applying for a research grant

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U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services

Learn the nuts and bolts of the NIH grant process, how the review process works, and how to prepare your grant application for success.

Guidance for prospective grantees and those preparing a grant application

Issued by: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Issue Date: October 01, 2019

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Applying for a grant can be challenging—understanding the process can help. Learn the nuts and bolts of the NIH grant process, how the review process works, and how to prepare your grant application for success.

About the NIH Grants Process

Get an orientation to NIH funding, how the grants process works and how to apply, and how NIAMS makes its grant funding decisions.

• Investigator : Initiates research idea. Develops application.
• Research Institution or School : Submits applications to NIH electronically through Grants.gov .
• Initial Review Group : (also called Study Section or Scientific Review Group ): Evaluates for scientific merit. Assigns impact/priority score, or votes to not discuss the application. 
• NIAMS Program Officer : Evaluates for program relevance. Develops funding recommendations. See Scientific Supported Areas . 
• NIAMS Advisory Council : Makes recommendation. See Advisory Council . 
• Director NIAMS : Takes final action. See NIAMS Grant Funding Decisions  and NIAMS Funding Plan . 
• Grants Management : Evaluates for compliance, negotiates final budget, and issues the grant award. See Post-Award Grants Administration . 
• Research Institution or School : Receives and manages funds.
• Investigator : Conducts research.

NIH Grant Basics

Learn the nuts and bolts of the NIH grants process, access tutorials, and view a video on how to get started with the process.

• Types of Grant Programs (Activity Codes)
• Getting Started at NIH
• Grant Application Basics (video)
• Grants Process Overview
• Grants Process (provided by NCI)
• Grants Tutorials (provided by the office of Extramural Research)
• Frequently Asked Questions (provided by NIDA)
• Information for New Recipient Organizations/Welcome Wagon Letter

How NIAMS Makes Grant Funding Decisions

Learn the factors involved in making grant funding decisions and the peer review process through NIAMS and the NIH.

• NIAMS Grant Funding Decisions
• NIAMS Grants Review Process
• NIH Peer Review Process

Preparing Your NIAMS Grant Application

Find links to resources and tips for developing an application, forms and applications, and specific application due dates.

Planning and Writing

Get tips for planning and writing your application and see sample applications and summary statements that can help you get started.

• Planning Your Application
• Writing Your Application
• Grant Writing Tip Sheets
• How to Write a Grant Application (provided by NIAID)
• Sample Applications and Summary Statements (provided by NIAID)
• How to Apply Application Guide
• NIH New Investigators Program

Forms and Deadlines

Find the necessary forms and see the important deadlines for submitting a grant application.

• Forms & Applications
• Standard Due Dates for Completing Applications

Guidelines for Preparing Specific Applications

Check NIH and NIAMS guidelines for specific grant applications, including clinical research, use of research animals or human subjects, and more before submitting your application.

NIH Application Guidelines

Follow all NIH guidelines and policies as they relate to specific grant applications and study designs to ensure they meet submission requirements.

• Clinical Research Grant Applications
• Foreign Applicants and Grantee Policies
• New Investigators Policies
• Human Subjects in Grant Applications (provided by NIAID)
• Research Animals in Grant Applications (provided by NIAID)
• NIH Modular Research Grant Applications (R01, R03, R21, R34) Guidelines
• NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings

NIAMS Application Guidelines

Follow all NIAMS guidelines and policies for specific grant applications to ensure they meet requirements for submission.

• Centers for Research Translation (CORT) Guidelines
• Large Grants ($500K or more per year) Policy
• Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Centers (MCRC) Guidelines
• Research Core Center Guidelines
• Specialized Centers of Research on Sex and Gender Factors Affecting Women's Health Guidelines

After Submission

Learn what happens after the peer review process through to award of applications and the many requirements for administering a NIAMS grant.

• Pre-Award and Award Process
• Post-Award Monitoring and Reporting
• Post-Award Grants Administration
• Grants Management Staff with State Assignments

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Tips and Tools for Finding and Applying for Research Grants

In this article, we recommend several tools for finding and applying for grants, and we list the top funding databases, both free and subscription-based. There are several services you can employ to ensure your application is strong to increase your chances of securing funding.

Updated on September 22, 2021

For many researchers, the prospect of finding and applying for grant funding can seem daunting. The grant review process is rigorous and time consuming, and funding opportunities are not only limited but highly competitive. Thus, knowing where to find available sources of funding is an essential starting point in the process. In this article, we recommend several tools for finding and applying for grants, and we list the top funding databases, both free and subscription-based. Additionally, there are several services you can employ to ensure your application is strong, which may increase your likelihood of securing funding.

Tips for finding and applying for grants

1. Consider the large, well-known sources of funding. Large, well-known funding agencies, such as the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, can be good starting points in your search for grant funding opportunities. These funding sources are usually free to access and provide an abundance of information about submitting an application. Please see our lists of both free and subscription-based databases below.

2. Reach out to senior researchers and your institution's grant office. Experienced researchers with a strong track record of receiving funding may be able to recommend funding sources and may have examples of successfully funded grant proposals that they are willing to share with you (4). Additionally, your institution likely has a grant office that can point you toward grant opportunities and advise you on every step of the grant application process (4).

3. Cast a wide net. By widening your funding net, you are more likely to ensure financial security for your research. Money lost due to budget cuts can be replaced with smaller awards from a variety of smaller and/or lesser known sources (3) beyond large/government grants.

4. Be in the know. Following news from organizations in your field and regularly searching for novel funding sources will keep you apprised of any otherwise unknown funding opportunities (3).

5. Network with colleagues. Your colleagues may be aware of funding opportunities or may have received grants that you are not aware of. Asking around your network is particularly helpful if your team is multidisciplinary, having diverse experience and points of view (3).

6. Know the funding agency's requirements. Learn as much as possible about the funding agencies and their grant review processes in order to write your proposal according to the organization's specific requirements. Additionally, do not name specific grant reviewers in your cover letter, as this could be construed as a potential conflict of interest (2).

7. Ask questions early. There are typically personnel at grant agencies who can answer questions about the entire grant application process, from initial submission to receiving an award. Taking advantage of this resource can provide you with additional information that may not be available on the grant application or website (4).

8. Consider adding experienced co-investigators. If you are an early-career researcher with limited experience, some grant reviewers may immediately discount your application for that very reason due to the number of applications they receive. By adding co-investigators with long-term experience in your field, you may increase the likelihood of being awarded a grant (2).

9. Demonstrate your expertise and research plan. Clearly and concisely show reviewers that you and your team have the appropriate knowledge and background to conduct the research. Also show that you will work within the stated timeframe and budget. The difference between failure and success is the significance and feasibility of the proposed research, according to anesthesiologist and clinical researcher Peter Nagele (2).

10. Consider employing a grant support service. You can improve the language, conciseness, grammar, and clarity of your proposal with the help of a grant support service . With these services, experienced, professional researchers will help you to strengthen, edit and polish your grant proposal.

Tools for finding grants

Free-access funding databases.

Grants.gov provides a list of all discretionary funding opportunities from 26 US government agencies. Access is free, and the database of available grants is comprehensive with customizable search options. The grants offered by these government agencies cover a broad range of research fields. Eligibility for international applications varies from agency to agency.

National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF is an independent federal agency that funds approximately 20% of all federally-supported research conducted at American colleges and universities. The current percentage of approval is approximately 28% (1). The NSF specifies that they rarely fund foreign organizations but that they do consider collaborative research between foreign and domestic institutions.

CRDF Global

Formerly known as Newton's List, CRDF Global funds research in civilian-oriented science, entrepreneurship, and the natural and social sciences. According to their site, CRDF Global facilitates international science cooperation by providing a forum for grant seekers and funders. This site is useful for individuals searching for funding opportunities internationally and for organizations marketing grants to an international audience.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Office of Extramural Research

The NIH is the largest funding source for biomedical research worldwide. The database includes a wide range of search options. However, due to limited budgets, funding opportunities with this agency are extremely competitive, with a funding success rate of 18% over the past five years (2).

Spencer Foundation

The Spencer Foundation offers funding opportunities for researchers in the education field. According to their website, the Spencer Foundation provides funding for education-focused research projects, research training fellowships, and additional field-building initiatives. The list of grants is freely accessible on the site, and each funding opportunity provides comprehensive information about the grant and how to apply.

Subscription/fee-based funding databases

Terra Viva Grant Directory

The Terra Viva Grant Directory lists grants for researchers in the agriculture, energy, environment, and natural resource fields. It is free to subscribe to the site; however, unlimited access to the grants database starts at $12/year.

Candid, formerly Guidestar and the Foundation Center, is an international network that connects philanthropists and grant providers with grant seekers. The Foundation Directory by Candid mostly lists funding opportunities for small businesses and nonprofits but also offers grants for scientists and researchers. The subscription pricing includes biennial, annual and monthly options, ranging from $119/month to $200/month.

Sponsored Programs Information Network (SPIN)

SPIN is a widely-used international funding database with over 10,000 funding organizations (1) and database features that make searching for specific grant opportunities easier. An institutional subscription is required to gain access.

Pivot, formerly known as Community of Science, is one of the largest, most comprehensive databases of available funding, which includes over 700 member institutions. Many universities provide institutional access for students and faculty. Check with your institution to see if you are eligible for access.

Grant Resource Center (GRC)

Operated by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Grant Resource Center includes a database that is customized for small institutions. According to their site, a subscription to GRC provides access to a comprehensive suite of tools, services, and expertise, which can increase success in securing funding from federal and private grants. Additionally, GRC database search results highlight viable funding sources because the database excludes region-specific solicitations, those with fewer than three awards per year, and those for which higher education institutions are not eligible to apply or partner. Contact GRC for membership information.

Kostos, David. Scientific Research Funding: 10 Grant Application Sources Worth Your Time. JoVE. July 2016. https://www.jove.com/blog/scientist-blog/scientific-research-funding-10-grant-application-sources-worth-your-time/.

Powell, K. The best-kept secrets to winning grants. Nature 545, 399–402 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/545399a .

Tachibana, Chris. Beyond government grants: Widening your funding net. Science. September 2018. https://www.science.org/features/2018/09/beyond-government-grants-widening-your-funding-net .

Yeager, Ashley. Seven ways to boost your chances of funding. American Psychological Association. July/August 2017. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/07-08/boost-funding .

Eliza McKowan, MS

Academic Editor II

See our "Privacy Policy"

Ensure funding for your research

Funding can make or break your research. AJE expert editors will edit your grant proposal to help you secure the funding you need.

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Funding at NSF

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The U.S. National Science Foundation offers hundreds of funding opportunities — including grants, cooperative agreements and fellowships — that support research and education across science and engineering.

Learn how to apply for NSF funding by visiting the links below.

Finding the right funding opportunity

Learn about NSF's funding priorities and how to find a funding opportunity that's right for you.

Preparing your proposal

Learn about the pieces that make up a proposal and how to prepare a proposal for NSF.

Submitting your proposal

Learn how to submit a proposal to NSF using one of our online systems.

How we make funding decisions

Learn about NSF's merit review process, which ensures the proposals NSF receives are reviewed in a fair, competitive, transparent and in-depth manner.

NSF 101 answers common questions asked by those interested in applying for NSF funding. 

Research approaches we encourage

Learn about interdisciplinary research, convergence research and transdisciplinary research.

Newest funding opportunities

Joint national science foundation and united states department of agriculture national institute of food and agriculture funding opportunity: supporting foundational research in robotics (frr), nsf regional innovation engines (nsf engines), expanding geographic and institutional diversity in social, behavioral, and economic sciences (sbe), cyberinfrastructure for public access and open science (ci paos).

Apply for a Grant

All groundbreaking cancer research discoveries start with an idea that needs funding to be put into action. One of NCI’s primary roles is to provide funding for cancer research. The essentials of the NCI grants process are available on this website or download the PDF “The Grants Process, The Lifecycle of a Grant” for additional history and references.

The NCI grants process is similar to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants process ; it is rigorous and complex to ensure applications proposing promising scientific research projects are evaluated and awarded, and that the results are disseminated to the American public.

Step 1: Application Development & Submission

There are nine research grant application types, each with specific procedures and required documentation. Learn more about developing, submitting, and tracking a grant application.

Step 2: Application Receipt & Assignment

Information on the assignment numbers the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) creates once an application is submitted and other submission policies.

Step 3: Peer Review and Funding Outcomes

The NIH Peer Review process provides fair, independent, expert, and timely review of each grant application.

Step 4: Award Negotiation & Issuance

Before a grant can be awarded and accepted, several pre-award activities must happen to formalize the partnership. Ensuring compliance with federal laws, a review of costs and a negotiation of the appropriate funding level must all happen in order to receive a grant.

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• v.12(1); Jan-Feb 2021

Research Funding—Why, When, and How?

Shekhar neema.

Department of Dermatology, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Laxmisha Chandrashekar

1 Department of Dermatology, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Dhanvantari Nagar, Puducherry, India

Research funding is defined as a grant obtained for conducting scientific research generally through a competitive process. To apply for grants and securing research funding is an essential part of conducting research. In this article, we will discuss why should one apply for research grants, what are the avenues for getting research grants, and how to go about it in a step-wise manner. We will also discuss how to write research grants and what to be done after funding is received.

Introduction

The two most important components of any research project is idea and execution. The successful execution of the research project depends not only on the effort of the researcher but also on available infrastructure to conduct the research. The conduct of a research project entails expenses on man and material and funding is essential to meet these requirements. It is possible to conduct many research projects without any external funding if the infrastructure to conduct the research is available with the researcher or institution. It is also unethical to order tests for research purpose when it does not benefit patient directly or is not part of the standard of care. Research funding is required to meet these expenses and smooth execution of research projects. Securing funding for the research project is a topic that is not discussed during postgraduation and afterwards during academic career especially in medical science. Many good ideas do not materialize into a good research project because of lack of funding.[ 1 ] This is an art which can be learnt only by practising and we intend to throw light on major hurdles faced to secure research funding.

Why Do We Need the Funds for Research?

It is possible to publish papers without any external funding; observational research and experimental research with small sample size can be conducted without external funding and can result in meaningful papers like case reports, case series, observational study, or small experimental study. However, when studies like multi-centric studies, randomized controlled trial, experimental study or observational study with large sample size are envisaged, it may not be possible to conduct the study within the resources of department or institution and a source of external funding is required.

Basic Requirements for Research Funding

The most important requirement is having an interest in the particular subject, thorough knowledge of the subject, and finding out the gap in the knowledge. The second requirement is to know whether your research can be completed with internal resources or requires external funding. The next step is finding out the funding agencies which provide funds for your subject, preparing research grant and submitting the research grant on time.

