NIH Funding Mechanisms

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers over 40 mechanisms for funding in eight major areas ranging from research project grants to construction grants. The mechanisms most widely used for research are:

• Research project grants (R01)
• Small research grants (R03)
• Exploratory/developmental grants (R21)
• Exploratory/developmental grants-Phase II (R33)
• Small Business Technology Transfer grants-Phase I (R41)
• Small Business Technology Transfer grants-Phase II (R42)
• Small Business Innovation Research grants-Phase I (R43)
• Small Business Innovation Research grants-Phase II (R44)
• Cooperative Agreement (U01)
• Research Program Cooperative Agreement (U19)
• Resource-Related Research Project (Cooperative Agreement) (U24)
• Specialized Center-Cooperative Agreements (U54)

Click here for full descriptions of each mechanism.