Revision of a Grant

Purpose

To award supplements to grantees planning a significant expansion of a project's scope.

Procedure

Grantees requesting a significant expansion of their project's scope must apply to NIH and undergo peer review to compete for funds. For more information on scope, see What Constitutes a Change in Scope? in the NIH Grant Cycle: Application to Renewal.

A revision application (competing supplement) requests funding to expand the scope of an existing grant. It does not restore funds that were part of standard grant reductions. Investigators cannot apply until the parent application has been funded, and a supplement may not extend beyond that grant's project period.

See the Administrative Supplements to Grants and Cooperative Agreements SOP for adding funds to a grant or cooperative agreement for purposes that do not significantly expand a project's scope.

Investigators

• Discuss the possibility of applying for a revision (competing supplement) with your program officer, focusing on the scientific need.
• If you want a revision with direct costs of $500,000 or more in any year, get approval from your program officer in writing or by phone at least six weeks before applying. When you apply, submit documentation stating that you've discussed direct costs with your program officer and that NIAID has agreed to accept your application. See the Big Grants SOP for more information.
• Discuss this with your grants management specialist, focusing on the dollar requirement and any policy issues involved. Your program officer and grants specialist are listed on your Notice of Award.
• In the application introduction, describe the nature of the supplement and how it will influence the specific aims, research design, and methods of the parent grant. Attach the introduction as a PDF to the Introduction to Application field of the PHS 398 Research Plan form (for electronic applications) or place the introduction at the beginning of the Research Plan (for paper applications).
• Describe budget changes for the remainder of the project period under the budget justification (for paper applications) or in the budget justification attachment in the Research and Related Budget component forms (for electronic applications),
• In the body of your application, include enough information from your original application to enable NIH to evaluate the supplement in relation to your original application.
• If your supplemental application relates to a line of investigation not recommended for approval by the scientific review group, respond to the criticisms in the summary statement by providing significant new data obtained since your original application or revising substantially. If you revise the application, indicate revisions clearly and summarize them in your introduction.
• If you need more information on research involving human subjects, go to NIAID human subjects resources on our Funding Web site.

Program and Grants Staff

• Advise investigators about the need and feasibility of obtaining a revision.

Scientific Review Staff

• If the parent grant was reviewed at NIAID, convene study sections to review a revision application.

Contacts

Grantees with questions should contact the appropriate program officer or grants management specialist listed on their Notice of Award. For more information, see Contact Staff for Help.

Contact for NIAID Staff

If you have knowledge to share or want more information on this topic, email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.

Links

For general information about all types of supplements, see Supplements to Research Grants

NIAID Funding Policy and Process SOP

PHS 398, Preparing Your Application, Specific Instructions, Research Plan (for paper applications)

Grant Application Guide for your Grant Application Package (for electronic applications)