What Are the Sources of Research Funding? – Details of Funding Agencies

Many local, national, and international funding bodies can provide grants necessary for research. However, the priorities for different funding agencies on type of research may vary and this needs to be kept in mind while planning a grant proposal. Apart from this, different funding agencies have different timelines for proposal submission and limitation on funds. Details about funding bodies have been tabulated in Table 1 . These details are only indicative and not comprehensive.

Details of funding agencies

Application for the Research Grant

Applying for a research grant is a time-consuming but rewarding task. It not only provides an opportunity for designing a good study but also allows one to understand the administrative aspect of conducting research. In a publication, the peer review is done after the paper is submitted but in a research grant, peer review is done at the time of proposal, which helps the researcher to improve his study design even if the grant proposal is not successful. Funds which are available for research is generally limited; resulting in reviewing of a research grant on its merit by peer group before the proposal is approved. It is important to be on the lookout for call for proposal and deadlines for various grants. Ideally, the draft research proposal should be ready much before the call for proposal and every step should be meticulously planned to avoid rush just before the deadline. The steps of applying for a research grant are mentioned below and every step is essential but may not be conducted in a particular order.

• Idea: The most important aspect of research is the idea. After having the idea in mind, it is important to refine your idea by going through literature and finding out what has already been done in the subject and what are the gaps in the research. FINER framework should be used while framing research questions. FINER stands for feasibility, interesting, novel, ethical, and relevant
• Designing the study: Well-designed study is the first step of a well-executed research project. It is difficult to correct flawed study design when the project is advanced, hence it should be planned well and discussed with co-workers. The help of an expert epidemiologist can be sought while designing the study
• Collaboration: The facility to conduct the study within the department is often limited. Inter-departmental and inter-institutional collaboration is the key to perform good research. The quality of project improves by having a subject expert onboard and it also makes acceptance of grant easier. The availability of the facility for conduct of research in department and institution should be ascertained before planning the project
• Scientific and ethical committee approval: Most of the research grants require the project to be approved by the institutional ethical committee (IEC) before the project is submitted. IEC meeting usually happens once in a quarter; hence pre-planning the project is essential. Some institutes also conduct scientific committee meeting before the proposal can be submitted for funding. A project/study which is unscientific is not ethical, therefore it is a must that a research proposal should pass both the committees’ scrutiny
• Writing research grant: Writing a good research grant decides whether research funding can be secured or not. So, we will discuss this part in detail.

How to write a research grant proposal [ 13 , 14 , 15 ] The steps in writing a research grant are as follows

• Identifying the idea and designing the study. Study design should include details about type of study, methodology, sampling, blinding, inclusion and exclusion criteria, outcome measurements, and statistical analysis
• Identifying the prospective grants—the timing of application, specific requirements of grant and budget available in the grant
• Discussing with collaborators (co-investigators) about the requirement of consumables and equipment
• Preparing a budget proposal—the two most important part of any research proposal is methodology and budget proposal. It will be discussed separately
• Preparing a specific proposal as outlined in the grant document. This should contain details about the study including brief review of literature, why do you want to conduct this study, and what are the implications of the study, budget requirement, and timeline of the study
• A timeline or Gantt chart should always accompany any research proposal. This gives an idea about the major milestones of the project and how the project will be executed
• The researcher should also be ready for revising the grant proposal. After going through the initial proposal, committee members may suggest some changes in methodology and budgetary outlay
• The committee which scrutinizes grant proposal may be composed of varied specialities. Hence, proposal should be written in a language which even layman can understand. It is also a good idea to get the proposal peer reviewed before submission.

Budgeting for the Research Grant

Budgeting is as important as the methodology for grant proposal. The first step is to find out what is the monetary limit for grant proposal and what are the fund requirements for your project. If these do not match, even a good project may be rejected based on budgetary limitations. The budgetary layout should be prepared with prudence and only the amount necessary for the conduct of research should be asked. Administrative cost to conduct the research project should also be included in the proposal. The administrative cost varies depending on the type of research project.

Research fund can generally be used for the following requirement but not limited to these; it is helpful to know the subheads under which budgetary planning is done. The funds are generally allotted in a graded manner as per projected requirement and to the institution, not to the researcher.

• Purchase of equipment which is not available in an institution (some funding bodies do not allow equipment to be procured out of research funds). The equipment once procured out of any research fund is owned by the institute/department
• Consumables required for the conduct of research (consumables like medicines for the conduct of the investigator-initiated trials and laboratory consumables)
• The hiring of trained personnel—research assistant, data entry operator for smooth conduct of research. The remuneration details of trained personnel can be obtained from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) website and the same can be used while planning the budget
• Stationary—for the printing of forms and similar expense
• Travel expense—If the researcher has to travel to present his finding or for some other reason necessary for the conduct of research, travel grant can be part of the research grant
• Publication expense: Some research bodies provide publication expense which can help the author make his findings open access which allows wider visibility to research
• Contingency: Miscellaneous expenditure during the conduct of research can be included in this head
• Miscellaneous expenses may include expense toward auditing the fund account, and other essential expenses which may be included in this head.

Once the research funding is granted. The fund allotted has to be expended as planned under budgetary planning. Transparency, integrity, fairness, and competition are the cornerstones of public procurement and should be remembered while spending grant money. The hiring of trained staff on contract is also based on similar principles and details of procurement and hiring can be read at the ICMR website.[ 4 ] During the conduct of the study, many of grant guidelines mandate quarterly or half-yearly progress report of the project. This includes expense on budgetary layout and scientific progress of the project. These reports should be prepared and sent on time.

Completion of a Research Project

Once the research project is completed, the completion report has to be sent to the funding agency. Most funding agencies also require period progress report and project should ideally progress as per Gantt chart. The completion report has two parts. The first part includes a scientific report which is like writing a research paper and should include all subheads (Review of literature, material and methods, results, conclusion including implications of research). The second part is an expense report including how money was spent, was it according to budgetary layout or there was any deviation, and reasons for the deviation. Any unutilized fund has to be returned to the funding agency. Ideally, the allotted fund should be post audited by a professional (chartered accountant) and an audit report along with original bills of expenditure should be preserved for future use in case of any discrepancy. This is an essential part of any funded project that prevents the researcher from getting embroiled in any accusations of impropriety.

Sharing of scientific findings and thus help in scientific advancement is the ultimate goal of any research project. Publication of findings is the part of any research grant and many funding agencies have certain restrictions on publications and presentation of the project completed out of research funds. For example, Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) research projects on completion have to be presented in a national conference and the same is true for most funding agencies. It is imperative that during presentation and publication, researcher mentions the source of funding.

Research funding is an essential part of conducting research. To be able to secure a research grant is a matter of prestige for a researcher and it also helps in the advancement of career.

Financial support and sponsorship

Conflicts of interest.

There are no conflicts of interest.

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Sample Grant Applications

On this page:

• Research Project Grants (R01): Sample Applications and Summary Statements 
• Early Career Research (ECR) R21 Awards: Sample Applications and Summary Statements 

Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21) Awards: Sample Applications and Summary Statements

Preparing a stellar grant application is critical to securing research funding from NIDCD. On this page you will find examples of grant applications and summary statements from NIDCD investigators who have graciously shared their successful submissions to benefit the research community.

You can find more details about the NIDCD grants process from application to award on our  How to Apply for a Grant, Research Training, or Career Development Funding page.

For more examples of applications for research grants, small business grants, training and career awards, and cooperative agreements, please visit Sample Applications & More  on the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases website.

Always follow your funding opportunity’s specific instructions for application format. Although these samples demonstrate stellar grantsmanship, time has passed since these applications were submitted and the samples may not reflect changes in format or instructions.

The application text is copyrighted. You may use it only for nonprofit educational purposes provided the document remains unchanged and the researcher, the grantee organization, and NIDCD are all credited.

Section 508 compliance and accessibility: We have reformatted these sample applications to improve accessibility for people with disabilities and users of assistive technology. If you have trouble accessing the content, please contact the NIDCD web team .

Research Project Grants (R01): Sample Applications and Summary Statements

Investigator-initiated  Research Project Grants (R01)  make up the largest single category of support provided by NIDCD and NIH. The R01 is considered the traditional grant mechanism. These grants are awarded to organizations on behalf of an individual (a principal investigator, or PI) to facilitate pursuit of a research objective in the area of the investigator's research interests and competence.

Leora R. Cherney, Ph.D., & Allen Walter Heinemann, Ph.D., Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

"Defining trajectories of linguistic, cognitive-communicative and quality of life outcomes in aphasia"

• Full Application (5.59MB PDF)
• Summary Statement (336KB PDF)

Robert C. Froemke, Ph.D., New York University Grossman School of Medicine

“Synaptic basis of perceptual learning in primary auditory cortex”

• Full Application (5.3MB PDF)
• Summary Statement (608KB PDF)

Rene H. Gifford, Ph.D., & Stephen Mark Camarata, Ph.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center

"Image-guided cochlear implant programming: Pediatric speech, language, and literacy"

• Full Application (9.63MB PDF)
• Summary Statement (485KB PDF)

Stavros Lomvardas, Ph.D., Columbia University Health Sciences

"Principles of zonal olfactory receptor gene expression"

• Full Application (6.37MB PDF)
• Summary Statement (183KB PDF)

Christopher Shera, Ph.D., University of Southern California

"Understanding otoacoustic emissions"

• Full Application (6.9MB PDF)
• Summary Statement (447KB PDF)

Early Career Research (ECR) R21 Awards: Sample Applications and Summary Statements

The NIDCD Early Career Research (ECR) R21 Award supports both basic and clinical research from scientists who are beginning to establish an independent research career. The research must be focused on one or more of NIDCD's  scientific mission areas . The NIDCD ECR Award R21 supports projects including secondary analysis of existing data; small, self-contained research projects; development of research methodology; translational research; outcomes research; and development of new research technology. The intent of the NIDCD ECR Award R21 is for the program director(s)/principal investigator(s) to obtain sufficient preliminary data for a subsequent R01 application.

Ho Ming Chow, Ph.D., University of Delaware

“Neural markers of persistence and recovery from childhood stuttering: An fMRI study of continuous speech production”

• Full Application (7.64MB PDF)
• Summary Statement (736KB PDF)

Brian B. Monson, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

"Auditory experience during the prenatal and perinatal period"

• Full Application (3.74MB PDF)
• Summary Statement (525KB PDF)

Elizabeth A. Walker, Ph.D., University of Iowa

“Mechanisms of listening effort in school age children who are hard of hearing”

• Full Application (10.2MB PDF)
• Summary Statement (622KB PDF)

The NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research R21 grant mechanism encourages exploratory and developmental research by providing support for the early and conceptual stages of project development. NIH has standardized the Exploratory/Developmental Grant (R21) application characteristics, requirements, preparation, and review procedures in order to accommodate investigator-initiated (unsolicited) grant applications. Projects should be distinct from those supported through the traditional R01 mechanism. The NIH Grants & Funding website explains the scope of this program .

Taylor Abel, M.D., University of Pittsburgh, & Lori Holt, Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin

“Flexible representation of speech in the supratemporal plane”

• Full Application (11.5MB PDF)
• Summary Statement (1.01MB PDF)

Melissa L. Anderson, Ph.D., MSCI, UMass Chan Medical School

“Deaf ACCESS: Adapting Consent through Community Engagement and State-of-the-art Simulation”

• Full Application (1.34MB PDF)
• Summary Statement (354KB PDF)

Lynnette McCluskey, Ph.D., Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

“Ace2 in the healthy and inflamed taste system”

• Full Application (6.05MB PDF)

Benjamin R. Munson, Ph.D., University of Minnesota

“Race, ethnicity, and speech intelligibility in normal hearing and hearing impairment”

• Full Application (1.35MB PDF)
• Summary Statement (378KB PDF)

(link is external) .

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

How to apply for research funding: 10 tips for academics

Grant writing is time-consuming, tedious and the success rates are depressing. How can researchers make the process less stressful?

W inning funding for your research ideas is tough, and there is growing pressure in all disciplines to get grants. While there’s no easy way to write a successful application, there are some steps you can take to make the process less stressful. We asked reviewers and researchers to share their advice.

1) Become familiar with grant writing early on

It’s always worth getting a bit of early experience in grant writing even if it might not be on your mind at the time. As a PhD student or early postdoc you can ask to see drafts of work that is being done in your office, as an observer. That way you can keep getting a sense of the process before you have to do a grant proposal on your own. (David Crosby, programme manager for methodology and experimental medicine, Medical Research Council)

It’s never too early to think about funding – even during your doctorate there are funding opportunities for travel grants, equipment, public engagement activities and more. It’s valuable evidence of your ability to win funding and provides important experience before moving on to writing larger, more complex, grant proposals. (Traci Wilson, higher education institutions programme manager, Vita, an organisation aimed at developing researchers)

2) Decide what you most need the money for

Decide what you most need the money for – is it your own time, or perhaps the costs of travel to do archival research or fieldwork, or to hold a workshop to bring experts together to advance a piece of research. Investigate possible funding bodies who give grants or fellowships of the type that support what you need the money for – reading the relevant guidance notes carefully to avoid wasting your time and that of the funding body. Discuss your ideas with relevant colleagues, including university research office or research support colleagues. (Ken Emond, head of research awards, British Academy)

3) Signpost your applications according to rigour, value for money, impact, scientific interest

Start by picking the right scheme and reading the guidance for the call thoroughly as they may have particular stipulations that you need to be aware of before you spend any more time on it. Make sure then that you signpost how exactly your idea fits in throughout the application. It’s useful to signpost all the aspects of a good proposal that reviewers will be looking for – so they don’t miss it – things like: rigour, value for money, impact, scientific interest. (Matthew Grenby , professor of eighteenth century studies, Newcastle University)

4) Talk to colleagues who have applied to the same organisation

Talk to people within your institution who have already won funding from the organisation you are applying to. For example, different organisations have different emphasises and priorities, so there are nuances in how you should pitch to them, whether it’s Cancer Research UK or the Medical Research Council, it’s worth finding out about that first. (David Crosby)

5) Stay focused and avoid jargon

Common mistakes made by applicants include not reading and answering the questions being asked and being over-ambitious in their expectation of what can be achieved in the timescale of an award. Usually you will have less space than you would want, so it is important to focus on what is really important about your proposed research, and to be clear about how you will go about it. Write positively, without relying on unexplained jargon, and with enthusiasm about what you plan to do, and why you are the right person, with the right blend of skills and experience to make a success of it. (Ken Emond)

6) Talk over your interdisciplinary proposal with your partner

If you are applying to do an interdisciplinary project and are therefore going to work with a partner from another discipline, you need make sure the partnership is authentic. You need be interested intellectually in what one another is working on and that will show through to reviewers. If you meet someone you might want to work with make sure that you take time over forming an idea and planning an application. You can’t just put something together in a brief meeting over a cup of coffee. (Tony McEnery, professor of English languages and linguistics and director of Lancaster University’s Centre for Corpus Approaches to Social Science)

7) Don’t be afraid to ask questions

You can always get in contact with the funder, in fact we thoroughly recommend it. Funding calls will have an email address for you to get in touch. That way any queries you have about the suitability of your idea can be answered. Read the handbook: research councils will have rules early on about font size and spacing that need to be adhered to. (Avril Allman, head of peer review and grant operations, Natural Environment Research Counci)

8) Ask people outside of academia to read your application

At the panel stage your application won’t be reviewed by people who are experts in your specific area. Getting friends and family to review your idea means they can ask questions others might not have thought of. People in your department can give a sense check, and think about whether it is actually possible in research terms. (Matthew Grenby )

9) If you get rejected, try try again

The main advice is to keep trying. Lots of people don’t re-submit applications where they can. But responding to suggestions from reviewers can add value to an application and, once adapted, some applications do go on to be funded. Being rejected doesn’t mean your idea is completely un-fundable necessarily. It might be that you need to make changes, or it might be that this time there just was not funding available in the round you were in. (Tony McEnery)

Don’t just send the same thing again, but respond to feedback and then try. It can be disappointing if you have put a lot of effort into something but see it as a learning point, and we don’t fund everything, there is around a 20% success rate, so you have to expect some rejection. (David Crosby)

10) Always use your right of reply

In the humanities you get a right of reply before the final decisions are made – and people don’t take that seriously enough. I would see it as actually part of the application. If they have questions you can defend your answers, and provide explanation. If they say something positive you can reinforce that. It’s an opportunity. (Matthew Grenby )

Join the higher education network for more comment, analysis and job opportunities, direct to your inbox. Follow us on Twitter @gdnhighered .

