There are numerous grant mechanisms available to each institute at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support research related to their mission. Each mechanism has a specific purpose and each institute uses a mix of mechanisms to structure its research portfolio. This webpage provides a description of mechanisms used by NIEHS along with application guidelines for selected mechanisms.

FY2020 Extramural Grants Distribution, FY2020 Grants: $378 million
Mechanism Description
F 30

Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (ADAMHA)
Individual fellowships for predoctoral training which leads to the combined M.D./Ph.D. degrees.

F 31

Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award
To provide predoctoral individuals with supervised research training in specified health and health-related areas leading toward the research degree (e.g., Ph.D.).

F 32

Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award
To provide postdoctoral research training to individuals to broaden their scientific background and extend their potential for research in specified health-related areas.

F 33

National Research Service Awards for Senior Fellows
To provide opportunities for experienced scientists to make major changes in the direction of research careers, to broaden scientific background, to acquire new research capabilities, to enlarge command of an allied research field, or to take time from regular professional responsibilities for the purpose of increasing capabilities to engage in health-related research.

K 01

Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training
For support of a scientist, committed to research, in need of both advanced research training and additional experience.

K 02

Research Scientist Development Award - Research
For support of a scientist, committed to research, in need of both advanced research training and additional experience.

K 08

Clinical Investigator Award (CIA)
To provide the opportunity for promising medical scientists with demonstrated aptitude to develop into independent investigators, or for faculty members to pursue research aspects of categorical areas applicable to the awarding unit, and aid in filling the academic faculty gap in these shortage areas within health profession's institutions of the country.

K 23

Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award
To provide support for the career development of investigators who have made a commitment of focus their research endeavors on patient-oriented research. This mechanism provides support for a 3 year minimum up to 5 year period of supervised study and research for clinically trained professionals who have the potential to develop into productive, clinical investigators.

K 24

Midcareer Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research
To provide support for the clinicians to allow them protected time to devote to patient-oriented research and to act as mentors for beginning clinical investigators.

K 25

Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award
To engender and foster such activities by supporting the career development of investigators with quantitative scientific and engineering backgrounds outside of biology or medicine who have made a commitment to focus their research endeavors on behavioral and biomedical research (basic or clinical). This mechanism is aimed at research-oriented scientists with experience at the level of junior faculty (e.g., early to mid-levels of assistant professor or research assistant professor ranks). This award provides support for a period of mentored study and research for professionals with such backgrounds who have the potential to integrate their expertise with biomedicine and develop into productive investigators.

Examples of quantitative scientific and technical backgrounds outside of biology or medicine considered appropriate for this award include, but are not limited to: mathematics, statistics, computer science, informatics, physics, chemistry, and engineering.

K 99/ R 00

NIH Pathway to Independence Award
To increase and maintain a strong cohort of new and talented, NIH-supported, independent investigators. This program is designed to facilitate a timely transition of outstanding postdoctoral researchers from mentored, postdoctoral research positions to independent, tenure-track or equivalent faculty positions, and to provide independent NIH research support during the transition that will help these individuals launch competitive, independent research careers.

Examples of quantitative scientific and technical backgrounds outside of biology or medicine considered appropriate for this award include, but are not limited to: mathematics, statistics, computer science, informatics, physics, chemistry, and engineering.

L 30

Loan Repayment Program for Clinical Researchers
To provide for the repayment of the educational loan debt of qualified health professionals involved in clinical research and interacting with human patients in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Qualified health professionals who contractually agree to conduct qualified clinical research are eligible to apply for this program.

L 40

Loan Repayment Program for Pediatric Research
To provide for the repayment of the educational loan debt of qualified health professionals involved in research directly related to diseases, disorders, and other conditions in children. Qualified health professionals who contractually agree to conduct qualified pediatric research are eligible to apply for this program.

L 60

Loan Repayment Program for Health Disparities
To provide for the repayment of the educational loan debt of qualified health professionals involved in research that focuses on that focuses on minority health disparities or other health disparities. Qualified health professionals who contractually agree to conduct qualified health disparities research are eligible to apply for this program.

