Understand Funding Opportunities

Find and Evaluate NIH Funding Opportunities

Keep these points in mind when you choose a funding opportunity.

Learn to search for funding opportunities:

• NIH posts all opportunities in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts and Grants.gov.
• Choose a funding opportunity specific to your area of interest or apply to one of our generic Parent Announcements for Unsolicited or Investigator-Initiated Applications.
• Find more guidance on how to Find Your Opportunity, Contacts, and Due Dates.

You must submit applications in response to a specific funding opportunity.

• Use the instructions in the funding opportunity in conjunction with the How to Apply – Application Guide to prepare your application. If instructions conflict, follow the hierarchy listed at Write Application.
• To access and complete fillable application forms, you must use one of the Submission Options (ASSIST, institutional system-to-system solution, Workspace). There is not a generic application form package that can be downloaded and submitted to NIH.

When you evaluate an opportunity notice:

• Pay particular attention to the opportunity’s review criteria and write your application with these criteria in mind.
• Make sure that the NIH institute, center, or office (ICO) that might be interested in your research is listed as a participating organization in the funding opportunity or notice of special interest (NOSI).
• Read the opportunity carefully for any opportunity-specific requirements.
• Some opportunities allow only certain Types of Applications, such as new, renewal, or competing revision.
• If your application includes a clinical trial, you must choose a funding opportunity that allows clinical trials. (This is true even if other studies on the same application are not clinical trials.) Learn more about Clinical Trial-Specific Funding Opportunities.

After you choose a funding opportunity and before you submit an application:

• We encourage you to contact NIH scientific/program staff listed in the funding opportunity to discuss your application.
• Return to the funding opportunity to check the Related Notices section for any updates. Ensure you are in line with the most recent guidance.

Pay attention to notices posted in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts.

• Notices may highlight topics of special interest to NIH or update key aspects of funding opportunities.
• Guidance included in notices supersedes guidance in the funding opportunity and application guide.