NIA Research Grant Mechanisms
NIA's extramural programs support a variety of research project grant mechanisms appropriate for individuals with different levels of experience and who conduct different types of research. For most mechanisms, principal investigators must be conducting research at the postdoctoral level or above. Specific grant mechanisms are available for researchers beginning their career; other mechanisms are available for midcareer and senior researchers. Please click here for Current Funding Opportunities at NIA.
NIA supports the following research grant mechanisms including Program Project Grants, Center Grants, and Cooperative Agreements to support multidisciplinary teams of researchers:
Other mechanisms support a multidisciplinary team of researchers and may involve cooperation among three or more investigators addressing a common theme. Such mechanisms are: (1) Program Project Grants, (2) Center Grants, and (3) Cooperative Agreements. Applicants should discuss plans with the appropriate NIA program staff prior to submitting a research proposal. The individual content areas of research on aging (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis, demography etc.) that are supported by the Institute are described in NIA's Research Programs site.
Administrative Supplements: Administrative Supplements can be submitted electronically to active awards for most of the parent award activity codes.
For research awards (e.g., R01, P01, U01, U19, R03, R15, R21, R33, R34, R37) the National Institute on Aging (NIA) continues to accept Administrative Supplement applications to cover expenses pertaining to emergencies, or unpredictable cost changes, or to exploit an unexpected opportunity that fits within the funded scope of the work, or to take advantage of a new technology. Administrative Supplements to Center awards (P30, P50) are also available for similar purposes. Only under exceptional circumstances are Administrative Supplements available for other kinds of award (e.g., training, fellowships, career development, scientific-meetings, and education- and resource-related activities). NIA stresses that funding for Administrative Supplements is very limited and strongly encourages investigators to contact their Program Officer prior to submitting the Administrative Supplement to check on available funds for the award.
Investigators seeking support for Administrative Supplements to promote diversity in health-related research or to promote re-entry into biomedical and behavioral research careers should contact Dr. Kenneth Santora, Director, Division of Extramural Activities.
NIA also provides Administrative Supplements to help develop future Alzheimer’s Disease NIH grants for applicants who have an active grant from one of the other participating Institutes/Centers. The current award cannot focus on Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias and the Administrative Supplement must propose work that is within the scope of current awarded NIH grant. For more details click on Notice: NOT-AG-23-032.
For general information about any of NIA's extramural research programs, please email the Division of Extramural Activities.
For additional information, see the following:
- Current NIA Funding Opportunities
- Program Project (P01) Guidelines and differences between NIA's U19 (Complex cooperative agreement awards) and P01 (Program project awards)
- Grants Tutorial (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