P 01

Program Project Grants  
For the support of a broadly based, multidisciplinary, often long-term research program which has a specific major objective or a basic theme. A program project generally involves the organized efforts of relatively large groups, members of which are conducting research projects designed to elucidate the various aspects or components of this objective. Each research project is usually under the leadership of an established investigator. The grant can provide support for certain basic resources used by these groups in the program, including clinical components, the sharing of which facilitates the total research effort. A program project is directed toward a range of problems having a central research focus, in contrast to the usually narrower thrust of the traditional research project. Each project supported through this mechanism should contribute or be directly related to the common theme of the total research effort. These scientifically meritorious projects should demonstrate an essential element of unity and interdependence, i.e., a system of research activities and projects directed toward a well-defined research program goal.

P 20

Planning Grants
To support planning for new programs, expansion or modification of existing resources, and feasibility studies to explore various approaches to the development of interdisciplinary programs that offer potential solutions to problems of special significance to the mission of the NIH. These exploratory studies may lead to specialized or comprehensive centers.

P 30

Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers
The NIEHS uses this mechanism for its EHS Core Centers Program. Its purpose is to support shared resources and facilities for categorical research by a number of investigators from different disciplines who provide a multidisciplinary approach to a joint research effort or from the same discipline who focus on a common research problem. The core grant is integrated with the center's component projects or program projects, though funded independently from them. This support, by providing more accessible resources, is expected to assure a greater productivity than from the separate projects and program projects.

P 42

Hazardous Substances Research Grants Program (NIEHS)
The NIEHS uses this mechanism for its Superfund Research Program. This mechanism is used to support basic research directed towards understanding and attenuating the public health effects resulting from exposure to hazardous substances, including 1) advanced techniques for detection, assessment and evaluation of the effects on human health of hazardous substances; 2) methods to assess risks to human health presented by hazardous substances; 3) methods and technologies to detect hazardous substances in the environment and 4) basic biological, chemical, and physical methods to reduce the amount and toxicity of hazardous substances. This special program, authorized under Superfund legislation, is for a broadly based, multi-disciplinary research effort which must include biomedical research components and which may include research components related to engineering, hydrogeology, ecology and epidemiology so long as they are linked to basic biomedical science. Each research project is generally under the leadership of an established investigator. The grant can provide support for certain basic resources used by the groups in the program (cores), including an administrative structure for effective coordination.

P 50

Centers of Research Translation
To support any part of the full range of research and development from very basic to clinical; may involve ancillary supportive activities such as protracted patient care necessary to the primary research or R&D effort. The spectrum of activities comprises a multidisciplinary attack on a specific disease entity or biomedical problem area. These grants differ from program project grants in that they are usually developed in response to an announcement of the programmatic needs of an institute or division and subsequently receive continuous attention from its staff. Centers may also serve as regional or national resources for special research purposes.

R 01

Research Project Grants
To support a discrete, specified, circumscribed project to be performed by the named investigator(s) in an area representing his specific interest and competencies.

R 03

Small Grant Programs
To provide research support specifically limited in time and amount for studies in categorical program areas. Small grants provide flexibility for initiating studies which are generally for preliminary short-term projects and are non-renewable.

R 13

Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings
To support recipient sponsored and directed international, national or regional meetings, conferences and workshops.

R 15

Academic Research Enhancement Awards (AREA)
To support small scale research projects conducted by faculty at primarily undergraduate degree-granting domestic institutions. Awards are for up to $300,000 in direct costs (plus applicable indirect costs) for periods not to exceed 36 months.

Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP)
To support small scale research projects conducted by faculty at health professional schools and graduate schools of institutions that do not receive a lot of NIH funding. Awards are for up to $300,000 in direct costs (plus applicable indirect costs) for periods not to exceed 36 months.

More information on AREA and REAP awards is available.

R 21

Exploratory/Developmental Research Grants
To encourage the development of new research activities in categorical program areas. (Support generally is restricted in level of support and in time.)

R 25

Education Projects
For support to develop and/or implement a program as it relates to a category in one or more of the areas of education, information, training, technical assistance, coordination, or evaluation.

R 33

Exploratory/Developmental Grants Phase II
The R33 award is to provide a second phase for the support for innovative exploratory and development research activities initiated under the R21 mechanism. Although only R21 awardees are generally eligible to apply for R33 support, specific program initiatives may establish eligibility criteria under which applications could be accepted from applicants demonstrating progress equivalent to that expected under R33.

R 35

Outstanding Investigator Award
To provide long term support to an experienced investigator with an outstanding record of research productivity. This support is intended to encourage investigators to embark on long-term projects of unusual potential.