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Most viewed.

How to apply for a research grant to fund your studies

If you’re planning to study for your PhD, or even a Master’s degree, you’ll likely want to apply for a research grant to help fund your studies. But how exactly do you do this?

Knowing exactly what to include in your research proposal, who to submit it to and when to apply won’t come easy for most of us, even if they are essential  to studying for your postgraduate qualification.

Fear not, however, we’ve got you covered.

Decide on your research proposal

If you want to apply for a research grant, you’re first going to need a fully formed research proposal. If you are currently in education looking to go onto further study, you can ask your current professor to help you with this. If not, don’t worry too much, you can still write it yourself.

The main thing a research funder wants to understand is the purpose and impact of your research. You need to convince them your research is worth investing into and they will get high ROI.

Finalising your proposal is the first step of applying for funding. Source: Shutterstock

This means you need a clear idea of the topic you are researching, an understanding of why you’re are studying it, and an estimate of the impact your research will have on society, the industry or the academic community.

Bear in mind, your funder will want to benefit from your research, so ensure you are choosing bodies within your field and that will see the value of your proposal.

Identify relevant bodies that might fund you

After fine-tuning your proposal to something you are genuinely passionate about, you can begin finding suitable research funders to make your study abroad dreams a reality – be wary of doing this step before finalising your proposal, or you may end up studying something that can be funded but you don’t genuinely enjoy.

Unlike with most university courses, where you study is likely to be determined where you can get funding. If you are committed to studying in a particular part of the world, only bother looking for funding bodies in these areas, but the more flexible you are, the more funding you can apply to.

Google is your friend when finding suitable funders. Source: Shutterstock

Most countries have research and development funds, so these can always be lucrative funders. Corporations in the field may also have a budget for research, and universities themselves can sometimes offer funding.

It’s also worth looking if governments, universities or businesses are advertising funded research, as the projects they may be investigating could overlap with yours.

Funding bodies will have established criteria on how to go about applying for a grant. This can be found on their website, and differ from body to body. A quick google of funding agencies in the area your in should bring up these pages. It’s worth taking time to read the different application criteria to see:

• If your research fits in with their funding criteria
• Your proposal meets their application guidelines.

The longer your list, the better for potential funders and thus, the better chance you have of receiving funding.

Submit your grant proposal

Once you have identified some potential funding bodies, you can begin submitting your proposal.

This involves tailoring your research plan to fit the investor you are writing to and making your research relevant to them.

https://twitter.com/SamanthaZY/status/1027583177148125184

Time is of the essence here, and you should spend as long as you need ensuring you have adequately met all the criteria they need. This might include budget, long-term and short-term impact, a progress timeline showing a which point you will complete key milestones and any added support you may need.

Some applications may be made online, while others may be written or require a face-to-face meeting.

To ensure you can start your research in a timely fashion, you should apply at least two months before you intend to begin your studies.

You can also follow your proposal up with an email to further explain your passion for contributing to the field. This will help you to stand out against other applicants and reinforce your commitment to your studies.

Wait for the response

Once you have formulated and submitted your proposal, you must then do the hardest part of all – wait for a decision. This can be nerve-wracking, especially if you applied online without a chance to speak to the funding bodies directly.

You are likely to hear back the same way you applied – however, some investors may prefer to speak on the phone to discuss the criteria of their funding and what is expected of you.

There is no objective timeframe as to how long you may be waiting to hear back, but it can be useful to check when the application closing date is, or when you said you would be starting your studies. This can provide a benchmark as to when you will hear, so you’re not unnecessarily panicking the entire time.

If you have any questions about student finance or postgraduate education, please email us at [email protected] and we will do our best to help.

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Part 1. Overview Information

National Institutes of Health ( NIH )

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute ( NHLBI )

National Institute on Aging ( NIA )

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism ( NIAAA )

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID )

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases ( NIAMS )

February 14, 2024 - Participation Added ( N0T-HD-24-007 ) Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child and Human Development ( NICHD )

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders ( NIDCD )

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research ( NIDCR )

National Institute on Drug Abuse ( NIDA )

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences ( NIEHS )

National Institute of General Medical Sciences ( NIGMS )

National Institute of Mental Health ( NIMH )

National Institute of Nursing Research ( NINR )

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences ( NCATS )

National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health ( NCCIH )

All applications to this funding opportunity announcement should fall within the mission of the Institutes/Centers. The following NIH Offices may co-fund applications assigned to those Institutes/Centers.

Division of Program Coordination, Planning and Strategic Initiatives, Office of Disease Prevention ( ODP )

Office of Research on Women's Health ( ORWH )

UC2 High Impact Research and Research Infrastructure Cooperative Agreement Programs

• March 20, 2024 - Notice of Informational Webinar for PAR-23-144, STrengthening Research Opportunities for NIH Grants (STRONG): Structured Institutional Needs Assessment and Action Plan Development for Resource Limited Institutions (RLIs) (UC2 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See Notice NOT-MD-24-011
• February 14, 2024 - Notice of NICHD Participation in PAR-23-144 "Strengthening Research Opportunities for NIH Grants (STRONG): Structured Institutional Needs Assessment and Action Plan Development for Resource Limited Institutions"). See Notice NOT-HD-24-007
• August 31, 2023 - Notice of Correction to Eligibility Criteria of PAR-23-144, STrengthening Research Opportunities for NIH Grants (STRONG): Structured Institutional Needs Assessment and Action Plan Development for Resource Limited Institutions (RLIs) (UC2). See Notice NOT-MD-23-018
• May 12, 2023 - Notice of Participation of the NIAAA in PAR-23-144. See Notice NOT-AA-23-012 .
• April 25, 2023 - Notice of NCCIH Participation in PAR-23-144, "STrengthening Research Opportunities for NIH Grants (STRONG): Structured Institutional Needs Assessment and Action Plan Development for Resource Limited Institutions (RLIs) (UC2 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See Notice NOT-AT-24-004
• August 5, 2022 - Implementation Details for the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy - see Notice NOT-OD-22-189 .
• August 8, 2022 - New NIH "FORMS-H" Grant Application Forms and Instructions Coming for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2023 - See Notice NOT-OD-22-195 .
• August 31, 2022 - Implementation Changes for Genomic Data Sharing Plans Included with Applications Due on or after January 25, 2023 - See Notice NOT-OD-22-198 .

See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility .

The STrengthening Research Opportunities for NIH Grants (STRONG): The STRONG-RLI program will support research capacity needs assessments by eligible Resource-Limited Institutions (RLIs). The program will also support the recipient institutions to use the results of the assessments to develop action plans for how to meet the identified needs.

RLIs are defined as institutions with a mission to serve historically underrepresented populations in biomedical research that award degrees in the health professions (and in STEM fields and social and behavioral sciences) and have received an average of $0 to $25 million per year (total costs) of NIH Research Project Grant (RPG) support for the past three fiscal years.

August 18, 2023

All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Not Applicable

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the Research (R) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide , except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NOFO or in a Notice from NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts).

Conformance to all requirements (both in the Application Guide and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV . When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.

Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

There are several options available to submit your application through Grants.gov to NIH and Department of Health and Human Services partners. You must use one of these submission options to access the application forms for this opportunity.

• Use the NIH ASSIST system to prepare, submit and track your application online.
• Use an institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution to prepare and submit your application to Grants.gov and eRA Commons to track your application. Check with your institutional officials regarding availability.
• Use Grants.gov Workspace to prepare and submit your application and eRA Commons to track your application.

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section i. notice of funding opportunity description.

Purpose: The purpose of the STRONG-RLI Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to invite applications to conduct biomedical research capacity needs assessments by Resource-Limited Institutions (RLIs) and then to use the results of the assessments to create action plans for meeting identified needs. The program’s goal is to increase competitiveness in the biomedical research enterprise and foster institutional environments conducive to research career development. Awards are intended to support RLIs in analyzing their institutional research capacity needs and strengths. Resource-Limited Institutions (RLIs) are defined for this NOFO as institutions with a mission to serve historically underrepresented populations in biomedical research that award degrees in the health professions or the sciences related to health, in STEM fields including social and behavioral sciences, and have received an average of $0 to $25 million (total costs) per year of NIH research project grant (RPG) support for the past three fiscal years (as defined in Section III -Eligibility).

Background:

NIH’s ability to help ensure that the nation remains a global leader in scientific discovery and innovation is dependent upon a pool of highly talented scientists from diverse backgrounds who will help to further NIH's mission (see NOT-OD-20-031 ). NIH recognizes the importance of diversity in biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences (collectively termed "biomedical") research. This includes the diversification of NIH-funded institutions, where researchers with a wide range of skill sets and viewpoints can bring different perspectives, creativity, and individual enterprise to address complex scientific problems.

RLIs, as defined below, play an important role in supporting scientific research, particularly on diseases or conditions that disproportionately impact racial ethnic minority groups and other U.S. populations that experience health disparities. Although these institutions are uniquely positioned to engage underserved populations in research and in the translation of research advances into culturally competent, measurable and sustained improvements in health outcomes, they may benefit from enhancing their capacity to conduct and sustain cutting-edge health-related research.

NIH is committed to assisting RLIs in building institutional research capacity. Scientists at RLIs are critical to advancing knowledge in the biomedical research enterprise. NIH has many programs designed to support researchers at RLIs and broaden the participation of researchers through inclusive excellence across regions, institutions, and demographic groups. The role of RLIs in the nation’s overall competitiveness in research is integrally related to current resources, departmental and disciplinary strengths and capabilities, and campus research support systems and infrastructure. It is critical that RLIs recognize and utilize their research and organizational capabilities so they can leverage existing strengths and develop strategic approaches in areas that require additional attention. Structured needs assessments to examine research and organizational capabilities can offer metrics for short-term/long-term action plans. These assessments will enable institutions to develop benchmarks and action items to increase their competitiveness for NIH, Federal, and other funding opportunities.

RLIs face unique challenges depending on the institution type, resources, infrastructure, and policies as they seek to acquire NIH or other federal agency funding. The areas at RLIs that need to be identified and addressed to reduce the barriers to scientific advancement and increase independent research funding can best be determined by the institution itself. A fundamental principle for organizational development and change is the use of a structured assessment to understand these barriers.

This Funding Opportunity will provide resources to the institutions to 1) conduct the assessment of research infrastructure and other requirements that will enhance administrative and research resources, institutional policies, and expanded opportunities for faculty and students in the biomedical research enterprise; and 2) Use the results of these institutional assessments to develop action plans that will support the conduct of high-quality biomedical research.

Program Objectives:

The purpose of this NIH-wide initiative, STRONG-RLI, is to support research active RLIs to;1. conduct rigorous research capacity needs assessments.2. use the results of the assessments to develop action plans for how to meet the identified needs.

Because of the significant variability in the types of RLIs, two separate categories have been created for this initiative. Please refer to Section III for eligibility criteria for RLIs.

The two categories of research active RLIs are defined in Section III of the NOFO:

1) Low Research Active (LRA) : An RLI that is an undergraduate or graduate degree granting institution and has had less than six million dollars (total costs) in NIH research project grant (RPG) support per year in three of the last five years. In addition, undergraduate granting institutions must have at least 35% of undergraduate students supported by Pell grants.

2) High Research Active (HRA) : An RLI that grants doctoral degrees and has had between six million and 25 million dollars (total costs) in NIH RPG support per year in three of the last five years.

Both LRA and HRA RLIs must have a historical mission to support underrepresented groups in biomedical sciences. Each institution should describe the specific category into which they fit and provide documentation to verify those requirements.

Each RLI will provide details on how they plan to conduct their needs assessments and create/use/adapt/ instruments to study research capacity at the institution. Please note that institutional climate or culture assessment is not a priority for this funding announcement.

As part of the funding announcement , the recipient institutions are expected to use the results of needs assessments to develop action plans for short term and long term goals, to meet the identified needs . Applicants are encouraged to provide detailed approaches for conducting the needs assessment and action plan development. The action plan should include identification of possible sources of funding for increasing research capacity. The implementation of the action plan is beyond the scope of this funding opportunity.

A. Institutional Needs-Assessment for research capacity

NIH recognizes and values the heterogeneity in institutional settings and the students they serve. Applicants must describe their distinctive biomedical research and research training environment and the current services to support them.

Applicants for this needs assessment can use any available tools, or adapt existing tools, to fit their context and needs.

B. Development of Institutional Action Plans

• After completion of the needs assessment, the recipient institutions are expected to develop an action plan. The Institutional Action Plan for research capacity is intended to serve as a roadmap for enhancing the infrastructure and capacity at the applicant institution.
• The outcomes of the needs assessment should determine the capacity building interventions that the institution can undertake to strengthen the institutional framework and research capacity. The Institutional Action Plan that will be developed is expected to be supported by an institutional leader, e.g., the Provost or President (see Letters of Support).

C. Needs assessment topics may include (but are not limited to):

The institution will determine the needs assessment foci but may include broad categories such as administrative/research/student/faculty.

