Investigator-Initiated Research Grants
NCRR's Division of Biomedical Technology supports technology-driven,
investigator-initiated research project grants. Projects funded under these grants could lead to new or improved instruments, technologies,
devices, and methodologies that will have broad application to biomedical
research.
These resource-related grants ensure that our nation's
biomedical research community will always have available to them
the most advanced technologies and instruments. Proposals should be submitted in response to
NCRR requests for applications and program announcements.
Proposals to develop
technologies that would not have broad applications, but would apply
only to a specific disease or category of research, should be proposed
to the appropriate categorical institute of the National Institutes
of Health.
Funding Mechanisms
The Division supports research project grants through the following funding
mechanisms:
- (R01) Investigator-initiated Research Project Grants* support
research that may involve a concept, design, fabrication, and/or
test of technologies with the overall objectives of leading to
more powerful and more precise biomedical technology. The research
should be in an investigator’s area of interest and competency.
Refer to the Biomedical Technology Program Guidelines for information on application preparation
and review criteria. Applicants must use the PHS
Form 398
. The application is expected to include preliminary
data that supports the proposed project.
- *R01 grants also support newly independent biomedical investigators to develop
their research capabilities in areas of technological research and development
and to demonstrate the merits of their research ideas.
- (R21) Exploratory/Development Grants (Phase I) stimulate exploration
of new, high-risk, biomedical technology research and development
that will generate preliminary data to support a future application
for an R01 grant from either NCRR or another NIH component. An
application for an R21 grant is expected to encompass work at
the edge of a new frontier or the limits of understanding of a
biomedical research problem. Refer to the Biomedical
Technology Program Guidelines for additional information on application
preparation and review criteria. Applicants must use the PHS
Form 398. Phase II of research supported by an R21 grant could
be funded by an R33 grant to help an investigator avoid a funding
gap that may occur when an award of an R01 grant is delayed. An
R33 grant, described below, could become immediately available
to an R21 grantee when predefined project milestones have been
achieved..
- (R13) Scientific Conference Grants support national and international meetings sponsored and directed by the R13 grantees. Such meetings must be relevant to the goals of the Division of Biomedical Technology. To ensure the division's interest in the proposed meeting, prospective grantees must contact a program official for written approval prior to submission of an application. If the division determines a sufficient need to have substantial involvement in the planning and conduct of the scientific meeting, then a cooperative agreement (U13)—instead of an R13—would be awarded. READ MORE
- (R15) Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) is an NIH effort
to stimulate research in educational institutions that provide
baccalaureate training for a significant number of our nation’s
research scientists but that have not been major recipients of
NIH support. NCRR participates in the AREA grant program to supports
resource-related research projects proposed by faculty members
of eligible institutions. This award enables qualified scientists
to receive support for up to three years for small-scale research
projects. Application information, including review considerations
and award criteria, is available in the NIH
Program Announcement: PA-99-062.
- (R24) Resource-related Research Grants support investigator-initiated
projects that predominantly support research to develop new resources or to improve
existing ones. DBT accepts applications for R24 grants only in response to specific
requests for applications or program announcements it has issued.
Contact Information
For further information about NCRR support for Investigator-Initiated Research, contact:
Fred K. Friedman, Ph.D.
Division of Biomedical Technology
National Center for Research Resources
National Institutes of Health
One Democracy Plaza, Room 972
6701 Democracy Boulevard, MSC 4874
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4874 (20817 for express mail)
Telephone: 301-435-0755
Fax: 301-480-3659
E-mail: FFriedma@mail.nih.gov
