Research Grant Mechanisms

Research project grants are awarded to eligible institutions on behalf of a principal investigator to support a discrete project related to the investigator's area of interest and competence.

Program project grants represent synergistic research programs that are designed to achieve results not attainable by investigators working independently.

NIGMS supports scientific meetings, conferences and workshops that are relevant to its scientific mission.

MBRS awards grants to educational institutions with substantial minority enrollments to support research by faculty members; strengthen the institutions' biomedical research capabilities; and provide opportunities for students to work as part of a research team.

This initiative provides support to institutions to help students make transitions at a critical stage in their development as scientists. The program helps students transition from two-year junior or community colleges to full four-year baccalaureate programs.

This initiative provides support to institutions to help students make a critical transition in their development as scientists. The program is aimed at helping students transition from master's degree programs to Ph.D. programs.

AREA awards provide funding for small-scale, new or ongoing health-related research projects, including pilot research projects and feasibility studies; development, testing and refinement of research techniques; secondary analysis of available data sets; and similar discrete research projects that demonstrate research capability.

NIGMS participates in several R21-based funding opportunity announcements to stimulate the exploration of new, high-risk research and development in specifically defined areas. This includes an NIGMS biomedical technology program funding opportunity for instrument development for biomedical applications. NIGMS does not participate in the NIH parent R21 funding opportunity announcement.

SBIR grants stimulate technological innovation, use small business to meet Federal research and development needs, increase private sector commercialization of innovations derived from Federal research and development, and foster and encourage participation by minority and disadvantaged persons in technological innovation.

NIH awards grants under the STTR Program for research or research and development of new technologies and methodologies that have the potential to succeed as commercial products.

Principal investigators with active NIGMS research grants may apply for administrative supplements in the specific areas below. NIGMS will also accept administrative supplement applications to address certain unanticipated circumstances, but funds for this purpose are limited.

NIGMS principal investigators may apply for administrative supplements to form new multidisciplinary collaborations with other members of the scientific community.

As part of an NIH-wide program, principal investigators holding active NIGMS research grants may request supplemental funds to improve the diversity of the research workforce. Support of more than one graduate student or postdoctoral fellow on a grant is possible.

NIGMS participates in an NIH-wide program that provides administrative supplements to research grants to support individuals with high potential to re-enter an active research career after taking time off to care for children or parents or to attend to other family responsibilities.