This decision tree is intended for independent investigators doing research within the NIGMS mission who are new to NIH and do not have a major research grant. This includes early stage investigators (ESIs). NIGMS supports generalizable, foundational basic research and a limited number of clinical areas that affect multiple organ systems.
Anyone can use this tool, but it’s designed for those who are new to the NIH process. Click on the “Tell me more” option for definitions and additional information.
This decision tree will help identify potential fit to one or more of the four notices of funding opportunity (NOFOs) NIGMS generally uses to fund research project grants (RPGs).
Each NOFO includes details about organization and principal investigator (PI) eligibility information. All eligibility criteria must be met to qualify. Use the decision tree below to identify a potential fit, then check the appropriate NOFO to confirm full eligibility. Consult with your institution’s business official to verify your organization’s eligibility. For questions about the NOFO or eligibility, contact the program official or scientific/research contact listed towards the end of the NOFO.
Individuals who completed their terminal degree within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as PD/PI for a substantial NIH independent research award. - https://grants.nih.gov/policy/early-stage/index.htm
Are you interested in NIGMS funding for research (not for training or career development)?
An award made to an institution/organization to support discrete, specified, circumscribed projects to be performed by named investigators in areas representing their specific interest and competencies.
research project grants and cooperative agreements include the following activity codes: R00, R01, R03, R15, R16, R21, R33, R34, R35, R36, R37, R50, R56, R61, RC1, RC2, RC3, RC4, RF1, RL1, RL2, RL9, P01, P42, PM1, PN1, RM1, UA5, UC1, UC2, UC3, UC4, UC7, UF1, UG3, UH2, UH3, UH5, UM1, UM2, U01, U19, U34, U3R, DP1, DP2, DP3, DP4, DP5. NIH's most commonly used grant program is the Research Project Grant Program (R01). Refer to Types of Grant Programs.
Do you have a current NIGMS R35 or R01-equivalent award?
Consult https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PAR-22-180.html#_Section_III._Eligibility for more information.
Are you an ESI or NI?
A program director (PD) / principal investigator (PI) who has completed their terminal research degree or end-of-post-graduate clinical training, whichever date is later, within the past 10 years and who has not previously competed successfully as PD/PI for a substantial NIH independent research award. A list of NIH grants that a PD/PI can hold and still be considered an ESI can be found on this webpage.
A PD/PI who has not previously competed successfully as a PD/PI for a substantial independent research award. For example, a PD/PI who has previously received a competing NIH R01 research grant is no longer considered a new investigator. However, a PD/PI who has received a small grant (R03) or an Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Award (R21) retains their status as a new investigator. The list of NIH grants that a PD/PI can hold and still be considered a new investigator is the same as the list of grants that a PD/PI can hold and still be considered an early stage investigator.
Do you have a current NIGMS research project grant?
Will your research team include primarily undergraduate students?
Refer to NOFO PAR-21-155, Section IV— “Personnel Justification: Since a primary objective of the AREA program is to engage undergraduate students in meritorious research, the research team must be composed primarily of undergraduate students from the applicant institution/AREA-eligible component."
Does your institution enroll at least 25% of undergraduate students supported by Pell grants in each of the last 2 years? Alternatively, does your institution belong to one of the following categories Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), (i.e., institutions described in section 5(e) of Executive Order 14049)? If you can answer "yes" to one or both of these, answer "yes" to this question.
Pell grant data can be found at https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/ maintained by the National Center for Education Statistics
Does your institution have less than $6 million total costs from NIH RPG funding in the past 2 years?
NIH SuRE R16 Grants
Does your institution have less than $6 million total costs from NIH funding in 4 of the past 7 years?
Need Help Determining Organization Funding Levels for R15 Eligibility?
Does your research require multiple principal investigators?
Will your research team include some undergraduate or graduate students?
Refer to NOFOs PAR-21-169 and PAR-21-173 “The research strategy must include a separate section entitled "Student Involvement Plan" that describes how students will be involved and supervised in conducting hands-on, rigorous research, including their participation in the execution, analysis, and reporting of the research.”
You should be looking at Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity (TWD).
Potential fits identified below.
All eligibility criteria must be met to qualify. Once you’ve used the decision tree to identify a potential fit, check the appropriate NOFO to confirm full eligibility. Consult with your Institution’s Business Official to verify your organization’s eligibility.
Supports research capacity building at organizations that receive less than $6 million per year (total cost) of NIH Research Project Grant funds and have either at least 25% of the undergraduate enrollment supported by Pell grants in each of the last 2 years or belong to one of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) or Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).
Open to PIs with primary appointments at non-health professional schools or colleges within the applicant organizations that have primarily undergraduate enrollment. PIs who have intensive teaching responsibilities and limited time to devote to research may want to consider this mechanism. These are small-scope research projects defined by aims and must include undergraduate students.
Two funding opportunities: one open to ESIs and the other to new PIs seeking funding from NIGMS and established PIs who have current NIGMS funding for a research project. These awards provide support for a program of research that falls within the mission of NIGMS. Projects are not defined by a set of aims.
Parent R01 open to all PIs. These are defined research projects with a set of Aims. Note: If you are interested in technology development learn more about the NIGMS program here.
