Sponsor Overview
National Institutes of Health is the primary federal agency supporting biomedical and behavioral research. Its mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. NIH funds research through 27 Institutes and Centers, each with a disease- or systems-focused mission. NIH supports hypothesis-driven discovery, clinical and translational research, population/behavioral health, and training/career development.
Is NIH a good fit for your project?
- Your question addresses human health, disease mechanisms, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, implementation, or behavioral/population outcomes.
- Your proposal can be framed around a clear gap in knowledge and a rigorous approach to addressing it (significance + innovation + approach).
- You can identify a plausible “home” Institute/Center and study section based on the science and audience.
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Key Programs
NIH organizes funding opportunities using activity codes. Commonly used NIH mechanisms include:
- R01 – Research Project Grant: Investigator-initiated, sustained program of research.
- R21 – Exploratory/Developmental Grant: Early-stage, high-impact ideas; often limited preliminary data expectations vary by IC/FOA.
- R03 – Small Research Grant: Pilot/feasibility or small, discrete projects.
- K series – Career Development Awards: Protected time and mentored development toward independence.
- T series – Institutional Training: Training programs (often institution-led).
- P series – Program Project / Centers: Multi-component center or program awards; complex management and coordination.
- U series – Cooperative Agreements: Substantial NIH programmatic involvement; common for consortia and initiatives.
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Essential NIH Resources
- New to NIH: Overview of the structure of NIH and how to successfully navigate the grants process.
- Grants & Funding: Information and resources to help you find funding opportunities and develop your proposals.
- NIH Application Guide (how to apply): Instructions to develop NIH grant applications
- Develop Your Budget: Tips and guidance for developing your budget for NIH proposals
- Biosketch Format Pages, Instructions, and Samples: Resources for creating NIH-style Biosketches
- Sample Applications and Documents: Funded applications, summary statements, and more
- NIH Funding Opportunities: Tools for exploring available opportunities
- NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: NIH's official source for notices of grant policies, guidelines, and other information
- NIH Grants Policy Statement: Policy requirements that serve as the terms and conditions of NIH grant awards
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UAB Supports
The Research Development Office offers robust support for faculty seeking NIH funding, including funding mechanism identification and assessment, proposal ideation or draft review, multi-PI team development and proposal project management, and limited submission coordination where applicable. Faculty are encouraged to contact our office with any requests for support, and we will connect you with available resources.
Additional UAB resources and trainings include: