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.
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?
No. 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, it can. You will not impress peer
reviewers if your application is messy
and difficult to read. Organization problems also make it less likely that reviewers will find information they are looking for. If they do not, they may fault you for omitting something that is actually there.
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 the 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. |