The NIEHS makes its funding decisions based on scientific merit, program balance, responsiveness to the Institute's priorities, and availability of funds. Special consideration is also given to new investigators. For additional information on resources for new investigators, see http://grants1.nih.gov/grants/new_investigators/index.htm.
NIEHS is also committed to funding as many highly meritorious investigator-initiated R01s as the budget will allow.
Each year, following the appropriation of funds, an operating plan is developed that takes into account set-asides for specific initiatives and allocations for investigator-initiated applications. This plan applies primarily to Research Project Grants, or RPGs (R01, R37, R15, R21, R55, R03, P01, U01), as other mechanisms are most frequently used for special programs (e.g., Centers) which are considered on a program-by-program or case-by-case basis.
FY 2008
The Fiscal Year 2008 appropriation for NIEHS will provide for an overall budget for grants based on the FY 2008 Congressional action that provided NIH with $29.2 billions or 1 percent more than FY 2007 funding. The average cost per application has increased over FY 2007. Since the NIH budget strategy requires that the average cost overall must not exceed 1% of FY 2007, additional budgetary reductions will be necessary.
The Funding Plan guidelines for NIEHS are:
Competing Awards
Budget reductions will be necessary in order to meet NIH funding guidelines; however, the extent of these reductions and how they will be applied will be determined after taking into consideration the average cost of competing RPGs as well as the availability of funds.
The funding period may be adjusted based on percentile ranking, type of research, and new investigator status of the applicant.
These guidelines do not necessarily apply to applications funded in response to an RFA.
NIEHS allocates the majority of its research project grants funds to applications in ranked percentile/priority score order. However, applications that are outside this range but are of particular programmatic interest to the Institute, e.g., in response to a Program Announcement, may be given special consideration for funding. Many factors occurring throughout the year can affect the pay line. Thus, it is subject to change. For the most current information, it is always best to check with an appropriate Institute official.
Noncompeting Awards
Non-competing continuation awards will be funded at 98% of the committed level for Fiscal Year 2008 that is reflected on the Fiscal Year 2007 Notice of Grant Award. Future years will be adjusted as well. See NOT-OD-08-036 (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-036.html).
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