Not all institutes accept investigator-initiated small (R03) or exploratory/developmental (R21) grant applications. NIAID does, but you'll want to do a little extra planning to make sure 1) we will accept yours based on appropriate scientific fit and 2) if we don't, that another institute will.
Before you begin putting together your Small Research Grant Program (R03) orExploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (R21) application, contact an NIAID program officer to confirm your research project fits our mission.
When you apply, include in your application cover letter a note to NIH's Center for Scientific Review (CSR) stating that you have spoken with an NIAID program officer and that he or she concurs that your project would be appropriate for assignment to NIAID.
Why the fuss?
If CSR can't find an institute willing to accept your R03 or R21 application, NIH may have to withdraw it without review. So, you need to make sure your application gets to an institute that participates in the R03 or R21 parent announcement.
Find Institute Contacts and Interests
If you want to do some homework before you call, visit the following links for program contacts and scientific research areas for institutes that accept R03s and R21s. Look for the table titled "NIH Institute and Center Contacts and Scientific Research Areas of Interest" on these pages:
- R03—NIH Small Research Grant Program (Parent R03) (PA-11-262)
- R21—NIH Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant Program (Parent R21) (PA-11-261)
Know Who Doesn't Participate
For your convenience, here's the official list of institutes and centers that do not participate in the R03 and R21 parent announcements, though some may issue funding opportunity announcements using those activity codes:
Get advice from an NIH program officer if you are not sure where your application fits, or you think it might normally be assigned to an institute that does not accept R03s or R21s.
Find an NIAID program officer for your area of science from the following extramural program divisions:
