Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development's mission is to lead research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize a

This is the NICHD legacy entry which is accurate through the end of the second quarter for fiscal year 2026. Please use: 93.HDC Child Health and Human Development Research Centers 93.HDR Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research Projects 93.HDT Child Health and Human Development Other Research 93.HDN Child Health and Human Development Research Training - Institutional Awards 93.HDD Child Health and Human Development Research Training - Individual Awards 93.HDS Child Health and Human Development Small Business Innovation Research & Small Business Technology Transfer Research 93.HDM Child Health and Human Development Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE) Initiative

Universities, colleges, medical, dental and nursing schools, schools of public health, laboratories, hospitals, State and local health departments, other public or private institutions, both nonprofit and for-profit, and individuals. National Research Service Award: Support is provided for academic and research training only, in health and health-related areas that are periodically specified by the National Institutes of Health. Individuals with a professional or scientific degree are eligible (M.D., Ph.D., D.D.S., D.O., D.V.M., Sc.D., D.Eng., or equivalent domestic or foreign degree). Predoctoral research training grants to institutions are also supported. Proposed study must result in biomedical or behavioral research training in a specified shortage area and which may offer opportunity to research health scientists, research clinicians, etc., to broaden their scientific background or to extend their potential for research in health-related areas. Applicants must be citizens of the United States or be admitted to the United States for permanent residency; they also must be nominated and sponsored by a public or private institution having staff and facilities suitable to the proposed research training. Domestic nonprofit organizations may apply for the institutional NRS grant. SBIR: SBIR grants can be awarded only to domestic small businesses (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed, and have no more than 500 employees). Primary employment (more than one- half time) of the principal investigator must be with the small business at the time of award and during the conduct of the proposed project. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. or its possessions. To be eligible for funding, a grant application must be approved for scientific merit and program relevance by a scientific review group and a national advisory council. STTR grants can be awarded only to domestic small business concerns (entities that are independently owned and operated for profit, are not dominant in the field in which research is proposed and have no more than 500 employees) which "partner" with a research institution in cooperative research and development. At least 40 percent of the project is to be performed by the small business concern and at least 30 percent by the research institution. In both Phase I and Phase II, the research must be performed in the U.S. and its possessions. To be eligible for funding, a grant application must be approved for scientific merit and program relevance by a scientific review group and a national advisory council.

Any nonprofit or for-profit organization, company, or institution engaged in biomedical or biobehavioral research.

Grantee agrees to administer the grant in accordance with the regulations and policies governing the research grant programs of the Public Health Service as stated in the terms and conditions on the application for the grant. National Research Service Awards: Awarded to individuals for full-time research training in specified behavioral and biomedical shortage areas. Awardees may utilize some of their time in academic and clinical duties if such work is closely related to their research training. Awards may be made to institutions to enable them to make NRS awards to individuals selected by them. Each individual awardee is obligated upon termination of the award to comply with certain service and payback provisions. SBIR Phase I grants (of approximately 6-months' duration) are to establish the technical merit and feasibility of a proposed research effort that may lead to a commercial product or process. Phase II grants are for the continuation of the research initiated in Phase I and which are likely to result in commercial products or processes. STTR Phase I grants (normally of 1- year duration) are to determine the scientific, technical, and commercial merit and feasibility of the proposed cooperative effort that has potential for commercial application. Phase II funding is based on results of research initiated in Phase I and scientific and technical merit and commercial potential on Phase II application.

Please note specific restrictions which may be listed within their unique Funding Opportunities & Notices: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/grants-contracts/funding-opps-and-notices

Awards are usually made annually with no project period to exceed 5 years in length. National Research Service Awards: From 1 to 3 years. SBIR: Phase I awards are generally for 6 months; Phase II awards normally may not exceed 2 years. STTR Phase I awards are generally for 1 year; Phase II awards normally may not exceed 2 years.

The major elements in evaluating proposals include assessments of the significance of the proposed research; approach; innovation; investigators; and environment. The following criteria will be used in considering the scientific and technical merit of SBIR/STTR Phase I grant applications: (1) The soundness and technical merit of the proposed approach; (2) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (3) the technological innovation of the proposed research; (4) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (5) the appropriateness of the budget requested; (6) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research environment; and (7) where applicable, the adequacy of assurances detailing the proposed means for (a) safeguarding human or animal subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment. Phase II grant applications will be reviewed based upon the following criteria: (1) The degree to which the Phase I objectives were met and feasibility demonstrated; (2) the scientific and technical merit of the proposed approach for achieving the Phase II objectives; (3) the qualifications of the proposed principal investigator, supporting staff, and consultants; (4) the technological innovation originality, or societal importance of the proposed research; (5) the potential of the proposed research for commercial application; (6) the reasonableness of the budget requested for the work proposed; (7) the adequacy and suitability of the facilities and research environment; and (8) where applicable, the adequacy of (a) safeguarding human or animal subjects, and/or (b) protecting against or minimizing any adverse effect on the environment.

Each application receives a dual scientific review by non-NIH scientists. Awards are issued by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). National Research Service Awards: Applications are reviewed for scientific merit by an appropriate study section committee or by an institute review committee. If recommended for approval and a decision is made to make an award, a formal award notice will be sent to the applicant and sponsor. Institutional Awards are issued by the Eunice Kenney Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). All accepted SBIR/STTR applications are evaluated for scientific and technical merit by an appropriate scientific peer review panel and by a national advisory council or board. All applications receiving a priority score compete for the available SBIR/STTR set-aside funds on the basis of scientific and technical merit and the commercial potential of the proposed research, program relevance, and program balance among the areas of research. Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines, or consult the specific Funding Opportunity Announcement listed in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts at: https://grants.nih.gov/funding/searchGuide/nih-guide-to-grants-and-contracts.cfm. General guidance about application due dates may be found at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/how-to-apply-application-guide/due-dates-and-submission-policies/standard-due-dates.htm

From 6 to 9 months: National Research Service Awards: From 6 to 9 months. SBIR/STTR: approximately 6 months.

Renewal applications are accepted, as described in the relevant Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) found at: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html?CFID=50541572 & CFTOKEN=87322295&jsessionid=f630f3b44e23db8088b9e5e5224596361271. National Research Service Awards: awards may be made for 1, 2, or 3 years. No individual may receive NIH fellowship support at the postdoctoral level for more than 3 years. Institutional Awards may be renewed.

A principal investigator (P.I.) may question the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of his/her application by communicating with the staff of the Institute. A description of the NIH Peer Review Appeal procedures is available on the NIH web site at: http://public.csr.nih.gov/ApplicantResources/InitialReviewResultsAppeals/Pages/default.aspx