, please see: https://www.niams.nih.gov/grants-funding/supported-scientific-areas. |
Andrew Jones |
|
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) |
Randy King, Ph.D. The NIBIB no longer participates in PA-16-161, “NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21)” or in PA-16-040 “Exploratory/Developmental Bioengineering Research Grants (EBRG) (R21)s. NIBIB will continue to accept R21 applications under separate NIBIB Program Announcements For more information see https://www.nibib.nih.gov/research-funding/exploratorydevelopmental-grant-program-r21 |
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National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) |
Contact information can be found at: http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/Research/DER/ContactRA.htm
Integrative Biology and Infectious Diseases Branch
Center for Clinical Research
Translational Genomics Research Branch
Behavioral and Social Science Research Branch For current funding opportunities and contacts, see https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/grantsandfunding/FundingOpportunityAnnouncements/ByTopic.htm |
Dede Rutberg, MBA |
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Tracy Waldeck, Ph.D. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) will accept investigator-initiated exploratory/developmental projects (R21) for all program areas supported by the Institute. NIDA uses the R21 mechanism to provide support for projects in the early stages of developing or testing innovative ideas in any area relevant to the mission of the Institute. Since this mechanism is intended to enable an investigator to receive support for the early and conceptual stages of an innovative research question or approach, preliminary data specific to the proposed project are not expected. Novel scientific ideas, model systems, tools, agents, targets and technologies that have the potential to advance research in substantial ways and relevant to the mission of NIDA are appropriate for this mechanism. Long-term projects or projects designed to establish knowledge in a well-established area should not use the R21mechanism. |
Pam Fleming |
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National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) |
Nancy L. Freeman, Ph.D. For a list of scientific staff, also see Staff Contacts. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) uses the Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21) to support the development of novel ideas, technologies, or methodologies at an early stage of development which have the potential to break new ground or extend toward new directions or applications. The NIDCD supports basic and clinical biomedical and behavioral research in the communication sciences of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech and language. The proposed research must be focused on one or more of these scientific mission areas. |
Christopher Myers |
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Daniel Shaughnessy, Ph.D. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) will accept investigator-initiated research projects using the R21 mechanism for all areas of environmental health science research; particularly those defined as NIEHS special emphasis areas. Details on these areas can be found at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/programs/index.cfm. To obtain more information about existing NIEHS program areas and their corresponding program administrators, see http://www.niehs.nih.gov/funding/grants/contacts.cfm |
Pamela Clark |
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NIMH Program Staff contacts Inquiries may be directed to NIMHReferral@mail.nih.gov. Also, see Division web pages (below) The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) will accept investigator-initiated exploratory/developmental projects (R21) for all program areas supported by the Institute:
Examples of the types of projects supported by NIMH through the R21 program include: pilot or feasibility studies; development of research methodology; high risk studies; development of new research technology; small-scale, self-contained projects; and analysis of existing data sets. |
Rebecca Claycamp, M.S., C.R.A. |
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| National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) |
Rina Das, PhD
The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) will accept investigator-initiated exploratory/developmental projects (R21) for all program areas supported by the Institute. For further information on NIMHD investigator-initiated minority health and health disparities research, please see http://www.nimhd.nih.gov/programs/extra/iir.pdf. |
Priscilla Grant, JD |
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The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) will accept investigator-initiated R21 applications for exploratory/developmental projects in areas that are mission-relevant (http://www.ninr.nih.gov/AboutNINR/NINRMissionandStrategicPlan/). This includes potentially high-risk/high payoff projects in the early stages of development and projects having innovative scientific ideas. Please contact the NINR Program Director listed in the area of science in which you are interested. NINR Program Staff contacts may be found at: http://www.ninr.nih.gov/ResearchAndFunding/ |
Brian Albertini |
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Clinical and Public Health Informatics
Bioinformatics and Translational Informatics
Consumer Informatics The National Library of Medicine (NLM) will accept investigator-initiated R21 applications that explore new areas in its mission relevant areas, which include data science, healthcare/clinical informatics, public health informatics, translational informatics, bioinformatics, consumer health informatics and information sciences. NLM is particularly interested in highly innovative, high-risk/high impact biomedical informatics projects. The range and scope of NLM's research interests is described at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ep/GrantExDev.html. |
Dwight Mowery |
| NIH Institute/Center |
Scientific/Research Contact |
Financial or Grants Management Contact |
|---|---|---|
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The Fogarty International Center (FIC) will not accept investigator initiated R21 applications in response to the Parent R21 FOA. The FIC will use the R21 mechanism only when specified by specific PAs or RFAs that it has initiated or in which it participates. Investigators are encouraged to contact an FIC Program Officer staff within the Division of International Training and Research for assistance with submitting a grant application. Please consult our website, http://www.fic.nih.gov/Programs/Pages/default.aspx for information regarding programmatic structure and priorities. |
None |
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The National Cancer Institute (NCI) will not accept R21 applications in response to the Parent R21 Announcement. NCI will use the R21 mechanism only when specified by specific PAs or RFAs that it has initiated or in which it participates. The currently active announcements are listed on the NCI website at: http://deainfo.nci.nih.gov/funding.htm. |
None |
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National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) |
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) will not accept R21 applications in response to the Parent R21 Announcement. NCATS will use the R21 mechanism only when specified by specific PAs or RFAs that it has initiated or in which it participates. |
None |
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The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) will not accept R21 applications in response to the Parent R21 Announcement. NHLBI will use the R21 mechanism only when specified by specific PAs or RFAs that it has initiated or in which it participates. |
None |
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National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) |
The National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) will not accept R21 applications in response to the Parent R21 Announcement. NIDDK will use the R21 mechanism only when specified by specific PAs or RFAs that it has initiated or in which it participates. View R21 FOAs in which NIDDK participates. |
None |
| National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) | The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) will not accept R21 applications in response to the Parent R21 Announcement. NINDS will use the R21 mechanism only when specified by specific PAs or RFAs that it has initiated or in which it participates. The currently active announcements are listed on the NINDS website at: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Funding/About-Funding/Grant-Mechanisms#R21 Exploratory/Developmental Grant | |
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The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) will not accept R21 applications in response to the Parent R21 Announcement. The NIGMS will use the R21 mechanism only when specified by specific PAs or RFAs that it has initiated or in which it participates. A listing of these is available in the NIGMS R21 Participation Statement. |
None |
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The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) will not accept R21 applications in response to the Parent R21 Announcement. ORIP will use the R21 mechanism only when specified by specific PAs or RFAs that it has initiated or in which it participates. |
None |