Administrative topics may include -

• Establishing or enhancing the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), examining efficiencies and staffing requirements and personnel needs for administrative support
• Available resources for effective business practices, automation, information dissemination, documentation and tracking progress for research activities,
• Process management and process improvement for grant application, grant award, and grant administration.

Research topics may include-

• Research infrastructure may include physical research facilities, lab equipment, and computing resources, core facility for technology, support staff, professional development, laboratories. Appropriate physical research facilities and skilled research support to enable competitiveness.
• Research readiness in areas, such as basic, behavioral or clinical research, grantsmanship support, seminars and workshops for grant writing, for sharing research ideas to enhance knowledge in the field. Potential and current scientific research areas of interest.
• Capacity to conduct Human Subjects Research
• Capacity for Community Engagement research
• Partnerships/ collaboration with other academic institutions, the public sector, and community-based organizations that are sustainable and equitable

Student and faculty topics may include-

• Training needs, Mentoring/Sponsorship, faculty development.
• Student resources for research, support for research experiences, and for post-bac and graduate career progression in biomedical research and in STEM topics
• Research staff recruitment and benefits packages, retention bonuses,
• Faculty teaching workloads that allow time for research pursuits, and department/college-based research staff and administrative support
• Institutional policies for assessment of teaching versus research assignments and support
• Tenure evaluations of faculty services for research, committee, community engagement, etc., protected time for research program development

Technical Assistance Webinar:

NIH will conduct a Technical Assistance Webinar for prospective applicants on July 21st from 2-3.30pm EST. Please join the webinar using the link below:

Join Zoom Meeting https://nih.zoomgov.com/j/1614627302?pwd=RmVXc0RjWjV2WTZsUzd1WmFSWU1NZz09&from=addon Meeting ID: 161 462 7302 Passcode: 919936 One tap mobile +16692545252,,1614627302#,,,,*919936# US (San Jose) +16468287666,,1614627302#,,,,*919936# US (New York)

See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations.

Section II. Award Information

Cooperative Agreement: A support mechanism used when there will be substantial Federal scientific or programmatic involvement. Substantial involvement means that, after award, NIH scientific or program staff will assist, guide, coordinate, or participate in project activities. See Section VI.2 for additional information about the substantial involvement for this FOA.

The OER Glossary and the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide provide details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed for this NOFO.

Not Allowed: Only accepting applications that do not propose clinical trials.

Need help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?

The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

Application budgets for direct costs should not exceed $250,000/year.

The scope of the proposed project should determine the project period. The maximum project period is three years

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this NOFO.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Higher Education Institutions

• Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
• Private Institutions of Higher Education

The following types of Higher Education Institutions are always encouraged to apply for NIH support as Public or Private Institutions of Higher Education:

• Hispanic-serving Institutions
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
• Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)

For this funding opportunity, an applicant must be a Resource-Limited Institution (RLI), defined as an institution with a mission to serve historically underrepresented populations that awards degrees in the health professions (and related sciences) and has received an average of $0 to $25 million per year (total costs) of NIH Research Project Grants (RPG) support for the past three fiscal years.

A mission to serve historically underrepresented populations may be demonstrated by a documented historical and current mission to educate students from any of the populations that have been identified as underrepresented in biomedical research as defined by the National Science Foundation NSF, see http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd/ ) (i.e., African Americans or Blacks, Hispanic or Latino Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, U.S. Pacific Islanders, and persons with disabilities) or by a documented record of recruiting, training and/or educating, and graduating underrepresented students as defined by NSF (see above), which has resulted in increasing the institution's contribution to the national pool of graduates from underrepresented backgrounds who pursue biomedical research careers.

RLIs, as defined above, are classified into the following two categories for this opportunity:

Institutional letters will attest to the category of the institution whether they are LRA or HRA and provide information to verify which can be included as an attachment.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Institutions) are not eligible to apply.

Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.

Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement , are not allowed.

Applicant Organizations

Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. The NIH Policy on Late Submission of Grant Applications states that failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission.

• NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM.
• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)- A UEI is issued as part of the SAM.gov registration process. The same UEI must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application.
• eRA Commons - Once the unique organization identifier is established, organizations can register with eRA Commons in tandem with completing their Grants.gov registrations; all registrations must be in place by time of submission. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.
• Grants.gov Applicants must have an active SAM registration in order to complete the Grants.gov registration.

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s))

All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with their organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and women are always encouraged to apply for NIH support. See, Reminder: Notice of NIH's Encouragement of Applications Supporting Individuals from Underrepresented Ethnic and Racial Groups as well as Individuals with Disabilities , NOT-OD-22-019 .

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

2. Cost Sharing

This NOFO does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Number of Applications

Only one application per institution (normally identified by having a unique UEI or NIH IPF number) is allowed

The NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time, per 2.3.7.4 Submission of Resubmission Application . This means that the NIH will not accept:

• A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application.
• A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.
• An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review (see 2.3.9.4 Similar, Essentially Identical, or Identical Applications ).

Only one application per institution (normally identified by having a unique UEI number or NIH IPF number) is allowed.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package

The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace or an institutional system-to-system solution. Links to apply using ASSIST or Grants.gov Workspace are available in Part 1 of this NOFO. See your administrative office for instructions if you plan to use an institutional system-to-system solution.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the Research (R) Instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide except where instructed in this notice of funding opportunity to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

Letter of Intent

Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information , prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

• Descriptive title of proposed activity
• Name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s) of the PD(s)/PI(s)
• Names of other key personnel
• Participating institution(s)
• Number and title of this funding opportunity

The letter of intent should be sent to:

Yujing Liu, MD, PhD National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Telephone: 301-827-7815 Email: [email protected]

Page Limitations

All page limitations described in the SF424 Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

The following section supplements the instructions found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this NOFO.

SF424(R&R) Cover

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

SF424(R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations

SF424(R&R) Other Project Information

SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile

All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions:

Travel costs for attending any in-person meetings and STRONG Executive Steering Committee (SESC) meetings must be included.

Funds may not be used for:

• Research infrastructure (such as laboratory supplies, laboratory equipment)
• Alterations or renovations
• Research projects or pilot projects

R&R Subaward Budget

PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement

PHS 398 Research Plan

Research Strategy:

Significance

Explain the needs for institutional research capacity and importance of the problem or critical barrier to progress that the proposed project addresses. Describe the benefits if the proposed aims are achieved with respect to enhanced biomedical research capacity.

Applicants should address the innovative aspects of the proposed needs assessment plans for research capacity. For this program, innovation is considered the use of existing products, tools or processes or creating or adapting evidence-based tools to fit the context and needs of the institutions.

A. Institutional Needs-Assessment for research capacity section describe:

• Physical research facility, research faculty support from institution, faculty teaching workload, human resources, Sponsored program
• Applicant must describe current methods of measuring student/faculty outcomes to take into consideration institutional missions, faculty investment, student populations, student needs, and institutional resource constraints.
• Tools and instruments for needs assessment, monitoring and evaluation of health research capacity development activities at the individual and organizational level
• The types of research facilities available for biomedical research and research training.
• The needs for research infrastructure to conduct biomedical, behavioral or clinical research, potential and current scientific research areas of interest.
• List and describe the outcomes of any capacity-building or infrastructure grants the institution has received over the past ten years, including the source and total costs of each award.
• The investigative team and their relevant expertise in conducting a needs assessment
• Student enrollment in the biomedical areas, including the number and percentage of undergraduate and graduate students, and the enrollment of students who are Pell-grant eligible (for LRA applications); and
• The current level of student and faculty participation in research.
• Describe the sponsored programs administration and how it will inform the needs assessment. The types of services provided by the existing sponsored projects administration (or similar entity). Current levels of sponsored programs productivity (e.g., number of applications submitted, number of applications funded, number of subcontracts).

Describe the approaches for developing an Institutional Action Plan after completing needs assessment for research capacity. The Institutional Action Plan for research capacity is intended to serve as a roadmap for enhancing the infrastructure and capacity at the applicant institution. This section of the application should describe steps that will be undertaken to ensure identified needs assessment activities lead to action plans for the long-term strengthening of research capacity. It must include an institutional commitment to achieving the goals and objectives of the proposed project and activities signed by institutional leadership (e.g., President, Provost, and Deans (see Letters of Support).

C. Governance and structure of steering committees

The Steering Committee (SC) will serve as the primary governing and oversight board for the cooperative agreement funded under this NOFO.

• Describe the composition and the activities of the steering committee. Describe the desired expertise of its members. Include the frequency of meetings and any other relevant information.
• The membership of the SC consists of the PD(s)/PI(s), the NIH Project Coordinator, and any additional stake holders deemed necessary.

Timeline and Milestones:

Describe the timeline for the needs assessment and action plan activities. The timeline should be realistic given the time needed to develop the approaches/tools and collect the proposed data. Describe how the program goals/aims will be aligned with milestones and metrics.

Letters of Support: Provide letters of support for the proposed needs assessment activities following instructions in the SF424 Application Guide.

A. Institutional Eligibility Letter (1-page maximum). S ubmit a letter from the Provost or similar official with institution-wide responsibility that certify that the applicant organization qualifies as one of the following two categories of research active RLI specified in this NOFO:

A mission to serve historically underrepresented populations may be demonstrated by a documented historical and current mission to educate students from underrepresented populations in biomedical research.

The two categories of research active RLIs are:

1) Low Research Active (LRA): An RLI that is an undergraduate or graduate degree granting institution, with at least 35% of undergraduate students supported by Pell grants, and that has had less than six million dollars in NIH research project grant (RPG) support per year in three of the last five years.

2) High Research Active (HRA): An RLI that grants doctoral degrees and has had less than 25 million dollars in NIH RPG support in three of the last five years.

B. Institutional Commitment Letter. The application must include an Institutional Commitment Letter from the President or designated high-ranking official such as the Provost, Vice President or Dean. Describe how the proposed project aligns with the broad institutional vision for enhancing biomedical research. The letter should include a commitment to achieving the goals and objectives of the proposed project and activities.

The letters of support must be included with the application. Applications which lack this letter will be considered incomplete and will be withdrawn and will not be reviewed.

Resource Sharing Plan : Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

The following modifications also apply:

Generally, Resource Sharing Plans are expected, but they are not applicable for this FOA.

• A Data Management and Sharing Plan is not applicable for this NOFO.

Appendix: Only limited Appendix materials are allowed. Follow all instructions for the Appendix as described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

• No publications or other material, with the exception of blank questionnaires or blank surveys, may be included in the Appendix.

PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information

When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and/or NIH-defined clinical trials (and when applicable, clinical trials research experience) follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:

If you answered Yes to the question Are Human Subjects Involved? on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or Delayed Onset Study record.

Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information

Delayed Onset Study

Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start).All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

PHS Assignment Request Form

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

See Part 1. Section III.1 for information regarding the requirement for obtaining a unique entity identifier and for completing and maintaining active registrations in System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (if applicable), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov

4. Submission Dates and Times

Part I. Overview Information contains information about Key Dates and times. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission. When a submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday , the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.

Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies). Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons , NIH’s electronic system for grants administration. NIH and Grants.gov systems check the application against many of the application instructions upon submission. Errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application must be submitted to Grants.gov on or before the application due date and time. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late. Applications that miss the due date and time are subjected to the NIH Policy on Late Application Submission.

Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.

Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

5. Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

6. Funding Restrictions

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement .

Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement .

7. Other Submission Requirements and Information

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit How to Apply Application Guide . If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must follow the Dealing with System Issues guidance. For assistance with application submission, contact the Application Submission Contacts in Section VII.

Important reminders:

All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile form . Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH. See Section III of this NOFO for information on registration requirements.

The applicant organization must ensure that the unique entity identifier provided on the application is the same identifier used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the System for Award Management. Additional information may be found in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide.

See more tips for avoiding common errors.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness and compliance with application instructions by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete or non-compliant will not be reviewed.

In order to expedite review, applicants are requested to notify the NIMHD Referral Office by email at [email protected] when the application has been submitted. Please include the NOFO number and title, PD/PI name, and title of the application.

Post Submission Materials

Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in the policy

Section V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. Applications submitted to the NIH in support of the NIH mission are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to exert a sustained, powerful influence on the research field(s) involved, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria (as applicable for the project proposed).

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact. For example, a project that by its nature is not innovative may be essential to advance a field.

Does the project address an important problem or a critical barrier to progress in the field? Is the prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project rigorous? If the aims of the project are achieved, how will scientific knowledge, technical capability, and/or clinical practice be improved? How will successful completion of the aims change the concepts, methods, technologies, treatments, services, or preventative interventions that drive this field?

In addition, specific to this NOFO:

How well does the application provide a vision for how the project will serve as a foundation for future research capacity building? To what degree the application describes clear pathways between the need assessment and action plan development research activities and future research efforts? To what extent is the proposed project likely to enhance institutional research capacity to conduct biomedical research?

Are the PD(s)/PI(s), collaborators, and other researchers well suited to the project? If Early Stage Investigators or those in the early stages of independent careers, do they have appropriate experience and training? If established, have they demonstrated an ongoing record of accomplishments that have advanced their field(s)? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance, and organizational structure appropriate for the project?

To what extent do the PDs/PIs have the appropriate expertise to conduct the needs assessment, implement the proposed project, analyze the outcomes, and develop action plans?

Does the application challenge and seek to shift current research or clinical practice paradigms by utilizing novel theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions? Are the concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions novel to one field of research or novel in a broad sense? Is a refinement, improvement, or new application of theoretical concepts, approaches or methodologies, instrumentation, or interventions proposed?

How well does the applicant create approaches to fit their context and needs? Does the application employ novel approaches or methods to fulfill its purpose?

Are the overall strategy, methodology, and analyses well-reasoned and appropriate to accomplish the specific aims of the project? Have the investigators included plans to address weaknesses in the rigor of prior research that serves as the key support for the proposed project? Have the investigators presented strategies to ensure a robust and unbiased approach, as appropriate for the work proposed? Are potential problems, alternative strategies, and benchmarks for success presented? If the project is in the early stages of development, will the strategy establish feasibility and will particularly risky aspects be managed? Have the investigators presented adequate plans to address relevant biological variables, such as sex, for studies in vertebrate animals or human subjects?

If the project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, are the plans to address 1) the protection of human subjects from research risks, and 2) inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex/gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion or exclusion of individuals of all ages (including children and older adults), justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed?

To what extent does the applicant describe the tools and instruments for needs assessment, monitoring and evaluation of research capacity development activities? To what degree does the applicant identify metrics and indicators of success that will be used to assess the anticipated outcomes? Is the duration of the initial needs assessment stage adequate to develop action plans for short-term goals? To what degree isthe structure and governance plan likely to lead to implementation of the proposed plan? Are these goals feasible and well developed on the timeline of the award? How well are the program goals/aims aligned with yearly milestones and are the details provided adequate?

