The program project grant (P01) is more complex in scope and budget than the individual research grant. While individual research grants are awarded to support the work of one principal investigator who, with supporting staff, is addressing a scientific problem, program project grants are available to a group of several investigators with differing areas of expertise who wish to collaborate in research by pooling their talents and resources. Program project grants represent synergistic research programs that are designed to achieve results not attainable by investigators working independently.
The program project grant is organized around a set of closely related projects bearing on a well-defined scientific problem. Normally, three to five projects are involved, with one scientist designated by the applicant institution as the principal investigator who bears responsibility for the scientific and fiscal management of the program project grant.
It is expected that each of the collaborating scientists responsible for the individual projects will be an independent investigator. Investigators from more than one department, administrative unit, or institution may be represented.
The program project grant is not intended to be a vehicle for departmental support, nor is the research support of one senior investigator and several postdoctoral- and research associate-level scientists appropriate under this mechanism. In addition, the program project and the individual components must represent a significant effort on the part of the participating scientists and should be distinct from their other funded efforts. Furthermore, the need of a group of investigators for a major piece of equipment or a core facility does not in itself provide justification for a program project grant. However, equipment and other core resources necessary for the accomplishment of the objectives of a program project grant may be requested. For applications seeking initial funding in FY 2008, there is an upper limit of $6,100,000 direct costs (exclusive of subcontractual indirect costs) for the entire 5-year project period that may be requested in a competing program project grant application to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. If fewer than 5 years are requested, the limit is prorated accordingly. Applications that exceed this limit will be returned without review.
Under certain circumstances, with the concurrence of NIGMS staff, additional funds may be requested and provided for major pieces of equipment. In compliance with NIH policy, a grant application that requests more than $500,000 (direct costs) in any one year will not be accepted without prior approval from the Institute.
Program project grants are investigator-initiated, but, because of budgetary constraints, these grants may be restricted to areas of special interest to the individual NIGMS divisions. Applicants are urged to consult with NIGMS staff prior to submitting a program project grant application. Requests for details about the research areas supported by NIGMS and inquiries exploring the suitability of the program project grant mechanism to fund a particular group of studies should be addressed to the NIGMS staff listed below.
The individual projects within a program project grant, as well as the program project grant as a whole, must meet the same standards of scientific merit as those required of regular research project grants. In order to ensure that a program project grant application receives the best possible review by appropriate peers of all the participating investigators, the scientific merit of each component project is assessed in a manner comparable to the assessment that an individual research project grant receives, with the potential importance of the project to the success of the total effort also taken into account. The scientific merit of the program project grant application as a whole and its coherence as a program are also assessed. In addition, the total support of the principal investigator, the group of investigators as a whole, or any individual investigator may be considered in funding the entire program project or any of its parts.
For further information, applicants are urged to contact the following NIGMS staff members:
Division of Cell Biology and Biophysics
Dr. Catherine Lewis -- 301-594-0828
Division of Genetics and Developmental Biology
Dr. Judith H. Greenberg -- 301-594-0943
Division of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry
Dr. Michael E. Rogers -- 301-594-3827
For additional information concerning NIGMS program project grants, see the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts, July 9, 2001 (PA-07-030), or call Dr. Ann Hagan at 301-594-3910.
Policies related to NIGMS program project receipt, review, and funding are available at http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Research/Application/ProgProjFundPolicies.htm
