NIBIB Funding Policies and Considerations

Overarching Philosophy

In service of NIBIB’s mission to develop enabling technologies to benefit the broader biomedical community, the Institute prioritizes support for a broad portfolio of investigator-initiated technology development research projects, complemented by a select number of Institute-developed programs to fill critical pipeline gaps.

NIBIB is committed to funding the largest number of meritorious projects possible, while allowing flexibility to support selected program and agency priorities, achieve alignment with the NIH Unified Funding Strategy, and respond to emerging scientific opportunities.

For all grant programs, NIBIB will prioritize scientific merit when making funding decisions. Other factors considered in making funding decisions include: program priorities, investigator career stage, investigator funding levels, overall portfolio balance, and availability of funds.

Sustainability of the Research Workforce

• NIBIB prioritizes sustaining the research workforce consistent with the NIH Policy Supporting the Next Generation Researchers Initiative. 
• NIBIB considers investigator career stage by including the following as program priorities: 
  • Early-Stage Investigators (ESIs) applications.
  • New Investigator (NI) applications.
  • First-renewal applications of NIBIB ESI awardees.
  • Applications from investigators who have had substantial, independent NIH funding as a PI and, unless successful in securing a substantial research grant award in the current fiscal year, will have no substantial research grant funding in the following fiscal year.

Competing Grant Applications

• Adjustments to Requested Budget Levels: Award budgets will be considered on a case-by-case basis and could be reduced to reflect the need, competing opportunities, and NIBIB budget.
• Parent R01s: For all competing R01 applications selected for funding from NIH parent R01 announcements, the NIBIB will reduce the awarded budget to below the peer review recommended level support and will limit award duration to four years. ESI applications and applications requesting a modular budget will be cut by an average of 10%. Non-modular and non-ESI applications will be cut by an average of 20%.  Budget reductions will depend on factors such as comments in the summary statement, availability of other support, and program priorities.
• Non-Parent Special Initiatives: Budgets are decided on a case-by-case basis. The awarded budget and project duration may be reduced from the peer review recommended support and project duration. 
• Bridge Funding: NIBIB will consider one year bridge funding via the R56 mechanism to meritorious-but-unfunded R01 applications to allow for additional work on the proposed project in support of a resubmission application.
• Grant Applications Requesting $500K or More in Direct Costs in Any One Year: When determining the award budget for a grant, NIBIB will continue to consider the strategic priority of the proposed project, the nature of the science being conducted, the other support of the proposing investigator(s), the lnstitute's budget, and other factors. Grant awards with budgets exceeding $500,000 direct costs will be provided only in rare, highly compelling cases to ensure that the NIBIB funds a broad group of investigators and provides funding across its mission areas.  Applicants are highly encouraged to contact an NIBIB Program Director prior to applying to confirm NIBIB mission relevance and strength of programmatic priority of their proposed project. 

Non-Competing Continuation Grants (Type 5)

• NIBIB will support Type 5 awards at their committed level.