Office of Sponsored Research

NIH Grant Application Training Resources

NIH Grant Writing Tips and Guidelines

Many NIH Institutes put out guides and tip sheets on their Web sites. These guides can be useful resources. Here are just a few.

• All About Grants - Including Grant Application Basics, How to Plan a Grant Application and How to Write a Grant Application.
• Applying for an NHGRI Grant
• Choosing an Appropriate NIH Funding Instrument and Funding Mechanism (MS Word - 209 KB)
• Peer Review Guidelines and Information
• Peer Review Meetings - Meeting dates, descriptions, rosters, guidelines, etc.
• Preparing Grant Applications
• Quick Guide for the Preparation of Grant Applications (Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
• SBIR/STTR Policy and Grantsmanship Information
• Tips for New NIH Grant Applicants
• Writing a Grant

Electronic Media:

• All About Grants (Podcasts)
• NIH Grant Review Process Videos (YouTube)

Application Guide for NIH and Other PHS Agencies

Adobe B Application Guide — Released November 13, 2009
This application includes changes to SF424 Research & Related (R&R) form instructions necessitated by the June, 2008 OMB renewal of the forms, which includes changes to assist agencies implementing the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act. Changes have also been made to various PHS398 forms as part of the NIH initiative to enhance peer review. Changes to the PHS398 forms were approved by OMB in June, 2009.

NIH and Other PHS Agencies Instructions for a Biographical Sketch

A PI/PD is required to be registered in the eRA Commons, and the Commons User Name must be included on the biosketch. The eRA Commons registration is currently optional for all other Senior/Key Persons. If the individual is registered in the eRA Commons, include the Commons User Name. This data item is required for the PD/PI but is currently optional for all other Senior/Key Persons. In other federal forms this information is referred to as “Credential, e.g., agency login.” The Biographical Sketch may not exceed four pages per person.  This 4-page limit includes the table at the top of the first page.

See the sample of a completed Biographical Sketch.
Download a blank Biographical Sketch.