Applying for a grant can be challenging—understanding the process can help. Learn the nuts and bolts of the NIH grant process, how the review process works, and how to prepare your grant application for success.
About the NIH Grants Process
Get an orientation to NIH funding, how the grants process works and how to apply, and how NIAMS makes its grant funding decisions.
- Investigator: Initiates research idea. Develops application.
- Research Institution or School: Submits applications to NIH electronically through Grants.gov.
- Initial Review Group: (also called Study Section or Scientific Review Group): Evaluates for scientific merit. Assigns impact/priority score, or votes to not discuss the application.
- NIAMS Program Officer: Evaluates for program relevance. Develops funding recommendations. See Scientific Supported Areas.
- NIAMS Advisory Council: Makes recommendation. See Advisory Council.
- Director NIAMS: Takes final action. See NIAMS Grant Funding Decisions and NIAMS Funding Plan.
- Grants Management: Evaluates for compliance, negotiates final budget, and issues the grant award. See Post-Award Grants Administration.
- Research Institution or School: Receives and manages funds.
- Investigator: Conducts research.
NIH Grant Basics
Learn the nuts and bolts of the NIH grants process, access tutorials, and view a video on how to get started with the process.
- Types of Grant Programs (Activity Codes)
- Getting Started at NIH
- Grant Application Basics (video)
- Grants Process Overview
- Grants Process (provided by NCI)
- Grants Tutorials (provided by the office of Extramural Research)
- Frequently Asked Questions (provided by NIDA)
- Information for New Recipient Organizations/Welcome Wagon Letter
How NIAMS Makes Grant Funding Decisions
Learn the factors involved in making grant funding decisions and the peer review process through NIAMS and the NIH.
Preparing Your NIAMS Grant Application
Find links to resources and tips for developing an application, forms and applications, and specific application due dates.
Planning and Writing
Get tips for planning and writing your application and see sample applications and summary statements that can help you get started.
- Planning Your Application
- Writing Your Application
- Grant Writing Tip Sheets
- How to Write a Grant Application (provided by NIAID)
- Sample Applications and Summary Statements (provided by NIAID)
- How to Apply Application Guide
- NIH New Investigators Program
Forms and Deadlines
Find the necessary forms and see the important deadlines for submitting a grant application.
Guidelines for Preparing Specific Applications
Check NIH and NIAMS guidelines for specific grant applications, including clinical research, use of research animals or human subjects, and more before submitting your application.
NIH Application Guidelines
Follow all NIH guidelines and policies as they relate to specific grant applications and study designs to ensure they meet submission requirements.
- Clinical Research Grant Applications
- Foreign Applicants and Grantee Policies
- New Investigators Policies
- Human Subjects in Grant Applications (provided by NIAID)
- Research Animals in Grant Applications (provided by NIAID)
- NIH Modular Research Grant Applications (R01, R03, R21, R34) Guidelines
- NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings
NIAMS Application Guidelines
Follow all NIAMS guidelines and policies for specific grant applications to ensure they meet requirements for submission.
- Centers for Research Translation (CORT) Guidelines
- Large Grants ($500K or more per year) Policy
- Multidisciplinary Clinical Research Centers (MCRC) Guidelines
- Research Core Center Guidelines
- Specialized Centers of Research on Sex and Gender Factors Affecting Women's Health Guidelines
After Submission
Learn what happens after the peer review process through to award of applications and the many requirements for administering a NIAMS grant.