More information on the implementation of the R35 mechanism at NIEHS is available.

R 41

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants - Phase I
To support cooperative R&D projects between small business concerns and research institutions, limited in time and amount, to establish the technical merit and feasibility of ideas that have potential for commercialization. Awards are made to small business concerns only.

R 42

Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants - Phase II
To support in-depth development of cooperative R&D projects between small business concerns and research institutions, limited in time and amount, whose feasibility has been established in Phase I and that have potential for commercialization. Awards are made to small business concerns only. NIEHS also allows Fast-track mechanism which incorporates a submission and review process of both Phase I and Phase II grant applications together as one application.

R 43

Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase I
To support projects, limited in time and amount, to establish the technical merit and feasibility of R&D ideas which may ultimately lead to a commercial product(s) or service(s).

R 44

Small Business Innovation Research Grants (SBIR) - Phase II
To support in-depth development of R&D ideas whose feasibility has been established in Phase I and which are likely to result in commercial products or services. NIEHS also allows Fast-track mechanism which incorporates a submission and review process of both Phase I and Phase II grant applications together as one application.

R 56

High Priority, Short Term Project Award
To provide limited interim research support based on the merit of a pending R01 application while applicant gathers additional data to revise a new or competing renewal application. This grant will underwrite highly meritorious applications that if given the opportunity to revise their application could meet IC recommended standards and would be missed opportunities if not funded. Interim funded ends when the applicant succeeds in obtaining an R01 or other competing award built on the R56 grant. These awards are not renewable.

S 11

Advanced Research Cooperation in Environmental Health (ARCH)
To promote increased faculty and interdepartmental collaboration through programs that focus on specific research themes or scientific disciplines at developing minority institutions. These grants are intended to strengthen the biomedical research capability in defined areas and to attract other competent biomedical scientists through an improved research environment.

T 32

Institutional Research Training
To enable institutions to make National Research Service Awards to individuals selected by them for predoctoral and postdoctoral research training in specified shortage areas.

T 35

NRSA Short-Term Research Training
To provide individuals with research training during off-quarters or summer periods to encourage research careers and/or research in areas of national need.

U 01

Research Project--Cooperative Agreements
To support a discrete, specified, circumscribed project to be performed by the named investigator(s) in an area representing his specific interest and competencies.

U 13

Conference-Cooperative Agreement
To support international, national or regional meetings, conferences and workshops where substantial programmatic involvement is planned to assist the recipient.

U 19

Research Program--Cooperative Agreements
To support a research program of multiple projects directed toward a specific major objective, basic theme or program goal, requiring a broadly based, multidisciplinary and often long-term approach. A cooperative agreement research program generally involves the organized efforts of large groups, members of which are conducting research projects designed to elucidate the various aspects of a specific objective. Substantial Federal programmatic staff involvement is intended to assist investigators during performance of the research activities, as defined in the terms and conditions of award. The investigators have primary authorities and responsibilities to define research objectives and approaches, and to plan, conduct, analyze, and publish results, interpretations and conclusions of their studies. Each research project is usually under the leadership of an established investigator in an area representing his/her special interest and competencies. Each project supported through this mechanism should contribute to or be directly related to the common theme of the total research effort. The award can provide support for certain basic shared resources, including clinical components, which facilitate the total research effort. These scientifically meritorious projects should demonstrate an essential element of unity and interdependence.

U 45

Hazardous Waste Worker Health and Safety Training Cooperative Agreements (NIEHS)
To develop, implement, and evaluate programs to train workers who are or may be engaged in activities related to hazardous waste removal, containment, or emergency response.

U 54

Specialized Center Cooperative Agreements
To support any part of the full range of research and development from very basic to clinical; may involve ancillary supportive activities such as protracted patient care necessary to the primary research or R&D effort. The spectrum of activities comprises a multidisciplinary attack on a specific disease entity or biomedical problem area. These differ from program project in that they are usually developed in response to an announcement of the programmatic needs of an institute or division and subsequently receive continuous attention from its staff. Centers may also serve as regional or national resources for special research purposes, with funding component staff helping to identify appropriate priority needs.

U H4

Hazmat Training at DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex
To develop, implement, and evaluate programs to train workers who are or may be engaged in activities related to hazardous waste removal, containment, or emergency response at the DOE Nuclear Weapons Complex. This is the single project equivalent to the U45