Questions and Answers Table of Contents
What are renewals and where can I find
basic information about them?
A renewal application is a request for funding to continue your research. Before your project ends, you
must again
apply for NIH support and undergo initial
peer review.
Alternatively, you may submit a new application. The best approach depends on your circumstances -- see the next question.
For information on completing an electronic R01 renewal application,
see Frequently
Asked Questions: Resubmission, Revision, Renewal at NIH's Electronic
Submission of Grant Applications.
How do I decide whether to apply as a renewal or submit a new application?
It's your choice. When deciding, consider your situation and the science; then contact your program officer for advice.
For example, it is advantageous to apply with a renewal if you have made progress and accomplished some of your Specific Aims, and you plan a logical continuation using the same funding mechanism.
Going in a new direction or expanding the scope of the research calls for a new application. Read more in Renewal or New Application? in Part 12. Renewal Application of our NIH Grant Cycle.
How should I time my renewal application?
Good planning is critical. Some people wait until the last possible receipt date to send in their
renewal applications without a break in funding, though often it's best to apply earlier.
If you
have sufficient data, you may consider submitting your application one or more review cycles
early. Applying early gives you time to revise and resubmit
if you do not get a fundable score.
For more information, read Timing Your Application in our NIH Grant Cycle. Go to NIH's Review
and Award Cycles table for receipt dates and funding timeframes.
What should I consider
when deciding whether to apply early with a
renewal?
If you are submitting a renewal application, reviewers expect to see data showing progress no matter when your application arrives.
Your timing hinges on your comfort level with your data and progress, the length of the grant, and the complexity of the project. Read more in Timing Your Application in our NIH Grant Cycle.
Should I submit my renewal early if I do not have
enough data at the earlier time?
No. Send in your application one or more review cycles early only if you
have enough
data to show progress.
The early approach does not
apply to short awards or work progressing
slowly. Read Considerations for Applying Early in our NIH Grant Cycle.
Can NIH
fund a renewal before the existing grant ends?
No. Though you can submit your renewal application
at any time, your renewal cannot be funded until shortly before
the final grant year is about
to end.
What happens
to a fundable renewal application for a grant that ends the next
fiscal year?
We will keep track of the application, and if
it is within the next fiscal year’s payline, we will make the
award. Of course, you may also choose to resubmit.
What is the funding cap
for renewals?
For the past several years -- which we expect to continue -- NIAID has limited the amount of money you can request for your renewal R01 to 20 percent more than the direct
costs of the last noncompeting award.
The cap is part of NIAID's financial
management plan. Go to our Paylines and Budget page for the latest information, and read Planning a Budget in our NIH Grant Cycle for how NIAID calculates that cap.
To which grants does the funding cap
apply?
The renewal cap applies only to R01 grants.
Although sometimes NIAID requests an
exception from a cap from our advisory Council,
this is highly unusual, and you shouldn't expect this to happen.
As
always, we recommend discussing your options with your program
officer.
If the cap is 20 percent, how does NIAID determine
how to limit a budget up to 20 percent larger than the previous award?
Go to Planning a Budget to see how we compute the cap.
The budget for my first R01 was low,
$130,000; how much can I request for my new budget?
Here's an example. If you send in your
application as a renewal, you are limited to 20 percent more than $130,000.
This is a reasonable approach if you are pretty much continuing the
same research
you started with.
However, if your research has evolved in scope,
you may want to apply with a new grant. In that case, change the title
and abstract to include your new Specific
Aims, so the focus of the application reflects the new scale
of your research.
Because new investigators typically receive less money than more experienced
grantees, a cap is a common problem for them. For more
advice, contact your program
officer, who is listed on your Notice of Award, and read Strategies for Dealing With a Budget Cap in our NIH Grant Cycle.
If I ask for the cap amount for my first year, can I make a bigger
request for subsequent years?
No. All budgets are based on the first year budget. Modular grants get
the same number of modules (same funding level) each year. Nonmodular grants may get a
small increase for inflation (or a decrease, depending on NIAID's financial
management plan for that year).
You can request funds in excess of the cap for one-time costs, such as equipment. Go to Planning a Budget and the Renewal Funding SOP for more information.
If I request an amount within the
cap level, I won't have enough funds for a new
animal model -- what should
I do?
You have several options. Regardless
of Institute policy, you should request the resources needed
for your research. Learn more in Strategies for Dealing With a Budget Cap.
If my R01 is modular,
what percentage increase is possible for my renewal?
Your renewal budget is capped whether your grant is modular or nonmodular.
What should I do during this era of lean budgets?
Keep in mind that it's harder to get funded in a lean budget year and that you may not get funded at the study section-approved level. Read more in When Funding Is Tight.
Must I keep the title of the grant unchanged when applying for a renewal?
No. While it is often best to keep the same title, use a different title if it's a better fit. If you do, check the box indicating that your application is a competitive renewal on the checklist (the last page) of the grant application, and enter your grant number.
That way, NIH will know that the title is new, but the application is a renewal.
What format should I use for the
Research Plan section of an R01 renewal?
A Research Plan follows the same format and page limits for a renewal
as a new application, with a few differences.
Instead of preliminary studies, you'll include a Progress
Report. You'll also include a Progress Report Publication List, information on Inventions and Patents, and an Inclusion Enrollment Report (if you're
conducting human subjects research).
See How to Fill Out the Forms for a Renewal, and check the Grant
Application Guide of the R01 funding opportunity announcement for
further details.
How should I format the progress report in my renewal application?
See Preliminary
Studies/Progress Report in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal and the Grant Application Guide for your funding opportunity announcement for instructions.
Will resetting anniversary dates affect
the timing of my renewal?
Yes. NIAID does not reset grant dates every year. If we do, we let investigators know through our Funding News newsletter. Sign up to receive an email each time it is published at  Subscribe to Email Alerts.
Can you tell me about renewing a training
grant?
Go to Does
NIAID have instructions for renewals of training grants? in
the Training Grants questions
and answers. Read Does
my renewal application need to be as detailed as my original
application? on that page.
Is there a window of time that a PI can submit an application as a renewal?
There is no time limit for a renewal application, but reviewers will probably be concerned by major gaps between projects.
If a significant amount of time has elapsed, indicate what you have done in the interim. Highlight any preliminary data you may have obtained, and show that your planned research is current with the latest science.
If I change some of the collaborating projects in my P01, is my submission considered to be a renewal or a new grant application?
Contact your program officer to discuss these changes and their impact on the program.
Do I need to submit a final progress report for my grant if I am applying for a renewal?
See Do I need to submit a final progress report for my grant if I am applying for a renewal? in the Progress Reports and eSNAP questions and answers.
What if my question wasn't answered here, or I'd like to suggest a question?
Email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. We answer questions by email and post them here. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base. |