Will the scientific environment in which the work will be done contribute to the probability of success? Are the institutional support, equipment, and other physical resources available to the investigators adequate for the project proposed? Will the project benefit from unique features of the scientific environment, subject populations, or collaborative arrangements?

How strong is the level of institutional commitment to the project, including administrative and scientific support, to ensure the success of the project?

How well do the letters of support demonstrate a strong commitment to the proposed activities?

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: 1) risk to subjects, 2) adequacy of protection against risks, 3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, 4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and 5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials.

For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: 1) the justification for the exemption, 2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and 3) sources of materials. For additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to the Guidelines for the Review of Human Subjects .

When the proposed project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for the inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex/gender, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals of all ages (including children and older adults) to determine if it is justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Guidelines for the Review of Inclusion in Clinical Research .

The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following criteria: (1) description of proposed procedures involving animals, including species, strains, ages, sex, and total number to be used; (2) justifications for the use of animals versus alternative models and for the appropriateness of the species proposed; (3) interventions to minimize discomfort, distress, pain and injury; and (4) justification for euthanasia method if NOT consistent with the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals. Reviewers will assess the use of chimpanzees as they would any other application proposing the use of vertebrate animals. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animals Section .

Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.

For Resubmissions, the committee will evaluate the application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the project.

Not applicable

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score.

Reviewers will assess whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations, or environmental conditions that exist in other countries and either are not readily available in the United States or augment existing U.S. resources.

Reviewers will assess the information provided in this section of the application, including 1) the Select Agent(s) to be used in the proposed research, 2) the registration status of all entities where Select Agent(s) will be used, 3) the procedures that will be used to monitor possession use and transfer of Select Agent(s), and 4) plans for appropriate biosafety, biocontainment, and security of the Select Agent(s).

Reviewers will comment on whether the Resource Sharing Plan(s) (e.g., Sharing Model Organisms ) or the rationale for not sharing the resources, is reasonable.

For projects involving key biological and/or chemical resources, reviewers will comment on the brief plans proposed for identifying and ensuring the validity of those resources.

Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.

2. Review and Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s) convened by NIMHD, in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures , using the stated review criteria . Assignment to a Scientific Review Group will be shown in the eRA Commons.

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications will receive a written critique.

Applications may undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific and technical merit (generally the top half of applications under review) will be discussed and assigned an overall impact score.

Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications . Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the appropriate national Advisory Council or Board. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

• Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by scientific peer review.
• Availability of funds.
• Relevance of the proposed project to program priorities.
• Geographical distribution of the portfolio
• Balance between HRA and LRA awards

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons . Refer to Part 1 for dates for peer review, advisory council review, and earliest start date.

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement .

Section VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement .

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the recipient's business official.

Recipients must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.6. Funding Restrictions. Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

Any application awarded in response to this NOFO will be subject to terms and conditions found on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website. This includes any recent legislation and policy applicable to awards that is highlighted on this website.

Institutional Review Board or Independent Ethics Committee Approval: Recipient institutions must ensure that protocols are reviewed by their IRB or IEC. To help ensure the safety of participants enrolled in NIH-funded studies, the recipient must provide NIH copies of documents related to all major changes in the status of ongoing protocols.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Recipients, and Activities , including of note, but not limited to:

• Federal wide Research Terms and Conditions
• Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment
• Acknowledgment of Federal Funding

If a recipient is successful and receives a Notice of Award, in accepting the award, the recipient agrees that any activities under the award are subject to all provisions currently in effect or implemented during the period of the award, other Department regulations and policies in effect at the time of the award, and applicable statutory provisions.

Should the applicant organization successfully compete for an award, recipients of federal financial assistance (FFA) from HHS will be required to complete an HHS Assurance of Compliance form (HHS 690) in which the recipient agrees, as a term and condition of receiving the grant, to administer their programs in compliance with federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex and disability, and agreeing to comply with federal conscience laws, where applicable. This includes ensuring that entities take meaningful steps to provide meaningful access to persons with limited English proficiency; and ensuring effective communication with persons with disabilities. Where applicable, Title XI and Section 1557 prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and gender identity. The HHS Office for Civil Rights provides guidance on complying with civil rights laws enforced by HHS. Please see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-providers/provider-obligations/index.html and https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/nondiscrimination/index.html

HHS recognizes that research projects are often limited in scope for many reasons that are nondiscriminatory, such as the principal investigator’s scientific interest, funding limitations, recruitment requirements, and other considerations. Thus, criteria in research protocols that target or exclude certain populations are warranted where nondiscriminatory justifications establish that such criteria are appropriate with respect to the health or safety of the subjects, the scientific study design, or the purpose of the research. For additional guidance regarding how the provisions apply to NIH grant programs, please contact the Scientific/Research Contact that is identified in Section VII under Agency Contacts of this NOFO.

• Recipients of FFA must ensure that their programs are accessible to persons with limited English proficiency. For guidance on meeting the legal obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to programs or activities by limited English proficient individuals see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/special-topics/limited-english-proficiency/fact-sheet-guidance/index.html and https://www.lep.gov .
• For information on an institution’s specific legal obligations for serving qualified individuals with disabilities, including providing program access, reasonable modifications, and to provide effective communication, see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/disability/index.html .
• HHS funded health and education programs must be administered in an environment free of sexual harassment, see https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/for-individuals/sex-discrimination/index.html . For information about NIH's commitment to supporting a safe and respectful work environment, who to contact with questions or concerns, and what NIH's expectations are for institutions and the individuals supported on NIH-funded awards, please see https://grants.nih.gov/grants/policy/harassment.htm .
• For guidance on administering programs in compliance with applicable federal religious nondiscrimination laws and applicable federal conscience protection and associated anti-discrimination laws see https://www.hhs.gov/conscience/conscience-protections/index.html and https://www.hhs.gov/conscience/religious-freedom/index.html .

Please contact the HHS Office for Civil Rights for more information about obligations and prohibitions under federal civil rights laws at https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/about-us/contact-us/index.html or call 1-800-368-1019 or TDD 1-800-537-7697.

In accordance with the statutory provisions contained in Section 872 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417), NIH awards will be subject to the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) requirements. FAPIIS requires Federal award making officials to review and consider information about an applicant in the designated integrity and performance system (currently FAPIIS) prior to making an award. An applicant, at its option, may review information in the designated integrity and performance systems accessible through FAPIIS and comment on any information about itself that a federal agency previously entered and is currently in FAPIIS. The Federal awarding agency will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to other information in FAPIIS, in making a judgement about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 45 CFR Part 75.205 and 2 CFR Part 200.206 Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants. This provision will apply to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements except fellowships.

The following special terms of award are in addition to, and not in lieu of, otherwise applicable U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) administrative guidelines, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) grant administration regulations at 45 CFR Part 75 and 2 CFR Part 200, and other HHS, PHS, and NIH grant administration policies. The administrative and funding instrument used for this program will continue as a cooperative agreement, an "assistance" mechanism (rather than an "acquisition" mechanism), in which substantial NIH programmatic involvement with the recipients is anticipated during the performance of the activities. Under the cooperative agreement, the NIH purpose is to support and stimulate the recipients' activities by involvement in and otherwise working jointly with the award recipients in a partnership role; it is not to assume direction, prime responsibility, or a dominant role in the activities. Consistent with this concept, the dominant role and prime responsibility resides with the recipients for the project as a whole, although specific tasks and activities may be shared among the recipients and the NIH as defined below.

The individual STRONG-RLI recipients will establish steering committees at their institutions with defined roles.

In addition, the PIs of the STRONG-RLI awards and involved NIH staff, and others as needed (ex-officio), will form a STRONG-RLI Executive Steering Committee (SESC) which will oversee the activities of the STRONG-RLI program recipients. There will be a yearly rotating chair of the SESC who will be nominated and selected from the PIs of the awards.

The PDs/PIs will have the primary responsibility for:

• Plan, organize, coordinate, and administer the described activities of the program, including setting project milestones with specific timelines and criteria for Institutional needs assessment and developing action plans.
• Establish Steering Committee, organize, and coordinate SESC meetings
• Ensure compliance with the applicable mandatory NIH regulations and policies
• Participate in the STRONG SESC meetings is a requirement for the PI/PDs.The purpose of the meeting is to share progress, best practices, and address common challenges.
• Work closely with the NIH Program Official and Project Coordinator (see below) in project coordination and management.
• Establish a separate site specific steering committee that will comprise of PI, institute leadership and NIH staff
• Evaluate progress using defined milestones and metrics. Recipients will provide NIH with progress reports at regular intervals as requested.
• Share needs assessment and action plan with the NIH during the award period.
• Recipients will retain custody of and have primary rights to the data and software developed under these awards, subject to Government rights of access consistent with current DHHS, PHS, and NIH policies.

NIH staff will have substantial programmatic involvement that is above and beyond the normal stewardship role in awards, as described below:

The NIH Project Coordinator will :

Work closely with individual PIs and NIH program officials (POs) to facilitate collaborations.

• Interact with each recipient, help coordinate approaches, and contribute to the adjustment of projects/programs or approaches as warranted.
• Advise the recipient in performing project activities (e.g., coordination among RLI recipients for needs assessments; provide access to NIH supported resources; identify other resources for the project);
• Facilitate, not direct, activities.
• Participate on the Steering Committee (see below) or in other functions to help guide the course of the program (e.g., Annual Program Meeting and other Program related meetings).
• Ensure that the directions taken are consistent with the NIH missions and goals.

The Project Coordinator will not participate in the oversight of the funding opportunity announcement, application review, or programmatic and budgetary stewardship of the award.

The Program Official will be responsible for the normal programmatic stewardship of the award, including funding decisions, and will be named in the award notice. The Program Official will not serve as a voting member of the Steering Committee or partake of the duties of the Project Coordinator.

Areas of joint responsibility

The SECS is the governing and oversight body for the Program. Members, who are appointed by the PDs/PIs of the award, will be comprised of the following:

• The PI of each award will serve as the SESC member.
• NIH Project Coordinators.
• Additional members from the NIH may be appointed, but the total number of NIH votes may not exceed 1/3 of the Executive Steering Committee voting membership. Other government staff may attend the Steering Committee meetings, if their expertise is required for specific discussions.
• Each recipient must plan regular meetings (no less frequently than monthly) to discuss the progress and direction of its activities and to ensure that the necessary interactions are taking place. Recipients will be expected to participate in STRONG RLI program-wide meetings. These meetings may be in the form of phone teleconferencing, videoconferencing, and/or web conferencing, as well as face-to-face meetings. Unwillingness or a consistent inability of a PD/PI to attend may be the basis for administrative action including termination of the award.

The SESC will:

• Serve as the primary steering and oversight board for the awards funded under this NOFO.
• Decide on the schedule of regular and annual meetings. The Executive Steering Committee may also call meetings to address urgent needs and will participate in network meetings and teleconferences as needed.
• Contribute to the development of a cohesive and sustainable program.
• Provide advice on key issues such as needs assessment administration, approaches, and tools for research capacity, and opportunities for growth.
• Ensure that the implementation of the Institutional Needs Assessments and Development of Sustainable Action Plan is occurring on schedule and continues to align with the applicant institution's strategic vision for biomedical research and/or research training.
• Alert NIH to emerging needs and impediments.
• Prepare concise (1-2 page) summaries of the Executive Steering Committee recommendations, which will be delivered to the PDs/PIs and members of the group within 30 days after each meeting.

Dispute Resolution:

Any disagreements that may arise in scientific or programmatic matters (within the scope of the award) between award recipients and the NIH may be brought to dispute resolution. A Dispute Resolution Panel composed of three members will be convened. The three members will be a designee of the STRONG Executive Steering Committee chosen without NIH staff voting, one NIH designee, and a third designee with expertise in the relevant area who is chosen by the other two. In the case of individual disagreement, the first member may be chosen by the individual recipient. This special dispute resolution procedure does not alter the recipient's right to appeal an adverse action that is otherwise appealable in accordance with PHS regulation 42 CFR Part 50, Subpart D and DHHS regulation 45 CFR Part 16.

The NIH reserves the right to withhold funding or curtail the program (of an individual award) in accordance with NIH policy.

3. Data Management and Sharing

Note: The NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing is effective for due dates on or after January 25, 2023.

Consistent with the NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing, when data management and sharing is applicable to the award, recipients will be required to adhere to the Data Management and Sharing requirements as outlined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement . Upon the approval of a Data Management and Sharing Plan, it is required for recipients to implement the plan as described.

4. Reporting

When multiple years are involved, recipients will be required to submit the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) annually and financial statements as required in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

A final RPPR, invention statement, and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award, as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement . NIH NOFOs outline intended research goals and objectives. Post award, NIH will review and measure performance based on the details and outcomes that are shared within the RPPR, as described at 45 CFR Part 75.301 and 2 CFR Part 200.301.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Transparency Act), includes a requirement for recipients of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All recipients of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over the threshold. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

In accordance with the regulatory requirements provided at 45 CFR 75.113 and 2 CFR Part 200.113 and Appendix XII to 45 CFR Part 75 and 2 CFR Part 200, recipients that have currently active Federal grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all Federal awarding agencies with a cumulative total value greater than $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of a Federal award, must report and maintain the currency of information reported in the System for Award Management (SAM) about civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings in connection with the award or performance of a Federal award that reached final disposition within the most recent five-year period. The recipient must also make semiannual disclosures regarding such proceedings. Proceedings information will be made publicly available in the designated integrity and performance system (currently FAPIIS). This is a statutory requirement under section 872 of Public Law 110-417, as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313). As required by section 3010 of Public Law 111-212, all information posted in the designated integrity and performance system on or after April 15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal procurement contracts, will be publicly available. Full reporting requirements and procedures are found in Appendix XII to 45 CFR Part 75 and 2 CFR Part 200 Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.

