Big Grants

Purpose

To support investigator-initiated research projects or training grants with total direct costs of $500,000 or more in any year of the grant.

Procedure

At least six weeks before the receipt date, investigators must ask NIAID to agree to accept assignment of any investigator-initiated application that requests $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year (excluding subaward facilities and administrative costs).

NIAID accepts assignment of a limited number of large grant applications and weighs their prospects carefully. The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) will return applications that lack NIAID's approval to accept assignment.

Although investigators can ask for up to $499,000 without our approval, they should contact NIAID if they come anywhere close to that level for the following reasons:

• If they ask for $499,000 in the first year, the grant out years could be more than $500,000, even if they don't request an annual increase.
• We may not have money to fund applications close to $500,000. NIAID funds few big grants each year because they strain the budget and compromise grant numbers, which Congress monitors.

NIH's big grant policy also applies to multiproject applications even if none of the individual projects request $500,000 or more. It does not apply to applications submitted in response to requests for applications.

Clinical trial applications follow their own process—go to Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial Resources for more information.

• If you are applying from a small business, we cannot support a clinical trial through an SBIR or STTR grant. For details, read "Can my small business obtain funding for a clinical trial?"

Investigators

• Before writing an application, discuss your plans with your program officer, who can advise you on the feasibility of getting an award.
• At least six weeks before you plan to apply:
  • Ask an NIAID program officer for approval to submit a big grant application.
  • Send a written request.
  • If the request will be significantly greater than $500,000, ask for permission even earlier.
  • The program officer will send your request through an internal NIAID preapproval process.
  • At least two weeks before your intended receipt date, you will receive a letter signed by the relevant NIAID division director or designee stating whether your request has been accepted or rejected.
• If your request is rejected, speak to the program officer about your alternatives.
• If your request is approved, attach a copy of the NIAID acceptance letter to the PHS 398 Cover Letter of the grant application package when you submit your application.

Program Officers

• In deciding whether to agree to process a big grant preapproval request, consider program relevance, feasibility, scientific priority, and budget.
• For T32 grant applications, email the Office of Research Training and Special Programs (ORTSP) at AITrainingHelpDesk@niaid.nih.gov for approval.
• For other applications, follow your division's procedures to get approval or rejection of a request.
• If the request is approved, do the following:
  • Prepare an Agreement to Accept an Application letter, signed by your division director or by the ORTSP director for T32 applications.
  • Fill out an Awaiting Receipt of Application (ARA) form. See the Awaiting Receipt of Application (ARA) SOP for more information.
  • Send the signed acceptance letter to the applicant with copy to your division coordinator.
  • If NIAID's Scientific Review Program is reviewing the application, contact SRP to arrange receipt and peer review dates.
• If the request is not approved, follow your division's procedures to notify the PI.

Division Coordinators

• Review ARA and acceptance letters for accuracy and completion. Resolve any questions with appropriate program staff.
• Email the ARA and Acceptance of Assignment of Big Grant Application letters to NIAID Receipt Referral.
• Email copies of rejection letters to NIAID Receipt Referral.
• Ensure that funds are available.

Division of Extramural Activities

• ORTSP director completes ARA forms for T32 grant applications and forwards these as well as copies of signed Agreement to Accept an Application letters to NIAID receipt referral.
• NIAID Receipt and Referral staff sign and submit ARA forms to CSR for all big grant applications and non-T32 grant applications.

Contacts

Applicants with questions should Contact Staff for Help in the Strategy for NIH Funding.

Office of Research Training and Special Programs—Contact for NIAID Staff

NIAID Receipt and Referral—Contact for NIAID Staff

Division Coordinators:

• DAIDS: Contact for NIAID Staff
• DMID: Contact for NIAID Staff
• DAIT:Contact for NIAID Staff

If you have knowledge to share or want more information on this topic, email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.

Links

Big Grant Applications questions and answers

NIAID Funding Policy and Process SOP