Make a Perfect Pair with NIH Matchmaker

While we know that Valentine's Day has come and gone this year, we do have a tool that can still help you find the perfect match at NIH for your research.   

There are plenty of fish in the sea of NIH institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs), of which 24 make grant awards. To get a grant, your project must fit the mission of at least one NIH Institute, Center, or Office (ICO) that participates in your chosen funding opportunity. Each NIH ICO has its own scientific mission, priorities, and budget (see their ICO Profile pages to learn more).   

To help you catch the right fish, our Matchmaker tool in RePORTER can help you determine which ICO may be interested in your idea, which NIH program official you may want to contact and which study section you might suggest for application review (see our video demonstration of Matchmaker):  

• Simply enter your abstract or key terms into the search field. Include enough detail to generate the precise match possible.
• Choose one of the options: 
• Similar Projects:  
  • Allows you to explore NIH funded projects that closely match,  
  • See which ICs funded those projects
  • View which study sections reviewed the applications and examine the award details.
• Similar Program Officials:
  • Allows you to identify the NIH program officials whose grant portfolios align with your topic   
  • Explore the awards in those portfolios and the ICs
  • Access the email addresses so you can contact the program officials.
• Explore and refine your results by using the interactive charts and filters.   

When in doubt, reach out – NIH staff are here to help you navigate the grants process and find the right fit for your research.