Funding News Edition: April 07, 2021 See more articles in this edition
Well-timed guidance from the appropriate NIH or NIAID expert can help you meet requirements, get advice, and more. Do you know whom to contact when?
You should also contact your institutional business officials to learn your organization’s internal deadlines and special requirements. For each stage of the application grant process, the article sections below summarize key NIH staff roles, your actions, and background links.
Before You Apply
As you formulate your application idea and prepare to apply, your best contact is an NIH program officer (PO) with expertise in your area of science. To find the right PO, try the methods listed at When To Contact an NIAID Program Officer.
You must contact the relevant PO before you apply for any of the following:
- Applications requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year. Follow the permission process in our Big Grants SOP.
- Conference grants (R13 or U13). Read about approvals in our Conference Awards SOP.
- Clinical trial planning and implementation grants. NIAID’s Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial Resources describe our prior consultation process and more.
In addition, we strongly advise you to reach out to a PO for advice and guidance before you finalize your application topic or choose a funding opportunity. The PO can give feedback on your application topic and help you Understand NIAID Research Priorities, Determine Eligibility for NIAID Grants, and Find a Funding Opportunity that would be a good fit.
For questions about submission requirements for a funding opportunity announcement (FOA), the scientific review officer (SRO) listed as the FOA’s peer review contact is also an excellent source to help clarify what information is required or not allowed in your application.
Get application policy guidance from the PO as you Prepare Your Application attachments and finalize the forms to Apply for a Grant.
When You Submit
Stay in close contact with your authorized organizational official and other staff in your institutional business office when it’s time to Submit an Application and Pass Electronic Validations.
Direct your questions about application systems or forms to the following help desks:
- eRA Service Desk—for eRA Commons, ASSIST, eRA account registration, validations, and application status
- Grants.gov Support Center—for Grants.gov registration, submission rejection errors, and Workspace
If you encounter technical problems with NIH or Grants.gov systems, you must contact the relevant help desk above to properly document and address the issue. Learn more at Dealing With System Issues.
After You Submit, Peer Review
Check the After You Submit an Application section and Track Application Using eRA Commons to find your assigned study section, NIH institute or center, and key Center for Scientific Review and NIAID staff assignments.
Contact your assigned SRO for any of the following:
- Study section, NIH institute or center, or review roster concerns as described at Application Assigned to a Review Group
- Late Applications and Post-Submission Materials
- Questions or concerns before the First-Level Peer Review meeting
After the initial peer review meeting, find your application’s Score and Summary Statement in the eRA Commons. As that page describes, check our NIAID Paylines, get advice from your assigned PO (not the SRO), and consider your next move.
You can also discuss the outcome of Second-Level Review—Advisory Council with your PO and ask questions about your application’s status.
Pre-Award, Award, and Beyond
Just before and during your grant award, your primary contact is the grants management specialist (GMS) listed in the eRA Commons Status section. You may also check NIAID Grants Management Program—Contacts.
As we detail at When To Contact an NIAID Grants Management Specialist:
- You must contact the GMS when you Respond to Pre-Award Requests (“Just-in-Time”), for Negotiation and Your Initial Award, when you have Bars to Grant Awards, or to seek approval for Changes to Project or Budget.
- We also strongly recommend that you contact your GMS for all questions or issues related to how you Manage Your Award, the terms and conditions of your Notice of Award, and NIH or NIAID Grants Rules and Policies.
For Reporting Requirements During Your Grant and Final Reports for Grant Closeout, contact your business office staff, your GMS, or your PO as instructed.
When you start planning to Apply for a Renewal or a new grant, contact your PO for advice on your next idea.
We’re Here To Help
Direct questions about your specific NIAID application, grant, or situation to the contacts described above. If you have a general question or suggestion for NIAID webpages, email the Office of Knowledge and Educational Resources at deaweb@niaid.nih.gov.