Types of NICHD Funding Mechanisms

NICHD uses a variety of funding mechanisms to support research at other institutions, organizations, and facilities. The following sections provide general information about the research support mechanisms used by the institute.

Research Grant (R) Mechanisms
Program Project/Center Grant (P) Mechanisms
Cooperative (U) Mechanisms

NICHD takes part in the NIH-wide Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.

Visit the NICHD Small Business Programs section for more information, including specific funding announcements.

Find information on fellowships (F), career development (K) awards, institutional awards (T32/K12), and education awards (R25) in the Training and Career Development section.

NICHD supports diversity and re-entry supplements to help enhance the health-related workforce. Applications for these supplements are accepted three times per year for all career stages, as outlined in the specific funding announcement. Applicants should follow announcement guidelines, except for instances where NICHD-specific program guidelines differ. NICHD provides program priorities and supplemental guidelines (updated July 2024; PDF 297 KB).

Administrative Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research and Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers
  • Provides support for students, postdoctorates, and eligible investigators from groups that are underrepresented.
  • Candidates may include individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition, any individual who can demonstrate that they are underrepresented at the grantee institution is also eligible to apply.
  • Reentry supplements provide support for individuals with high potential to reenter an active research career after taking time off to care for children or attend to other family responsibilities.
  • NICHD Contacts: 
    Applicants should contact the NICHD Program Official listed on the Notice of Grant Award 
  • Current funding opportunities:
    • PA-23-189: Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
    • NOT-OD-23-170: Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry, Re-Integration Into, and Re-Training in Health-Related Research Careers (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
T32 Diversity Supplement Program for Pre-and Postdoctoral Candidates

NIH uses the term “Parent” announcement for broad-based NOFOs that are supported by many, but not all, NIH institutes, centers, and offices (ICOs). These NOFOs can accept applications for a wide variety of research topics. Upon receipt, applications are assigned to the most appropriate ICO based on the ICO’s research mission and priorities.

It’s important for potential applicants to remember that not every ICO participates in every “Parent” NOFO, and that an application cannot be assigned to an ICO that does not participate in the NOFO. Therefore, applicants are urged to pay specific attention to the Part 1 of the NOFO, which lists “Participating Organizations” and “Components of Participating Organizations,” before submitting an application. Potential applicants should also remember that selecting the appropriate NOFO will also depend upon whether or not the project involves a clinical trial. As described in NOT-HD-19-012, applicants proposing basic experimental studies involving humans (BESH) projects for consideration by NICHD may apply to one of the NOFOs that allows clinical trial applications and in which NICHD participates.

When scientifically appropriate, applications may also be submitted to one of the topic-specific clinical trials NOFOs in which NICHD participates, as listed on Parent Announcements (For Unsolicited or Investigator-Initiated Applications).

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