Division of Extramural Activities
Research Support
Summary of Major NIA Support Mechanisms
NIA's extramural programs support a variety of research project grant mechanisms appropriate for individuals with different levels of experience and who conduct different types of research. For most mechanisms, principal investigators must be conducting research at the postdoctoral level. Specific grant mechanisms are available for researchers beginning their career; other mechanisms are available for midcareer and senior researchers.
Early Stage and New Investigators: R01 applications from Early stage and New investigators will be considered among NIA's highest priorities in the use of discretionary funds to make awards selectively. Therefore, such applications may be funded out of strict percentile order. NIA encourages Early stage and New investigators to review the payline information described on our funding policy.
Other mechanisms support a multidisciplinary team of researchers and may involve cooperation among three or more investigators addressing a common theme. Such mechanisms are: (1) Program Project Grants, (2) Center Grants, and (3) Cooperative Research Studies. Applicants should discuss plans with the appropriate NIA program staff prior to submitting a proposal. The individual content areas of research on aging (e.g, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, demography) that are supported by the Institute are described in NIA's Research Programs.
Administrative Supplements: NIH published a notice and a funding opportunity for administrative supplements to ongoing awards. The announcement now allows Administrative Supplement requests to be submitted electronically when the parent award’s activity code has transitioned to electronic submission and provides detailed instruction on the two kinds of electronic submission possible. Administrative Supplements to ongoing awards whose activity code has not yet transitioned to electronic submission (largely program projects and center awards) must continue to submit on paper using the PHS 398 form. And, though electronic submission is possible for other awards, all awards may still submit via paper using the PHS 398 form. Announcements will follow shortly on electronic submission procedures for Administrative Supplements to promote diversity in health-related research and for Administrative Supplements to support re-entry into biomedical and behavioral research careers.
For research awards (e.g., R01, P01, U01, U19, R03, R15, R21, R33, R34, R37) the National Institute on Aging (NIA) continues to accept Administrative Supplement applications to cover expenses pertaining to emergencies, or unpredictable cost changes, or to exploit an unexpected opportunity that fits within the funded scope of the work, or to take advantage of a new technology, or to cover unanticipated institutional increases in salaries. Administrative Supplements to Center awards (P30, P50) are also available for similar purposes. Only under exceptional circumstances are Administrative Supplements available for other kinds of award (training, fellowships, career development, scientific-meetings, and education- and resource-related activities). However, NIA stresses that funding for Administrative Supplements is very limited and strongly encourages investigators to contact their Program Officer prior to submitting the Administrative Supplement to check on available funds for the award. Investigators seeking support for Administrative Supplements to promote diversity in health-related research or to promote re-entry into biomedical and behavioral research careers should contact Dr. Chyren Hunter, the NIA Training Officer.
For general information about NIA's extramural programs, contact DEAQuery@NIA.NIH.gov.
NIA supports the following research grant mechanisms:
For more information, see the following:
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