Each Institute or Center (IC) must decide how to allocate its annual budget among many different, competing scientific activities. In making these decisions, the ICs seek advice from experts in diverse areas of science and health as well as from members of the public.

The following are resources where you can learn more about funding at NIH:

Setting Research Priorities at the National Institutes of Health
The principles and mechanisms that guide the NIH in the continuous activity of managing its budget.

Overview: Peer Review and the Grant Funding Process
(American Association of Medical Colleges)

Center for Scientific Review
The Center for Scientific Review receives all NIH grant applications and many other Public Health Service grant applications.