NICHD Funding Strategies: Interim Guidance for Fiscal Year 2025 during the Continuing Resolution

The following information represents the NICHD guidelines and operating procedures under the “American Relief Act, 2025" (Public Law No: 118-158), signed by President Biden on December 21, 2024. This Act (CR) continues government operations through March 14, 2025, NOT-OD-25-054. NICHD, at this time, is providing interim guidance for funding in fiscal year 2025 in keeping with the level of operations provided in the CR.

The NICHD distributes its resources among many programs and mechanisms. The institute is committed to funding the largest number of meritorious projects possible, while allowing flexibility to support selected program priorities and respond to emerging scientific opportunities.

Next Generation Researchers

NICHD is committed to the goal of supporting Early Stage Investigators (ESIs) on grant awards as described in the NIH Policy Supporting the Next Generation Researchers Initiative, NOT-OD-17-101 and NOT-OD-18-214. Therefore, NICHD will include ESI investigator status as one of the program priorities when considering funding of eligible applicants.

Adjustments to Requested Budget Levels

In the interests of awarding as many grants as possible, adjustments to the requested budget may be necessary for some grant mechanisms, in part due to the following factors:

• A significant increase in the size of budget requests
• A large and growing commitment base for ongoing grants
• Limited growth in the NICHD budget to accommodate the first two factors.

Competing Grant Applications

Research Project (R01) Grants:

For all new competing R01 applications selected for funding, the NICHD will reduce applications (Type 1) on average by 14 percent below the peer review recommended level of support.  The final reductions may vary depending on factors such as research scope, comments in the summary statement, availability of other support, and program priorities.

There is no fixed payline for R01 applications. NICHD will consider scientific merit, program priorities, portfolio balance, and availability of funds in making funding decisions.

Small Grants (R03) and Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21):

There is no fixed payline for R03/R21 applications. NICHD will consider scientific merit, program priorities, portfolio balance, and availability of funds in making funding decisions.

AREA (R15):

The interim FY 2025 payline for R15 applications is Priority Score 21.

STTR and SBIR (R41, R42, R43, and R44):

There is no fixed payline for SBIR (R43, R44) and STTR (R41, R42) applications. NICHD will consider scientific merit, program priorities, portfolio balance, and availability of funds in making funding decisions.

Career Development Awards (K01, K08, K23, K25, K99):

The interim FY 2025 payline for competing K applications is Priority Score 20 and Priority Score 29 for K99 applications.

Conference/Workshop (R13/U13):

There is no fixed payline for R13/U13 applications. NICHD will consider scientific merit, program priorities, portfolio balance, and availability of funds in making funding decisions.

Individual Fellowships (F30, F31, and F32):

The interim FY 2025 payline for F30 applications is Priority Score 25. The interim payline for parent F31 applications is 28th percentile. The interim payline for F32 applications is the 31st percentile.

Institutional Training (T32):

There is no fixed payline for T32 applications. NICHD will consider scientific merit, program priorities, portfolio balance, and availability of funds in making funding decisions.

Other (F99, R24, R25):

The interim FY 2025 payline for F99 applications is Priority Score 30.

The interim FY 2025 payline for R24 applications is Priority Score 12 and Priority Score 15 for R25 applications.

Other NICHD Funding Considerations

• The legislated salary limitation for grants applies to both competing and non-competing grants. The limitations currently in effect were published in January 2024 (NOT-OD-24-057).
• Future Year Commitments on FY2025 New and Competing Renewal Awards:
  • As in recent fiscal years (see NOT-OD-13-064) inflationary increases for future year commitments are no longer provided for all competing and non-competing research grant awards issued by the NICHD. However, adjustments for special needs (such as equipment and added personnel) continue to be accommodated whenever possible.
• Modular grants do not receive escalation in future years. Additional information on modular applications and awards is posted at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/modular/modular.htm.

Non-competing Continuation Grants (Type 5)

The non-competing FY 2025 level of support is presented on the FY 2024 award notice and generally reflects no cost of living/inflationary adjustments. Under the Continuing Resolution, NICHD will support FY 2025 awards at the level indicated in the chart below.

Non-competing (Type 5) Fellowship (F) and Training (T) grants will reflect current FY stipend levels. Stipend levels may be adjusted as appropriate.

FY2025 Non-Competing Funding Levels under the CR