Section VII. Agency Contacts

We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

eRA Service Desk (Questions regarding ASSIST, eRA Commons, application errors and warnings, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, and post-submission issues)

Finding Help Online: https://www.era.nih.gov/need-help (preferred method of contact) Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)

General Grants Information (Questions regarding application instructions, application processes, and NIH grant resources) Email: [email protected] (preferred method of contact) Telephone: 301-480-7075

Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and Workspace) Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726 Email: [email protected]

Brett Miller, PhD Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Telephone: 301-496-9849 Email: [email protected]

Rina Das, PhD. National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Telephone: 301-496-3996 Email: [email protected]

Behrous Davani, PhD. National Cancer Institute (NCI) Telephone: 240-276-6170 Email: [email protected]

Olga Kovbasnjuk, Ph.D. National Institutes of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) E-mail: [email protected]

Kristopher Bough, PhD National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) Telephone: 301-337-1372 Email: [email protected]

Anissa F Brown, PhD NIDCR - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL & CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH Phone: 301-594-5006 E-mail: [email protected]

Melissa C. Green Parker, Ph.D. Office of Disease Prevention (ODP) Phone: 301-480-1161 E-mail: [email protected]

Erica K Rosemond NCATS - NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCING TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES Phone: (301) 594-8927 E-mail: [email protected]

Kristy M. Nicks, PhD National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Tel: 301-594-5055 Email: [email protected]

Carol Shreffler, PhD National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Phone: 984-287-3322 E-mail: s [email protected]

Aria Crump NIDA - NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE Phone: 301-443-6504 E-mail: [email protected]

Diane Adger-Johnson, MPH Office of Research Training and Special Programs (ORTSP) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Telephone: 301-594-5945 Email: [email protected]

Damiya Eve Whitaker, PsyD, MA ORWH - Office of Research on Women's Health Phone: 301-451-8206 E-mail: [email protected]

Damali Martin, Ph.D., MPH NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING (NIA) Division of Neuroscience (DN) Phone: 301-402-8310 E-mail: [email protected]

Judith Cooper NIDCD - NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DEAFNESS AND OTHER COMMUNICATION DISORDERS Phone: (301) 496-5061 E-mail: [email protected]

Xinzhi Zhang, M.D. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Phone: 301-435-6865 Email: [email protected]

Brittany Haynes, Ph.D. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Telephone: 301-496-2767 Email: [email protected]

Beda Jean-Francois, Ph.D. National Center for Complementary & Integrative Health (NCCIH) Phone: 202-313-2144 Email: [email protected]

Elizabeth Powell, PhD National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse ( NIAAA ) Telephone: 301-443-0786 Email: [email protected]

Margaret Young Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Telephone: 301-642-4552 Email: [email protected]

Priscilla Grant, JD National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Telephone: 301-594-8412 Email: [email protected]

Alania Foster NIGMS - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES E-mail: [email protected]

Randi Freundlich National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) Telephone: 301-594-5974 Email: [email protected]

Gabriel Hidalgo, MBA NIDCR - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL & CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH Phone: 301-827-4630 E-mail: [email protected]

Leslie Le NCATS - NATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCING TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCES Phone: (301) 435-0856 E-mail: [email protected]

Jenny L Greer NIEHS - NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES Phone: 984.287.3332 E-mail: [email protected]

Pamela G Fleming NIDA - NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE Phone: 301-480-1159 E-mail: [email protected]

Samuel Ashe National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ( NIAID ) Telephone: 301-435-4799 Email: [email protected]

Jeni Smits NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING (NIA) E-mail: [email protected]

Anthony Agresti NHLBI - NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, AND BLOOD INSTITUTE Phone: 301-827-8014 E-mail: [email protected]

Tamara Kees National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Telephone: 301-443-8811 Email: [email protected]

Debbie Chen, Ph.D. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) Telephone: 301-594-3788 Email: [email protected]

Judy Fox National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA) Telephone: 301-443-4704 Email: [email protected]

Section VIII. Other Information

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts . All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement .

Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 75 and 2 CFR Part 200.

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The Australian Research Council (ARC) does not provide funding to individual researchers. Researchers seeking ARC support will find information here about schemes funded under the National Competitive Grants Program. In most cases, researchers prepare an application for funding that is submitted to the ARC through a university Research Office, or equivalent office in other organisations.

Applicants must be familiar with the Funding Rules or Guidelines for the ARC scheme under which they are applying for funding. The Funding Rules govern the application and selection processes.

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At this time, we recommend all  Penn-affiliated  travel to Israel, West Bank, Gaza, and Lebanon be deferred.  If you are planning travel to any of these locations, please reach out to [email protected] for the most up to date risk assessment and insurance exclusions. As a reminder, it is required that all Penn-affiliated trips are registered in  MyTrips .  If you have questions, please contact  [email protected] . 

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Penn Global Research & Engagement Grant Program Apply for a Research Grant

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On a yearly basis, Penn Global welcomes proposals from  faculty and staff who seek support for their global research and engagement activities. Get started on your application by reviewing the important information below.

Things to Know Before You Apply

Our priorities.

As part of its mission to promote global engagement in all its forms between the University of Pennsylvania community and the wider world, Penn Global manages a competitive grant program that provides resources to faculty and senior administrators to undertake  a range of research, teaching, service, and other activities that focus on issues, trends or topics related to areas outside of the United States which may be national, regional, transregional or global in nature.

The grant program includes four funds:

Before you apply, all applicants are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with our grant program priorities , in addition to our fund-specific goals (see above).  You may also choose to download a copy of our grant priorities and fund-specific goals. 

Download the Priorities & Goals

Eligibility & Minimum Requirements

We welcome all proposals seeking a Penn Global Research Grant that meet a few minimum requirements:

Projects or activities supported by a Penn Global Research Grant must be led by a Penn affiliate with a long-term position at the University , normally a Penn faculty member or senior administrator. In addition, Penn Global welcomes proposals for projects that engage all members of the Penn community, including academic support staff, undergraduate students, visiting scholars, and alumni as well as external partners. In general, we expect that the awardee will be responsible for at least 50% of the total work and responsibilities involved in the project.

Projects or activities  must advance the study, teaching, and/or engagement of one or more countries outside the United States or issues, trends, topics, or challenges that are of global importance. The Penn Global Research & Engagement Grant Program  cannot support projects that primarily take place within or are focused on the United States.

Some form of matching funding or support must be provided from another Penn or external source. In general, Penn Global expects matching funds to be equal or greater to those requested from its research and engagement funds, though in rare cases exceptions may be made.

Note for Applicants with a Current, Separate Grant Program-Supported Project, or Planning Multiple Applications:

Penn Global’s Grant Program endeavors to support as diverse an array of projects as possible across regions, disciplines, Penn Schools and Centers, and principal investigators (PIs), and we welcome PIs to concurrently have one Convening and one Research and Engagement project running at any given time. Applicants are also welcome to submit new applications while an existing project is finishing its final outputs, such that the existing project would conclude prior to the launch of their new notional project. Exceptions to this general project limit guidance may be made on a case-by-case basis, and there is no limit to the number of projects one may serve on as a primary collaborator.

PIs are welcome to submit multiple applications for different projects in the same application cycle, and in the event we receive multiple applications from the same PI, these applications may be in competition with each other during the review process.

Note for Applicants Engaging China & India:

Projects supported by the  China Research and Engagement Fund (CREF ) are invited to make use of the  Penn Wharton China Center  in Beijing . This may include holding events or working with the PWCC to identify and explore potential partnerships and collaborations with host country institutions. The subset of PWCC-facing activities engaged in a project supported by CREF will be subject to a 20% facilitation fee that includes many services associated with the Penn Wharton China Center.

Projects supported by the  India Research and Engagement Fund (IREF)  are  encouraged  to engage the  University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India  in New Delhi. Activities directly engaging the University of Pennsylvania Institute for the Advanced Study of India are subject to 15 % overhead.

Types of Support

Penn Global Research Grants support the following types of activities, among others, and Penn Global welcomes creative and innovative proposals beyond those listed below:

Research and Educational Collaborations: Development of international partnerships, research networks, or global programs on Penn’s campus, including but not limited to the development of a cross- or multi-School initiative on a particular topic or theme.  

Research Travel & Associated Costs: Travel for faculty research activities or related work outside the United States, and costs associated with Penn faculty doing extended research outside the United States. Also includes in-country travel for partners and/or collaborators. In general, Provost’s Office funds can be used for no more than five round trips per Project per year. Any deviations from this policy requires advance written approval from Penn Global. In addition, in no case can Provost’s Office funds be used for business class travel, though matching funds may be used to upgrade an economy-class ticket purchased using Provost’s Office funds. Finally, all Penn Global-supported travel must be in compliance with applicable University travel procedures, including the use of specified Penn travel portals and/or advance approval, where applicable in light of public health or other considerations.  

Field Work: Costs associated with conducting field work, which may include but is not limited to: data collection (e.g., surveys, focus groups, observations, etc.); data analysis, reporting, and archiving; manuscript preparation and publication; equipment necessary to perform the work, etc.  

Training & Capacity Building : Support for Penn faculty and/or teams to partner with organizations abroad to develop or enhance skills, methods, and the expertise needed to address well defined issues of local, regional, and global importance in connection with research goals. Penn Global Research Grants cannot support training or capacity building projects that are open-ended and/or do not involve a direct connection to ongoing research or teaching.   

Curricular and Course Development Initiatives : Development of new educational or extracurricular programming on Penn’s campus, including but not limited to the design of new short-term or embedded course that take students abroad.  

Teaching and Student Engagement : Support for Penn students to participate in the project (e.g., as research assistants), thereby providing them with significant research, educational, or service experiences. Such support should be closely related to ongoing research activities, workshops, conferences, or other activities listed in this category. Applicants seeking funding for courses that involve international travel should apply for a Penn Global Seminar grant administered by Penn Abroad.  

Service Learning and Social Entrepreneurship : Activities with both an educational and public, community, or social service component that are intended to engage a specific target community, population, or organization abroad. Penn Global Research Grants  cannot support service learning or social entrepreneurship projects that are open-ended and/or do not involve a direct connection to ongoing research or teaching.   

Note about Workshops, Conferences and Other Convenings: Penn Global Research Grants also support workshops, conferences, and other convenings integral to a larger research project.  Such convenings may provide a platform for the faculty member to share his or her findings with a public audience.  I f you are interested in seeking support for a stand-alone convening, or series of convenings, please apply for a Penn Global Convening Grant . 

What We Do Not Fund

Projects primarily focused on/taking place within the United States.  Projects or activities funded by a Penn Global Research Grant must advance the study, teaching, and/or engagement of one or more countries outside the United States  or  issues, trends, topics, or challenges that are of global importance. Penn Global Research Grants cannot support projects that primarily take place within or are focused on the United States.

Certain kinds of training and capacity-building projects.  Penn Global Research Grants cannot support training or capacity building projects that are open-ended and/or do not involve a direct connection to ongoing research or teaching.   However, we are open to considering supporting a discrete research project within a broader training and capacity building project. We also provide support to Penn faculty and/or teams in partnering with organizations abroad to develop or enhance skills, methods, and the expertise needed to address well-defined issues of local, regional, and global importance  in connection with research goals.

Certain kinds of teaching and student engagement projects.  Such support should be closely related to ongoing research activities, workshops, conferences, or other activities listed in this category. Applicants seeking funding for courses that involve international travel should apply for a  Penn Global Seminar  grant administered by Penn Abroad.

Certain kinds of service learning and social entrepreneurship projects.  Penn Global Research Grants cannot support service learning or social entrepreneurship projects that are open-ended and/or do not involve a direct connection to ongoing research or teaching. 

Consultation Services (on the part of Penn Faculty).  We do not offer support for faculty or teams to serve as consultants or advisors participating, for instance, in the development of new methods or practices. To be considered for funding, faculty must clearly define how such activities are integral to their research or academic endeavors, and how such activities will better position the University of Pennsylvania as a leader of global research and intellectual innovation.

Funding Tracks, Term, Budget & Matching Funds

FUNDING TRACKS Each Research Grant application is reviewed through one of three funding tracks, determined by the amount requested from Penn Global. Your application will be reviewed only alongside others in the same funding track:

Track 1: Seed Grants - Requested funding capped at $15,000 - Matching funds encouraged, but not required - Ideal for new projects/concepts in exploratory phase Track 2: Mid-size Grants - Requested funding capped at $75,000 - Matching funds required; 1:1 ratio preferred - Ideal for projects in proof-of-concept phase Track 3: Large Grants - No funding cap, though awards typically do not exceed $150,000 - Matching funds required; 1:1 ratio is expected and generally required - Ideal for large-scale projects that advance School, Center, and University strategic global priorities; advance ambitious, interdisciplinary and inter-School collaborations; and scale up equitable partnerships between Penn and other international institutions

Please note that peer reviewers assess proposals' prudence in budgeting for project-related expenses: requesting the maximum amount in your funding track without strong justification for the expenses may hinder your application's chance at success.

TERM Penn Global Research Grants have historically averaged terms of 1 to 3 years; however we welcome proposals for longitudinal research and engagement beyond 3 years as a proposal's focus and scope may merit. Other exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis. 

BUDGET There is no minimum or maximum award amount for Penn Global Research Grants, although awards generally range between $10,000 and $150,000, depending on the Funding Track.. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

Allowable & Unallowable Costs As you build your budget, applicants and their business administrators are strongly encouraged to review our list of allowable and unallowable costs.  You will be prompted to enter your PennKey and password in order to view them.

MATCHING FUNDS All Penn Global Research Grants will require matching funds material support to be contributed by the applicant's School, center, or department or from another Penn or external source. As a general rule, the Provost’s Office expects to match awardee-provided funds on a 1:1 basis ,  so that Provost’s Office funds will comprise no more than 50% of the total Project budget. However, the goal of the funds is to stimulate transformative research, and proposers are welcome to submit proposals with alternative matching ratios, especially for proposals that respond to emerging or ongoing issues or challenges.

The proposal review process will take into consideration likelihood of securing match funds as evidenced by letters of intent or other documented expressions of support.   Matching funds do not have to be in-hand when proposals are submitted, but the expectation is that the matching funds will be in-hand at the time of award.

At the time of award, matching funds contributed by the Awardee must be confirmed with the Penn Global Business Office prior to any Provost Office funds being provided.  It is expected that the awardee will meet their annual match commitment each year, or they may jeopardize future years’ Provost funding .

Criteria for Priority Consideration

Penn Global looks for projects that enhance Penn’s engagement with one or more countries or regions outside the United States or issues, trends, topics, or challenges that are of global importance. Projects must primarily take place outside the United States and be focused on issues that are not primarily focused on the United States.

Success can be measured by a variety of criteria; there is no “one-size-fits-all” model. But in general, benchmarks for success can be measured by research and academic outputs (e.g., scholarly publications, presentations, events), equitable engagement with new partners, creation and development of new courses at Penn or educational opportunities for Penn students, ability to attract school/center and external funding, media coverage, and research or policy impact.

Penn Global welcomes all proposals that meet its minimum criteria, but proposals that feature the following will receive preferential consideration:

Led by facultyand/or senior administrators* from two or more Penn Schools and/or centers, and/or involve faculty members, students, researchers, or other collaborators from two or more distinct disciplinary fields, including the natural and applied sciences; the social sciences; the humanities; and clinical or professional training;

Involve tenure-track but currently untenured faculty;

Build strong and equitable partnerships between Penn and collaborating institutions, organizations or communities abroad; and

Include a clear plan for obtaining matching funds equal to or greater than the amount requested from a Penn Global fund.

