FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about the NIH grants

• What is NIH’s main focus in allocating extramural funds?
• Which organizations are eligible for NIH support?
• Will NIH support collaborations between industry and academia?
• Can I apply for a grant on my own or do I have to apply for a specific NIH solicitation?
• How much money may I request?
• Does the NIH also cover indirect expenses?
• For how many years will they fund my project?
• Does the NIH support clinical trials?
• What is NIH’s review criteria?
• What is the SBIR?
• Does NIH participate in the SBIR program?
• Are small businesses limited to applying to the NIH’s SBIR/STTR programs?
• Are there any other major limitations regarding SBIR programs?
• Must I conduct the research in-house?
• Why would NIH fund foreign organizations?
• Must the PI be a member of the submitting organization?

Q: What is NIH’s main focus in allocating extramural funds?
A: The goal of NIH research is to acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and disability, from the rarest genetic disorder to the common cold. The NIH mission is to uncover new knowledge that will lead to better health for everyone. NIH works toward that mission by conducting research in its own laboratories as well as supporting the research of non-Federal scientists in universities, medical schools, hospitals, research institutions and privately owned companies throughout the country and abroad.
 
Q: Which organizations are eligible for NIH support?
A: Generally, all organizations, whether for-profit or not for-profit, whether foreign or domestic, and whether academic or commercial, are eligible for NIH support, unless specifically stated otherwise in the description of a certain grant mechanism or solicitation.
 
Q: Will NIH support collaborations between industry and academia?
A: Yes. NIH supports joint research by academic institutes and private companies, as well research initiatives between a consortium of private companies.
 
Q: Can I apply for a grant on my own or do I have to apply for a specific NIH solicitation?
A: The NIH solicitations are published by the NIH on its website and are used to support research in a well defined scientific area and/or in a high priority program. Nonetheless, in 2003 more than 80% of the awards allocated were unsolicited (investor-initiated research grants). The investigator initiates the research and submits a grant application within an area that is relevant to the NIH.
 
Q: How much money may I request?
A: The amount of money you may request varies from one mechanism to another. In the most popular mechanism, known as “RO1,” there is virtually no limit to how much you may request. Nevertheless, the NIH offers three budgetary models.

• Up to $250K/year: Modular Budget allows a grantee to ask for as much as ten modules of $25K (i.e. $250K) for each year of the research project. For Modular Budgets, the grantee is not required to submit a detailed budget.
• $250K-$500K/year: requires the submission of a detailed and itemized budget.
• $500K+/year: Requires a detailed budget and a prior letter of approval for large budgets (ARA) from the expected funding Institute within the NIH.

Q: Does the NIH also cover indirect expenses?
A: Yes, the NIH will cover the F&A (Facility & Administration) cost as an additional percentage based on the presented budget. Foreign grantees will receive F&A costs of 8% of the approved budget, and US grantees will usually receive 15%-30% (subject to negotiations with the NIH once an application has been approved for funding). Some American institutions have a fixed negotiated rate.
 
Q: For how many years will they fund my project?
A: Funding is usually for a period of one to five years. Nevertheless, an extension of funding for additional years may be requested.
 
Q: Does the NIH support clinical trials?
A: The NIH will usually support basic research and pre-clinical projects, up until Phase I and sometimes Phase II of clinical trials.
 
Q: What is NIH’s review criteria?
A:

• SIGNIFICANCE - How will scientific knowledge be advanced by your project?
• INVESTIGATOR - Is the Principal Investigator appropriately trained and well suited to carry out this work? Is the PI well known in the scientific community?
• APPROACH - How well do your preliminary data, conceptual framework, design, methods, and analyses support the aims of the project?
• INNOVATION - Are your aims original and innovative? Does your project employ novel concepts, approaches or methods? Does it challenge existing paradigms or develop new methodologies or technologies?
• ENVIRONMENT – Do you have sufficient facilities and institutional support for your project?

 
Q: What is the SBIR?
A: The Small Business Innovative Research is a federal set-aside program aimed at supporting R&D in US owned small businesses ( companies with less than 500 employees ).
 
Q: Does NIH participate in the SBIR program?
A: Yes. NIH is one of 10 federal agencies which set aside 2.5% of the total funds they award for research grants to be distributed through SBIR.
 
Q: Are small businesses limited to applying to the NIH’s SBIR/STTR programs?
A: No. Small businesses may also compete for the other 97% of NIH’s funds.
 
Q: Are there any other major limitations regarding SBIR programs?
A: Yes, companies must be located within the US, must be at least 51% owned and controlled by one or more individuals who are citizens of, or permanent resident aliens in, the United States.
 
Q: Must I conduct the research in-house?
A: No. The use of consultants and collaborations is allowed and sometimes encouraged. However, the SBIR and STTR programs have limits on the percentage of work which may be done outside the grantee organization.
 
Q: Why would NIH fund foreign organizations?
A: The NIH funds foreign entities when they can prove that the research they’re planning cannot be done as well domestically, whether due to a unique feature of their personnel, expertise, intellectual property, resources, location, pool of potential subjects, etc.

Q: Must the PI be a member of the submitting organization?
A: NO. The Principal Investigator is the leader of the research project and will have to be heavily involved with the project. Nonetheless, the PI must be fully committed to the project, but doesn’t have to be a member of the submitting organization.
 
Official Disclaimer: The above Questions and Answers do not comprise official information from the NIH but rather were developed by FreeMind staff based on their experience with the NIH. FreeMind will not be liable for any loss sustained in reliance on this information. You are encouraged to seek official answers to any specific questions directly from the NIH.
 

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