AAG Unplugged: Fundamentals of the NIH Grants Process
The National Institute of Health (NIH) and Blue Haven Grant Consultants share a common goal; we want exciting projects to get the funding they need to bring medical innovation to the marketplace. The NIH provides many resources to help guide people through their grant process and provided an overview of their various resources in one of their All About Grants episodes. Today we’ll summarize an episode that provided an overview of the NIH grants process and introduced the key resources and contacts that applicants can utilize. There are a lot of resources listed in this summary that you can also find on our homepage.
In this AAG Unplugged post, we summarize the key points made during this episode as well as provide you with some of the links that help you get to the instructional documentation provided by the NIH. Overall, the session covered the following:
Introduction to the NIH grants process and resources
Overview of the NIH funding process and responsibilities
Discussion on how to find funding and the structure of NIH
Overview of the types of funding opportunities available and how to find them
Explanation of the application process and timeline
Key Speakers
Before we dive into the key takeaways, let's meet the experts who shared their insights:
Cynthia Dwyer, Coordinator of the NIH Virtual Seminar and Communications and Outreach Specialist within the NIH Office of Extramural Research
Sheri Cummins, Office of Extramural Research, NIH
Dr. Michael Sesma, Program Officer at the National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Takeaway 1: The NIH is the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) is the world's largest public funder of biomedical research. With an annual federal budget of over $30B dollars, the NIH seeks to enhance health, lengthen lives, and reduce illness and disability. In fiscal year 2020, the NIH awarded over 56,000 extramural grants, totaling more than $30.7 billion in funding.
Takeaway 2: Understanding the NIH grants process is crucial for successful applications.
Navigating the NIH grants process can feel overwhelming for newcomers, but understanding the process is key to successful applications. The episode highlighted the importance of familiarizing oneself with the process, the roles of different officers involved, and the resources available. Cynthia Dwyer emphasized a seminar providing a high-level overview of the grants process, and Sheri Cummins pointed out the importance of the NIH website as a starting point, saying, "Once you get back to your day-to-day job and out of the seminar, you're going to want to go to the grants.nih.gov website."
Takeaway 3: Knowing where to find funding is key.
Identifying suitable funding opportunities and understanding how to find them is integral to the NIH grants process. Cummins explained that the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts and grants.gov are the main resources for finding funding opportunities. She highlighted the value of RePORTER, a tool that provides access to data and analyses of NIH-funded projects. "RePORTER allows you to explore decades of funded awards and it can help you identify ICs with potential interest in your area," she said.
Takeaway 4: The NIH offers various tools and resources for applicants.
The NIH's grants and funding website is a comprehensive resource for applicants and recipients. It includes links to the eRA (electronic Research Administration) system site, a glossary of NIH terminology, frequently asked questions, and the Application Guide. The NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts is another useful tool, and the RePORT tools provide access to data and analyses of NIH-funded projects.
Takeaway 5: The application process and timeline should be understood before submission.
Understanding the application process timeline is essential for successful applications. Dr. Michael Sesma explained that from the date of submission to the likely date of funding, the process usually takes around 9 months, with potential applicants ideally starting to plan their applications around 6 months prior to the due date. "You're actually going to spend probably about 6 months getting your application started," he said. He further emphasized the importance of reading the application instructions thoroughly and reaching out to NIH officials for any queries. "The most important thing in writing an application is...read the application instructions thoroughly. If you don't understand them, ask questions," advised Michael Sesma. He added that you need to put in the time to make a high-quality application and noted “If you're only spending 2 weeks, I've got a pretty good hunch you're probably not going to be successful with your application."
Summary
The NIH is the largest single public funder of biomedical research in the world, awarding over 56,000 extramural grants totaling more than $30.7 billion in funding in fiscal year 2020.
The NIH Grants and Funding website is a comprehensive resource for applicants, containing everything needed to apply for funding and administer applications.
The NIH is structured into 27 different institutes and centers (ICs), each with its own mission, priorities, budget, and funding strategy.
The NIH uses funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) to advertise grant opportunities, which can be found on the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts and Grants.gov.
The application process for an NIH grant typically takes around 9 months from submission to funding, but preparation for the application should start at least 6 months prior to the due date.
This was a great episode for those looking to gather the instructional resources that the NIH puts together to help applications. You can also find links to these resources in the Blue Haven Grant Consultants resource pages where we have gathered links to the SBIR/STTR program, links helpful for apply to SBIR/STTR grants, and also resources to individual state programs.
As one can see, there are many resources available to support teams applying for NIH SBIR/STTR programs. However, utilizing these resources can often include the development of grant writing expertise that you simply don’t have time for. Instead, make use of the BHGC Advantage to help cut through the information overload so that you are able to focus on your project while we focus on helping you get the money to make it possible. If you are ready for your SBIR/STTR grant application journey, schedule a free consultation.