Writing a Great Grant Application

Questions and Answers Table of Contents

Where can I find help and advice on writing a grant application?

Go to the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal, which is part of our All About Grants site.

NIAID also has two online examples of outstanding applications that have been successfully funded, one R01 and one Small Business Innovation Research application.

• Annotated R01 Research Plan and Summary Statement.
• Model SBIR Phase II Application and Summary Statement.

Find more resources on the All About Grants Tutorials main page.

Where can I find titles and abstracts of NIH-funded applications?

Search NIH's CRISP database.

Who is the main audience for my application?

Your peer reviewers are your main audience, so tailor your application to them. There are actually two reviewer audiences, with different information needs. For more information, read Part 4. Target Your Audience and Part 8. Assignment and Review in our NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.

Will most reviewers understand my science?

Not necessarily. For unsolicited applications reviewed by standing Center for Scientific Review study sections, only some peer reviewers will likely understand or read the details of your science. See Part 4. Target Your Audience and Part 8. Assignment and Review.

Is it a good idea to use nontechnical writing for some of the application?

Yes. Read more in Write to Your Audience and Balance the Technical and Nontechnical.

Do the reviewers generally assess the science in detail?

Yes. Though only two to three peer reviewers read your application in detail, they all examine the science, discuss the application, and vote on it. Read more in Basic Layout of Initial Peer Review, Most Reviewers Scan Each Application, Preliminary Studies/Progress Report, and Research Design and Methods -- Writing.

As a new investigator, should I always ask for the smallest grant type?

Not necessarily. Read more in Which Award Type Suits You Best? in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal and What Award Should You Apply For? in the New Investigator Guide to NIH Funding.

Does an application have to be strong in all review criteria to fare well?

No. See How NIH Review Criteria Affect Your Score for details.

Does my application have to relate to the mission of NIH?

Yes. Put this information in the abstract and Background and Significance section of your Research Plan. Your abstract, which becomes a public document, should state in plain English how your application relates to improving public health.

Read more in Project Summary/Abstract and Project Narrative and Background and Significance.

Will NIH return improperly formatted applications?

Yes. You must follow the instructions in either the Grant Application Guide (for an electronic application) or PHS 398 (for paper) for font and font size, margins, and other formatting requirements or NIH will reject your application. See Master the Application -- Page Limits for details.

What items can I put in the Appendix?

NIH limits what you can include in an Appendix. For more information, go to If You Need an Appendix.

Will a messy application affect my score?

Yes. You will not impress peer reviewers if your application is messy and difficult to read. Read more in Make Life Easy for Reviewers and Write, Edit, and Proof Like a Pro.

Is being highly innovative usually a good approach?

Not necessarily. See Don't Propose Too Much or Be Too Innovative for more information.

Should my application be hypothesis driven?

Yes. Most NIH-funded research is hypothesis driven. State your hypothesis in your abstract and Research Plan. Read more in Create a Solid Hypothesis.

Is it a waste of reviewers' time to discuss alternative hypotheses or approaches?

No. You should present alternatives in case your original ideas yield negative results. See Part 5. Research Plan in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal, for example, Research Design and Methods -- Writing.

Do I need experience with the proposed techniques?

Yes, unless you are collaborating with someone who does. Read more in Using Consultants and Collaborators.

How important are preliminary data?

That depends. For an experienced PI or continuing research on a topic, preliminary data are very important. For a new PI or an investigator entering a new field, peer reviewers expect fewer preliminary data. However, they expect some data unless you are responding to a solicitation that states data are not necessary.

See Preliminary Studies/Progress Report in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal and Are You "New"?

Can I deal with statistics later?

We advise you to get help early. When evaluating your approach, peer reviewers will want to assess your methods of data analysis and power calculations as well as your justification for your proposed sample size. See Design Your Research Plan in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.

Are there limits to the amount of money I can request?

That depends on award type. An R01 has no limit, though in Think About Scope, Amount, and Effort we advise you that "less is more."

Some grants, such as the R03, Small Research Grant and R21, Exploratory/Developmental Grant do have funding limits.

All investigators have two caps to think about: on renewal applications and PI salaries. For an explanation of the renewal funding cap, see Planning a Budget in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.

For the PI salary cap, your request should reflect your institutional base salary. If that salary exceeds the cap, your grants management specialist will adjust accordingly. Go to our Salaries and Stipends questions and answers.

What direct costs are excluded from calculating facilities and administrative (indirect) costs?

Check with your institution's business office for that information.

Should I ask several people to review my application before submitting it?

Yes. Getting outside advice is always a good idea to ensure that your application is understandable to others and find omissions or discrepancies you may have overlooked. Read more in Last Steps After You Finish Writing.

As a student candidate for a Research Supplement, how can I write a relevant biographical sketch?

We recommend using the biosketch from your mentor's grant application as an example.

As a doctoral student, we do not expect you to have extensive experience in publications. Include all section headers whether or not you have information for that topic.

Read more at Senior/Key Person Profile Form: Prepare the Biographical Sketches in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal. Go to the Supplements main page for more information about supplements.

Does NIAID offer workshops or seminars on grant writing?

At present, we do not. However, NIAID staff members often present grant-writing strategies and opportunities at major scientific meetings.

We do have online tutorials that serve the same purpose. See the New Investigator Guide to NIH Funding and Parts 4 to 6 in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.

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.