NHLBI Will No Longer Participate in the Investigator-Initiated Innovative Research Grant (R21) Program

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
National Institutes of Health
July 22, 2011

The R21 grant mechanism is intended to encourage exploratory and developmental research by providing two years of support for the early and conceptual stages of research project development.

The R21 grant is meant to facilitate the award of larger regular research project grant (R01) applications by providing investigators with limited funds and time to pursue initial studies to obtain preliminary data for larger, more fully developed research projects. However, the NHLBI has determined that this grant mechanism is not having the effect or the impact on its research grant portfolio in the manner for which it was originally intended.

The NHLBI will no longer be a co-sponsor for the NIH R21 Parent Announcement, NIH Exploratory Developmental Research Grant Program. Consequently, the NHLBI will no longer accept investigator-initiated R21 applications in response to the NIH’s Parent Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). This new policy is described in NIH Guide Notice NOT-HL-11-154.

The NHLBI will not accept new unamended R21 applications in response to the Parent R21 FOA for the Cycle III due dates (October 16, 2011 or January 7, 2012 for AIDS applications) or any date thereafter. The NHLBI will accept resubmission (amended/A1) R21 applications through Cycle I, 2012 (March 16, 2012 or May 7, 2012 for AIDS applications). Starting with Cycle II, 2012 and thereafter, NHLBI will not accept any R21 applications in response to the NIH Exploratory Development Research Grant Program (Parent R21).

In the future, the NHLBI may issue highly targeted Funding Opportunity Announcements for R21 grant applications when scientific opportunities and needs arise that will benefit from the features and requirements of the R21 mechanism.

For general information and questions regarding the R21 program, individuals are encouraged to contact the appropriate scientific program Division within the NHLBI.

General Contact Information

Division of Cardiovascular Sciences

Dr. Michael Lauer
Director
NHLBI/DCVD
Two Rockledge Center, Room 8124
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7940
Bethesda, MD 20892-7940
Phone: 301-435-0466
Fax: 301-480-7971
Email: nhlbi_dcvs@nhlbi.nih.gov

Division of Lung Diseases

Dr. James Kiley
Director
NHLBI/DLD
Two Rockledge Center, Room 10042
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7952
Bethesda, MD 20892-7952
Phone: 301-435-0233
Fax: 301-480-3547
Email: nhlbi_dld@nhlbi.nih.gov

Division of Blood Diseases and Resources

Dr. W. Keith Hoots
Director
NHLBI/DBDR
Two Rockledge Center, Room 9136
6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7950
Bethesda, MD 20892-7950
Phone: 301-435-0080
Fax: 301-480-0867
Email: hootswk@nhlbi.nih.gov

Last Updated July 2011