The National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases

Types of Grants Funded by NIDDK

NIH uses several types of grants to support research projects. Each has special characteristics, uses, and guidelines. Activity and Organization Codes and Program Definitions (PDF) provides complete definitions for all NIH Grant Programs.

Grant Mechanisms Commonly Used by NIDDK

• R01 Research Project Grant
  The research project grant (R01) is the most widely used mechanism, and is awarded to eligible institutions on behalf of a principal investigator to support a discrete project related to the investigator's area of interest and competence. NIDDK will accept R01 applications submitted to the NIH for the normal receipt dates for projects in its areas of interest, or for current PAs and RFAs.
• P01 Program Project Grant
  A research program project (P01) award is for the support of a broadly based multidisciplinary or multifaceted research program which has a well-defined major objective or central theme. It is directed toward a range of scientific questions having a central research focus in contrast to the more narrow thrust of the traditional research project (R01). The program project involves the organized efforts of groups whose members are conducting research designed to elucidate the various aspects or components of the central theme. NIDDK Program Project Guidelines are available to assist applicants in the preparation of their P01 applications.
• R03 Small Research Grant
  The NIDDK will accept applications for small research grants only in response to current initiatives .
• R13 & U13 Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings
  NIDDK supports scientific meetings, conferences, and workshops that are relevant to its scientific mission. Please see specific NIDDK R13/U13 guidelines.
• R15 Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) Grants
  AREA grants support small research projects in the biomedical and behavioral sciences conducted by students and faculty in health professional schools, and other academic components that have not been major recipients of NIH research grant funds.
• R18 Research and Dissemination Project Grant
  This mechanism is designed to support the testing and evaluation of interventions and activities that lead to application of existing knowledge to disease control and prevention. The NIDDK will accept applications for exploratory/developmental grants only in response to current R18 initiatives.
• R21 Exporatory/Developmental Grant (NIH Program)
  The NIDDK R21 grant program provides a mechanism dedicated to the promotion of highly innovative research. The NIDDK will accept applications for exploratory/developmental grants only in response to current R21 intiatives, which cover most topics of interest to the NIDDK.
• R34/U34 Clinical Trial Planning Grant
  The NIDDK will accept applications for Clinical Trial Planning grants only in response to current R34/U34 initiatives.
• R37 Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award
  To provide long-term grant support to investigators whose research competence and productivity are distinctly superior and who are highly likely to continue to perform in an outstanding manner. Investigators may not apply for a MERIT award. Program staff and members of the Institute National Advisory Council/Board will identify candidates for the MERIT award during the course of review of competing research grant applications prepared and submitted in accordance with regular PHS requirements.
• R41/R42 Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Program
  NIDDK awards grants under the Small Business Technology Transfer Program for research or R&D of new technologies and methodologies that have the potential to succeed as commercial products. Please see the NIDDK Small Business Program and current STTR initiatives.
• R43/R44 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program
  SBIR grants are used to stimulate technological innovation, use small business to meet Federal research and development needs, and increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development. Please see the NIDDK Small Business Program and current SBIR initiatives.
• R56 NIH High Priority, Short-Term Project Award
  The High Priority, Short-Term Project Award will fund, for one or two years, high-priority new or competing renewal R01 applications with priority scores or percentiles that fall just outside the funding limits of participating NIH Institutes and Centers (IC). Investigators may not apply for R56 grants. (See June 15, 2004 NIH Guide announcement.)

Fellowship Grant Mechanisms Commonly Used by NIDDK

• F30 Individual Predoctoral MD/PhD Fellowships 

  The F30 program is specifically designed to support training in an accredited, combined MD/PhD program.

• F31 Individual Predoctoral Fellowship to Promote Diversity
  Individual Predoctoral Fellowships for individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds provide up to 5 years of support for research training leading to the Ph.D., or equivalent, research degree. The intent of the program is to encourage students from these groups to seek graduate degrees and thus increase diversity in biomedical and behavioral science research.
• F32 Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships
  Individual postdoctoral fellowships, which are awarded to an institution in the postdoc fellow's name. He/she must have a mentor and a research project.

Careers Grant Mechanisms Commonly Used by NIDDK

• K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Awards
  Mentored Research Scientist Development Awards provide Ph.D., or other comparable researchers, with support for up to 3-5 years following postdoctoral training to transition into independence and obtain regular research grant (R01) funding.

