The National Institutes of Health is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. NIH advertises availability of grant support through notices of funding opportunities (NOFOs). Investigators can search for a funding opportunity specific to their area of interest or apply to one of NIH's generic parent announcements.
There is not a generic application form package that can be downloaded and used for all grant application submissions. You must use the application form package associated with the funding opportunity to which you are applying. Access the opportunity-specific form package through your chosen submission method (ASSIST, institutional system-to-system solution, Workspace).
Please reach out to us if the file you are looking for is not updated for the current proposal call. We will be happy to update it for you!
General NIH Resources
External Resources
- Navigating Early Career Funding Opportunities - Webinar by NIH Grants
- NIH All About Grants Podcast
- Information on NIH review criteria (NIH website)
Resources for Specific Funding Opportunities
Below are resources specifically for NIH early career funding. If you're not sure what type of grant you should be applying to, be sure to look at the NIH Funding Programs by Career Stage for a guide.
Research Career Development Awards (K series)
To provide individual and institutional research training opportunities (including international) to trainees at the undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels.
Learn more about NIH Research Career Development Awards (K series)
K99 - Pathway to Independence Award
To support both an initial mentored research experience (K99) followed by independent research (R00) for highly qualified, postdoctoral researchers, to secure an independent research position. Award recipients are expected to compete successfully for independent R01 support during the R00 phase.
Learn more about the K99 Award
- K99 Checklist
- Early Career K Awards
- NIH Career Development Award Tips by Review Criteria (2020)
- Project Summary Career Development Template
K23 - Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award
To provide support for the career development of clinically trained professionals who have made a commitment to patient-oriented research, and who have the potential to develop into productive, clinical investigators.
Learn more about the K23 award
- K23 Facilities and Other Resources
- Letter demonstrating Environment and Institutional Commitment
- NIH Career Development Award Tips by Review Criteria (2018)
- NIH K Award Checklist
- NIH K Award Primer
- NIH K23 Checklist
Research Grants (R series)
To provide research education opportunities, including courses, research experiences, mentoring, curriculum development, and outreach. For additional materials to help prepare R series grants, visit our NIH Resources page.
Learn more about NIH Research Grants (R series)
R35 - Maximizing Investigators' Research Award (MIRA) ESI (Early Stage Investigator)
Learn more about the NIH MIRA R35
Individual Fellowships (F series)
To provide individual training opportunities (including international) to supported fellows at the undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, and senior career levels