In addition, for the Holman Africa Research and Engagement Fund, preferential consideration will be given to proposals that specifically address or relate to sub-Saharan Africa and/or the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Application Process

The application process for a Penn Global Research Grant consists of two steps: (1) submit an Expression of Interest (EOI), and if invited, (2) submit a full proposal. Additional information regarding each step of the process is provided below. 

IN AUGUST, applicants are invited to submit a short Expression of Interest (EOI). The EOI should describe  the proposed project, its outputs, objectives, and proposed approach; partners; and basic budget details along with a description of any plans to contribute or solicit matching funding. EOIs should articulate a clear plan for sustainability and impact. EOIs are typically due by October. 

Expressions of Interest will be evaluated against the grant program's priorities and fund-specific  objectives. If the EOI is accepted, applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal.

NB: Notifying Unit Leadership At this stage, applicants are strongly encouraged to inform their appropriate unit leadership (e.g., school dean, center director, department chair, etc) of their plans to apply to the Penn Global Research and Engagement Grant Program. If an EOI is successful, applicants will be required to submit letters of support and obtain the signatures of unit leadership as part of their full application. 

For Applicants from the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM):  EOIs from applicants affiliated with PSOM are strongly encouraged to obtain a Letter of Support (LOS) from the Center of Global Health (CGH). The LOS should be requested at least two weeks in advance of the Penn Global Research and Engagement Grant due date. Kindly contact Megan Doherty, CGH Director of Operations and Programming, to initiate this process:  [email protected] .

IN DECEMBER, if an Expression of Interest is accepted, applicants will be invited to develop a full proposal. Applicants will be asked to provide a more detailed description of the proposed project, outputs, objectives, partners, timeline, and budget, as well as letters of support from proposed partners, identified sources of matching funds, and School and Center administrators. Proposals are typically due by the end of January. 

NB: Submitting Letters of Support & Signatures To submit a full appilcation, applicants are required to provide letters of support and obtain the signatures of the appropriate unit leadership (e.g., school dean, center director, department chair, etc). Below are additional instructions based on the applicant's classification. 

For faculty and senior administrators: Full applications require a Letter of Support from the School Dean or Center Director. 

For graduate student, post-doctoral researcher, or other applicants holding a limited-duration appointment at the University: Applications require a Letter of Support from sponsoring Penn faculty member, as well as a Letter of Support or e-mail copy from a Business Administrator from their faculty sponsor’s School or Center confirming the Business Administrator would fulfill the applicant's purchasing needs, account reconciliation/reporting, and account set-up needs.

For Applicants from the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM):  EOIs from applicants affiliated with PSOM are required to obtain a Letter of Support (LOS) from the Center of Global Health (CGH) . The LOS should be requested at least two weeks in advance of the Penn Global Research and Engagement Grant due date. Kindly contact Megan Doherty, CGH Director of Operations and Programming, to initiate this process:  [email protected] .

IN EARLY APRIL, applicants will be notified of our decisions. If successful, applicants will be given additional instructions to finalize their award and  receive their funding. Grantees can expect to receive the first tranche of funding by June, assuming all criteria are met. 

Apply for a Penn Global Research Grant

Penn Global will announce dates for the 2023-24 application cycle in summer 2023.  

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Applying for a Research Grant

The Research Support Team (RST) provides assistance to PIs at every phase of their research projects, from proposal to closeout. College of Education PIs are encouraged to use the RST, regardless of project size, sponsor, dollar amount, or whether it is a primary or subcontracted project. The RST supports proposals and projects routed through  Sponsored Projects Services  (SPS) and the University of Arizona Foundation (UAF).

All proposals must be reviewed and approved by the Office of the Dean and appropriate university office(s) prior to submission.  If proposals are not submitted within the deadlines outlined, we cannot guarantee that it will be approved in time for submission. The 7-day deadline is put in place so that we can address any unforeseen issues tied to routing.

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So, you are on a grant but are not the PI.  What should you do?

7 TIPS to help the College of Education assist you in a timely manner if you are a Co-PI, senior personnel, evaluator, instructor, or specialist, etc. on grants or contracts.

• Contact us early in the grant discussion. Preferably 2 months out.
• Student tuition, etc.
• A course buyout
• Space needs
• Budget: Don’t skip meeting with Margo or Zach to start discussing your budget – you do not want to underestimate your financial needs per your role on the project.
• Equitable F & A Split : Must consider your F&A split . Make sure you are not underrepresented per your role. Typically, your F&A is calculated by the amount of time and/or management duties you will hold, as well as take into consideration the use of CoE resources such as finance office support to co-manage the funds you receive .
• Abstract: Always provide an abstract or outline of your project so we know what it is about.
• Administration in the College
• Assistance with letters from UA Senior leadership team
• Any non-UA entities such as schools, districts, non-profits
• Other forms that are being requested that you are responsible for
• UAR Proposal access: Add Zach as a viewer of the proposal so we can help you with executing our end.

A viewer cannot edit the proposal.

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Research: Pre- and Post-Award Processes

Assistant Dean, Research

Senior Coordinator, Grants and Contracts

Coordinator, Grants and Contracts

Learn if your company is eligible for NIH SBIR or STTR funding, how to apply , and what to expect during each step of the application process. Multiple registrations are required to prepare your application and apply for funding.

• Understanding SBIR and STTR
• Eligibility Criteria
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• Supplemental Funding to Diversify the Entpreneurial Workforce
• How to Apply
• Transition Award (Coming Soon)

Our team can help you maximize the benefits from NIH programs and resources which help you bring your innovations to life.

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Explore the benefits of public-private partnership in NIH’s nationwide network of innovators who convert academic discoveries into healthcare solutions.

The NIH is actively turning discovery into health by helping small businesses develop innovative technologies that improve health and save lives. See how .

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We value  diverse perspectives in biomedical innovation and strive to empower scientists and entrepreneurs to bring their discoveries to patients.

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Technical and Business Assistance (TABA) Funding 

TABA Funding is part of a comprehensive NIH program intended to help small businesses identify and address their most pressing product development needs. TABA programs assist small businesses in:

• making better technical decisions concerning such projects;
• solving technical problems which arise during the conduct of such projects;
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• developing and commercializing new commercial products and processes resulting from such projects, including intellectual property protections.

Small Businesses may request

• up to $6,500 per year for a Phase I
• up to $50,000 across all years per Phase II project

Fast-Track applications are a combination of both Phase I and Phase II and small businesses can request TABA Funding in both phases within their Fast-Track application up to these amounts for each phase. Technical and business assistance funds cannot be requested for the Commercialization Readiness Pilot (CRP) program.

TABA Funding Can Support

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Assistance with product sales
• Intellectual property protections
• Market research and/or validation
• Development of regulatory plans
• Development of manufacturing plans
• Access to technical and business literature available through on-line databases

TABA Funding Cannot Support

• Activities that the recipient can provide internally
• General maintenance of or investment in an applicant/division within the small business, an affiliate/investor of the small business, or a subcontractor/consultant required as part of the awarded Phase I or Phase II
• Contributions to the SBIR/STTR fee
• Audit services
• Bookkeeping services, including payroll management or general accounting services
• Patent costs above and beyond those outlined for the NIH funded program
• Contingency costs or costs associated with the research and development activities of the award

Request TABA Funding in Your Application

If you wish to utilize your own technical and business assistance provider/vendor, you are required to include them as a consultant in your budget and to provide a detailed budget justification. All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.

• Label the requested cost “Technical Assistance” on one of the lines from 8-10.
• Include a detailed description of the technical or business assistance that your vendor will provide, including the name of the vendor and the expected benefits and results of the technical or business assistance provided in the Budget Justification.

Request TABA Funding Through an Administrative Supplement

Small businesses may become aware of technical or business needs after awarding of the Phase I or Phase II that necessitate requesting TABA Funding through an Administrative Supplement. If you need to request TABA funding after you receive notice of award, please refer to NOT–OD–24–077 . 

Awardees who request and receive TABA Funding through the grant award, either as part of the application or through an administrative supplement, cannot utilize centralized NIH TABA services for the phase of the SBIR/STTR that received TABA Funding.However, any SBIR/STTR awardee can utilize non-TABA Commercialization Enhancement Programs .

Please contact your Program Official if you have any questions. For more information, please see the TABA FAQs .

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Funding opportunity: Delivering training courses for environmental scientists 2024

Apply for funding to deliver training short courses within the NERC remit, focusing on areas of identifiable training need.

You must be:

• based at a UK research organisation eligible for NERC funding
• in a role that meets the individual eligibility requirements

Participants of the training should be aligned to NERC remit.

Total budget is £600,000 equating to 10 to 15 awards. All costs will be funded at 100% direct costs. Under certain circumstances, you may request up to £100,000.

Funded training initiatives should take place within a year of the grant being awarded.

Who can apply

Before applying for funding, check the following:

• NERC eligibility guidance for applicants
• eligibility of your organisation
• your training course is within our remit

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the new UKRI Funding Service.

For full details, visit eligibility as an individual .

Who is eligible to apply

You may only be involved in one application submitted to this funding opportunity.

The international project co-lead agreements with International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis IIASA and Norway do not apply to this funding opportunity.

You may include project partners who will contribute to the proposed training initiative.

Successful applicants from previous NERC Training Short Course (TSC) funding opportunities are eligible to apply for a TSC award and can apply to have their previously successful courses renewed. However, success in a previous NERC funding opportunity is not a guarantee that an award will be successful in this funding round and all applications will be subject to the same assessment process.

Existing NERC-funded Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) and Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) are eligible to apply to this competition for funding to support training initiatives aligned with, but in addition to, their existing DTP and CDT student training programmes. Applications may not request funding to support activities already funded through active training grants. Applications must demonstrate that the proposed training is not duplicative of existing training.

Training courses delivered by NERC DTPs and CDTs must be open and advertised to attendees beyond the DTP or CDT. Places on courses must be offered according to the scheme priority criteria.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all funding applicants. We encourage applications from a diverse range of researchers.

We support people to work in a way that suits their personal circumstances. This includes:

• career breaks
• support for people with caring responsibilities
• flexible working
• alternative working patterns

Find out more about equality, diversity and inclusion at UKRI and NERC’s diversity and inclusion action plan .

What we're looking for

We invite applications for Training Short Course (TSC) awards for training initiatives within our science remit.

You can apply to the non-directed aspect of the funding opportunity or apply to the directed priority areas.

NERC directed priority areas

Future marine research infrastructure priority area.

Our Future Marine Research Infrastructure programme is considering options to replace the RRS James Cook which would maintain or enhance the current capability whilst also supporting UKRI’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy . The use of marine autonomous systems (MAS) may play a larger role within that capability in future and in new ways than currently planned. To support the adoption of MAS technology across the science community and potentially enable novel approaches to addressing current and future science priorities, training initiatives are invited that aim to increase awareness of the technical specifications of MAS and their use in sustained and experimental ocean observation. It is hoped that this initiative would both accelerate the adoption of innovative observational techniques and enhance best practice methodologies for MAS.

A minimum of £100,000 funding approximately one to three courses is ringfenced for this priority area.

Digital skills priority area

NERC’s Digital Strategy 2021 to 2030 highlights skills as a foundational pillar to support digitally enabled environmental science. Applications are welcome for training short courses which underpin one or more of the following strategic themes:

• data stewardship – enhancing our data services for accessibility and interoperability
• data analysis, understanding and visualisation – supporting the current and future computational capacity needed for environmental science
• modelling and simulation – supporting the development and use of new technologies such as digital twins and artificial intelligence

NERC non-directed

All training initiatives must fall within our science remit but may also include training at the interface between these areas and other disciplines, where many major research challenges exist. We particularly encourage initiatives that provide significant added value to other NERC priorities and investments, such as NERC’s strategic research programmes , or NERC remit areas related to the UKRI strategy .

Priority areas can include both discipline and remit specific and transferable skills (for example mentoring; project management; diversity, equity, and inclusion training).

We also welcome bids where some of the directed digital themes are embedded into the training scope, but don’t focus specifically on digital skills.

For information on the training we support through our doctoral programmes visit career and skills development .

Training initiatives may take a variety of forms (including but not extensively):

• short courses
• field courses
• e-learning, webinars or Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
• summer schools

Training initiatives may form part of an accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD), Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma.

All initiatives must offer places as priority to NERC-funded PhD students and UKRI funded environmental scientists working within academic or non-academic settings for future careers in research and other contexts. Places can also be available to those working in a sector or discipline aligned to our science remit.

Places can also be offered to current or past NERC-funded PhD students to fill training and skills gaps created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Note, NERC Fellows (for example independent research fellowships) and NERC-sponsored fellows (for example NERC Daphne Jackson Trust Fellows) are eligible for places. Where there is competition for course places between priority candidates, or between non-priority candidates, the award holder should offer places to applicants according to the applicant training need and impact that receiving the training will have on them.

Refer to the UKRI best practice principles in doctoral recruitment which sets out the minimum considerations for training grant holders in relation to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

We expect you to engage as appropriate with relevant non-academic stakeholders, particularly users of our research, when developing and delivering training.

The duration of this award is 12 months.

Funding available

There is a total budget of £600,000 available for the scheme and we intend to support approximately 10 to 15 awards. Direct costs will be funded at 100%.

You can apply for up to £60,000 to run a training initiative. However, under certain circumstances, you may request up to £100,000 with further justification.

What we will fund

The maximum that you can apply for to run a training initiative is £60,000 although it is expected that most training initiatives will request £20,000 to £50,000 in total. You may however request up to £100,000 with further justification. Funding above £60,000 will be awarded at the discretion of the panel. For example, we anticipate that fieldwork courses will be more expensive than remote courses. Failure to provide additional sufficient justification will limit the amount of funding awarded to a maximum of £60,000.

Funding should be calculated on a per attendee (place on the training course) basis and you may request up to £10,000 in justified direct costs per attendee, although it is expected that most initiatives will require between £1,000 and £3,000 per attendee and applications will normally look to fund between 10 to 30 attendees.

The cost per attendee requested should include, where appropriate, support for travel and subsistence costs for attendees to attend the training. Funding to cover staff travel, subsistence costs, venue hire, materials and consumables can be included. Funding to cover staff salary can be included in the cost per attendee calculation. Staff salary requested can cover time spent preparing and delivering the training course.

You must provide a breakdown of costs for your proposed training to enable the panel to assess the costs associated with the proposed training at a per attendee level and identify costs requested under each heading. If you fail to provide this information, then your application will be rejected for this funding opportunity.

The assessment panel may recommend to us that individual costs, or the overall cost of an application, be reduced prior to making an offer of award. We will contact you during the post assessment process about any changes.

These awards are cash limited and additional funding will not be made available to supplement any awards.

What we will not fund

We will not fund:

• PhD studentship costs (for example stipend costs)
• facilities costs
• cruise costs
• equipment costs
• estates and indirect costs
• training currently funded through a Doctoral Training Partnership or Centres for Doctoral Training

For examples of current NERC research centre training courses see the research centre training programme .

Services and facilities

You cannot apply to use a facility or resource in your application.

Ship-time and marine facilities

You cannot apply to use ship-time or marine facilities.

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Antarctic Logistics Support

You cannot apply to use NERC BAS Antarctic logistics support.

Supporting skills and talent

We encourage you to follow the principles of the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and the Technician Commitment .

Responsible research

Through our funding processes, we seek to make a positive contribution to society and the environment. This is not just through research outputs and outcomes but through the way in which research is conducted and facilities managed.

All NERC grant holders are to adopt responsible research practices as set out in the NERC responsible business statement .

Responsible research is defined as reducing harm or enhancing benefit on the environment and society through effective management of research activities and facilities. Specifically, this covers:

• the natural environment
• the local community
• equality, diversity and inclusion

You should consider the responsible research context of your project, not the host institution as a whole. You should take action to enhance your responsible research approach where practical and reasonable.

Research disruption due to COVID-19

We recognise that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused major interruptions and disruptions across our communities. We are committed to ensuring that individual applicants and their wider team, including partners and networks, are not penalised for any disruption to their career, such as:

• breaks and delays
• disruptive working patterns and conditions
• the loss of ongoing work
• role changes that may have been caused by the pandemic

Reviewers and panel members will be advised to consider the unequal impacts that COVID-19 related disruption might have had on the capability to deliver and career development of those individuals included in the application. They will be asked to consider the capability of the applicant, and their wider team, to deliver the research they are proposing.

Where disruptions have occurred, you can highlight this within your application if you wish, but there is no requirement to detail the specific circumstances that caused the disruption.

How to apply

We are running this funding opportunity on the new UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service so please ensure that your organisation is registered. You cannot apply on the Joint Electronic Submissions (Je-S) system.

Only the lead research organisation can submit an application to UKRI.

Watch our recording on how to apply for an opportunity in the Funding Service.

Select ‘Start application’ near the beginning of this Funding finder page.

• Confirm you are the project lead.
• Sign in or create a Funding Service account. To create an account, select your organisation, verify your email address, and set a password. If your organisation is not listed, email [email protected] Allow at least 10 working days for your organisation to be added to the Funding Service.
• Answer questions directly in the text boxes. You can save your answers and come back to complete them or work offline and return to copy and paste your answers. If we need you to upload a document, follow the upload instructions in the Funding Service. All questions and assessment criteria are listed in the ‘How to apply’ section on this Funding finder page.
• Allow enough time to check your application in ‘read-only’ view before sending to your research office.
• Send the completed application to your research office for checking. They will return it to you if it needs editing.
• Your research office will submit the completed and checked application to UKRI.

Where indicated, you can also demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. You should:

• use images sparingly and only to convey important information that cannot easily be put into words
• insert each new image onto a new line
• provide a descriptive legend for each image immediately underneath it (this counts towards your word limit)
• ensure that files are smaller than 5MB and in JPEG, JPG, JPE, JFI, JIF, JFIF, PNG, GIF, BMP or WEBP format

Watch our research office webinars about the new Funding Service .

For more guidance on the Funding Service, see:

• how applicants use the Funding Service
• how research offices use the Funding Service
• how reviewers use the Funding Service

Applications should be self-contained, and hyperlinks should only be used to provide links directly to reference information. To ensure the information’s integrity is maintained, where possible, persistent identifiers such as digital object identifiers should be used. Assessors are not required to access links to carry out assessment or recommend a funding decision. You should use your discretion when including references and prioritise those most pertinent to your application.

Reference should be included in the appropriate question section of the application and be easily identifiable by the assessors, for example (Smith, Research Paper, 2019).

You must not include links to web resources to extend your application.

We must receive your application by 26 June 2024 at 4:00pm UK time.

You will not be able to apply after this time. Make sure you are aware of and follow any internal institutional deadlines.

Following the submission of your application to the funding opportunity, your application cannot be changed, and applications will not be returned for amendment. If your application does not follow the guidance, it may be rejected.

Personal data

Processing personal data.

NERC, as part of UKRI, will need to collect some personal information to manage your Funding Service account and the registration of your funding applications.

We will handle personal data in line with UK data protection legislation and manage it securely. For more information, including how to exercise your rights, read our privacy notice .

Publication of outcomes

NERC, as part of UKRI, will publish the outcomes of this funding opportunity on What NERC has funded .

If your application is successful, we will publish some personal information on the UKRI Gateway to Research .

Word limit: 550

In plain English, provide a summary we can use to identify the most suitable experts to assess your application.

We may make this summary publicly available on external-facing websites, therefore do not include any confidential or sensitive information.  Make it suitable for a variety of readers, for example:

• opinion-formers
• policymakers
• the wider research community

Guidance for writing a summary

Clearly describe your proposed work in terms of:

• the challenge the project addresses
• aims and objectives
• potential applications and benefits

List the key members of your team and assign them roles from the following:

• project lead (PL)
• project co-lead (UK) (PcL)
• research and innovation associates
• visiting researchers
• grant manager
• professional enabling staff
• researcher co-lead (RcL)

Only list one individual as project lead.

The project lead is responsible for setting up and completing the application process on the Funding Service.

Find out more about UKRI’s core team roles in funding applications .

Application questions

Word limit: 500

What are you hoping to achieve with your proposed work?

What the assessors are looking for in your response

Explain how your proposed work:

• has a clear vision and objectives with tracking measures
• outlines the organisations’ and partnerships’ research and innovation expertise in designated disciplines to provide training and address skills and capacity challenges
• describes its anticipated outcomes and impact for society and the economy, outlines the strategies to achieve them

The Vision should:

• identify, justify and evidence national need and demand for training of this nature and its outcomes

If applying for Future marine research infrastructure funding you should show:

• how the proposed training will advance the UK science community’s understanding of how Marine Autonomous System (MAS) technology deployed at a larger scale might lead to novel ways of addressing future science priorities

You may demonstrate elements of your responses in visual form if relevant. Further details are provided in the ‘How to apply’ section.

References may be included within this section.

There is no additional detail required if applying within the digital skills priority area.

How are you going to deliver your proposed work?

Explain how you have designed your approach so that it:

• is effective and appropriate to achieve your objectives
• is feasible, and comprehensively identifies any risks to delivery and how they will be managed
• will maximise translation of outputs into outcomes and impacts
• describes how your, and if applicable your team’s, research environment (in terms of the place and relevance to the project) will contribute to the success of the work

You should demonstrate how your training short course will:

• have identified, realistic training outcomes within areas of identifiable training need relevant to the NERC science remit
• show well-justified, excellent quality training content delivered in an appropriate manner to provide confidence that the training outcomes will be met
• use the appropriate scale to meet training delivery outcomes and impact national training needs
• the ‘learning journey’ from understanding the technology, to how to measure the ocean in new ways that support frontier science

Applicant and team capability to deliver

Word limit: 1,650

Why are you the right individual or team to successfully deliver the proposed work?

Evidence of how you, and if relevant your team, have:

• the relevant experience (appropriate to career stage) to deliver the proposed work
• the right balance of skills and expertise to cover the proposed work
• the appropriate leadership and management skills to deliver the work and your approach to develop others
• contributed to developing a positive research environment and wider community

The word limit for this section is 1,650 words: 1,150 words to be used for R4RI modules and, if necessary, a further 500 words for Additions.

Use the Résumé for Research and Innovation (R4RI) format to showcase the range of relevant skills you and, if relevant, your team (project and project co-leads, researchers, technicians, specialists, partners and so on) have and how this will help deliver the proposed work. You can include individuals’ specific achievements but only choose past contributions that best evidence their ability to deliver this work.

Complete this section using the R4RI module headings listed. Use each heading once and include a response for the whole team, see the UKRI guidance on R4RI . You should consider how to balance your answer, and emphasise where appropriate the key skills each team member brings:

• contributions to the generation of new ideas, tools, methodologies, or knowledge
• the development of others and maintenance of effective working relationships
• contributions to the wider research and innovation community
• contributions to broader research or innovation users and audiences and towards wider societal benefit

Provide any further details relevant to your application. This section is optional and can be up to 500 words. You should not use it to describe additional skills, experiences, or outputs, but you can use it to describe any factors that provide context for the rest of your R4RI (for example, details of career breaks if you wish to disclose them).

Complete this as a narrative. Do not format it like a CV.

UKRI has introduced new role types for funding opportunities being run on the Funding Service.

For full details, see Eligibility as an individual .

Ethics and responsible research and innovation (RRI)

Word limit: 250

What are the ethical or RRI implications and issues relating to the proposed work? If you do not think that the proposed work raises any ethical or RRI issues, explain why.

Demonstrate that you have identified and evaluated:

• the relevant ethical or responsible research and innovation considerations
• how you will manage these considerations
• consideration for preventing environmental harm and enhancing environmental benefit in line with NERC’s responsible business statement

If you are collecting or using data, identify:

• any legal and ethical considerations of collecting, releasing or storing the data including consent, confidentiality, anonymisation, security and other ethical considerations and, in particular, strategies to not preclude further re-use of data
• formal information standards with which your study will comply

Demonstrating a commitment to DEI

How are you showing a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in your work?

• consideration that attendee shortlisting and recruitment is fair and transparent
• that the proposed training will make the attendee experience as inclusive as possible
• effective monitoring and reporting to foster a diverse and inclusive environment

Within the ‘Demonstrating a commitment to EDI’ section we also expect you to provide:

• information on the use of a standardised shortlisting matrix and provision of DEI guidance for staff involved in the recruitment process
• information on ensuring all staff receive appropriate DEI training
• information on signposting of courses and how provisions will be made to ensure inclusion
• consideration of course delivery to accommodate variable circumstances where possible

Project partners

Provide details about any project partners’ contributions.

Add details about any project partners’ contributions. If there are no project partners, you can indicate this on the Funding Service.

A project partner is a collaborating organisation who will have an integral role in the proposed research. This may include direct (cash) or indirect (in-kind) contributions such as expertise, staff time or use of facilities.

Add the following project partner details:

• organisation name and address (searchable via a drop-down list or enter the organisation’s details manually, as applicable)
• project partner contact name and email address
• type of contribution (direct or in-direct) and its monetary value

If a detail is entered incorrectly and you have saved the entry, remove the specific project partner record and re-add it with the correct information.

For audit purposes, UKRI requires formal collaboration agreements to be put in place if an award is made.

Resources and cost justification

What will you need to deliver your proposed work and how much will it cost?

You should indicate how many places you are requesting funding for. It is expected that most training initiatives will request between 10 to 30 places.

Funding should be calculated on a per attendee (place on the training course) basis, and you may request up to £10,000 in justified direct costs per attendee. Although it is expected that most initiatives will require between £1,000 to £3,000 per attendee.

The cost per attendee requested should include:

• support for travel and subsistence costs for attendees to attend the training (where appropriate)
• funding to cover staff travel
• subsistence costs
• materials and consumables

Funding to cover staff salary should include information concerning costs attributable to staff time spend preparing and delivering training. Staff salary costs should be split evenly per attendee to calculate the ‘per attendee’ cost.

Indirect and estate costs must not be included.

If you are requesting funding greater than £60,000 then include additional justification for this request.

You must provide a breakdown of costs for your proposed training to enable the panel to assess the costs associated with the proposed training at a per attendee level.

The overall total requested cost should be a single figure entered under ‘exceptions – other’ and zero costs should be entered against any other heading.

How we will assess your application

Assessment process.

We will assess your application using the following process.

Assessment panel

We will invite experts to assess your application against the assessment criteria for this funding opportunity. We will rank it alongside other applications after which the panel will make a funding recommendation.

We will give feedback with the outcome of your application.

Principles of assessment

We support the San Francisco declaration on research assessment and recognise the relationship between research assessment and research integrity.

Find out about the UKRI principles of assessment and decision making .

We reserve the right to modify the assessment process as needed.

Assessment criteria

The criteria against which your application will be assessed are:

• applicant and team capability to deliver
• demonstrating a commitment to DEI
• resources and cost justification

Find details of assessment questions and criteria under the ‘Application questions’ heading in the ‘How to apply’ section.

Contact details

Get help with your application.

If you have a question and the answers aren’t provided on this page

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Helpdesk is committed to helping users of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Funding Service as effectively and as quickly as possible. In order to manage cases at peak volume times, the Helpdesk will triage and prioritise those queries with an imminent opportunity deadline and/or a technical issue. Enquiries raised where information is available on the Funding Finder opportunity page and should be understood early in the application process (for example, regarding eligibility or content/remit of a funding opportunity) will not constitute a priority case and will be addressed as soon as possible.

For help and advice on costings and writing your application, contact your research office in the first instance, allowing sufficient time for your organisation’s submission process.

For questions related to this specific funding opportunity, contact [email protected]

Any queries regarding the system or the submission of applications through the Funding Service should be directed to the helpdesk.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01793 547490

Our phone lines are open:

• Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 5:00pm
• Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm

To help us process queries quicker, we request that users highlight the council and opportunity name in the subject title of their email query, include the application reference number, and refrain from contacting more than one mailbox at a time.

You can also find information on submitting an application .

Sensitive information

If you or a core team member need to tell us something you wish to remain confidential, email [email protected]

Include in the subject line: Delivering training courses for environmental scientists; sensitive information; your Funding Service application number.

Typical examples of confidential information include:

• individual is unavailable until a certain date (for example due to parental leave)
• declaration of interest
• additional information about eligibility to apply that would not be appropriately shared in the ‘Applicant and team capability’ section
• conflict of interest for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to consider in reviewer or panel participant selection

For information about how UKRI handles personal data, read UKRI’s privacy notice .

Additional info

Our commitment to the principles of the modern slavery act 2015.

Modern slavery is a crime and a violation of fundamental human rights. It takes various forms which deprive a person of their liberty in order to exploit them for personal or commercial gain, such as:

• human trafficking
• forced and compulsory labour

We are committed to the principles of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, and the abolition of modern slavery and human trafficking.

Reporting requirements

All successful applicants will be required to report on their training initiative. This information is requested so that engagement across priority skills areas can be determined and will be used to determine the format of future awards of this nature.

Award holders will be expected to report as follows:

• number of applications received
• NERC PhD Students
• Early Career Researchers
• general feedback regarding the competition
• applicant feedback regarding the course

We will distribute appropriate proformas well ahead of the deadlines for the collection of the data.

The collated data will inform future short course funding opportunities and may also feed into the provision of training courses across our postgraduate training portfolio.

This is the website for UKRI: our seven research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Let us know if you have feedback or would like to help improve our online products and services .