• K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards
  Provide physicians with up to 5 years of support to pursue research careers. The Small Grant Program for NIDDK K08/K23 Recipients allows NIDDK K08-holders to apply for up to $50,000 per year of extra research support in the final 2 years of their K08 to help in their transition to independence.

• K18 Career Enhancement Awards for Stem Cell Research
  Provide the opportunity for either newly independent or established investigators to obtain the training necessary to effectively and appropriately use stem cells in their research.

• K23 Mentored Patient-oriented Research Career Development Awards
  Provide physicians with up to 5 years of support to pursue more clinically oriented research careers directly involving patients. The Small Grant Program for NIDDK K08/K23 Recipients allows NIDDK K23-holders to apply for up to $50,000 per year of extra research support in the final 2 years of their K23 to help in their transition to independence.

• K24 Midcareer Investigator Awards in Patient-Oriented Research
  Provide salary support for established investigators who are actively engaged in patient-oriented research and who serve as mentors for new clinical investigators.

• K25 Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Awards
  Provide salary support for individuals with quantitative scientific and engineering backgrounds outside of biology or medicine who wish to focus their research on basic or clinical behavioral and biomedical research.

• K30 Formal Training Curricula in Clinical Research
  The NIDDK contributes to the support of the K30 program, which provides funds to institutions to establish curricula for formal training in clinical research. K23 awardees, in particular, are encouraged to take advantage of the coursework developed by the K30 recipient institutions.

• K99/R00 NIH Pathway to Independence (PI) Award
  Provides two phases of support: an initial 1-2 yrs with a mentor, and up to 3yrs of independent support, contingent upon securing an independent research position. U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for this award.

Training Grant Mechanisms Commonly Used by NIDDK

• T32 Institutional Research Training Grants
  Institutional Training Grants are used to develop or enhance research training opportunities for individuals, selected by the institution, who are training for careers in specified areas of biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research.

• T35 Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grants
  Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grants provide short-term support for training experiences under the supervision of experienced researchers and exposes students to individuals with active research careers as well as providing them with knowledge about further research training and biomedical or behavioral research career opportunities .

Grant Supplements Used by NIDDK

• Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research
  As part of an NIH-wide program, principal investigators holding active NIDDK research grants may request supplemental funds to improve the diversity of the research workforce.

• Medical Student Research Training (MSRT)
  This supplement program allows a medical student to take a year off for his/her studies to pursue a research project and research training. Administrative Guidelines and application instructions 

Special Mechanisms used in Solicited Projects at NIDDK

• R21/R33 Phased Innovation R21 [Phase I] /R33 [Phase II]
  The R21 Pilot and Feasibility phase is followed by a developmental stage of the project which usually has a larger budget and scope. Transition of the R21 to the R33 phase will be expedited and is dependent on the completion of negotiated milestones.

• R33 Exploratory/Developmental Grants Phase II
  To provide a second phase for support of innovative exploratory and developmental research activities initiated under the R21 mechanism.

• P30 Center Core Grants
  To support shared use of resources and facilities for categorical research by investigators from different disciplines who provide a multidisciplinary approach to a joint research effort, or by investigators from the same discipline who focus on a common research problem. The core grant is integrated with the center's component projects or Program Projects, though funded independently from them. This support, by providing more accessible resources, is expected to assure greater productivity than that provided through the separate projects and Program Projects. See NIDDK Centers for more information.

• P50 Specialized Center Grants
  To support any part of the full range of research and development from very basic to clinical; may involve ancillary supportive activities such as protracted patient care necessary to the primary research or R & D effort. The spectrum of activities comprise a multidisciplinary attack on a specific disease entity or biomedical problem area. There grants differ from program project grants in that they are usually developed in response to an announcement of the programmatic needs to an Institute or Division and subsequently receive continuous attention from staff. Centers may also serve as regional or national resources for special research purposes. See NIDDK Centers for more information.

• R24/U24 Resource-Related Research Project Grant/Cooperative Agreement
  To support research projects that will enhance the capability of resources to serve biomedical research.

• U01 Research Project Cooperative Agreement
  Cooperative Agreement between NIH and a research institution to support a discrete, specified, circumscribed project to be performed by the named investigator(s) in an area representing his specific interest and competencies.

• U19 Research Program Project Cooperative Agreement
  Cooperative Agreement between NIH and a research institution to support a research program of multiple projects directed toward a specific major objective, basic theme or program goal, requiring a broadly based, multidisciplinary and often long-term approach.