Program Project Applications (P01 Clinical Trials Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers investigating heart, lung, blood, and related diseases. Applicants must propose a minimum of three interrelated research projects organized around a central scientific theme. Eligible applicants include universities, HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges, and nonprofits. International components of U.S. organizations may be included, but non-U.S. entities cannot serve as the primary applicant.
The program seeks collaborative research teams that address fundamental biomedical questions. Projects may include core units supporting the research effort. NHLBI particularly welcomes new scientific directions and applications led by emerging researchers or Early Stage Investigators.
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Program description
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Program Project Grant (P01) supports research related to fundamental processes and diseases of the heart, blood and lymphatic vessels, lungs, and blood, including transfusion medicine, blood resources, and sleep disorders other programs including implementation science, health disparities, and translation research that address the mission of the Institute. This FOA requires a minimum of three interrelated research projects that investigate a complex biomedical theme or research question. The projects may be supported by core units, if justified, to facilitate economy of effort, space, and equipment. The NHLBI provides support for Program Project Grants (PPGs) in the belief that collaborative research efforts can accelerate the acquisition of knowledge more effectively than a simple aggregate of research projects that have no interaction or thematic integration. NHLBI is particularly interested in encouraging new scientific directions in PPGs. Use of the P01 activity code is viewed as an opportunity to attract scientists who have not traditionally been supported by the NHLBI. Further, the PPG environment presents an opportunity for emerging scientific leaders to gain insight into how to lead a successful scientific Program, and applicants will have the opportunity to include a project led by an Early Stage Investigator (ESI). All projects in the Program must be interrelated and have objectives that address a central theme within the scientific mandate of the NHLBI.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- County Government
- HBCU
- HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution)
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- TCU (Tribal Colleges)
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 Federal Application Form
- Project Narrative (overall program description and individual project narratives)
- Detailed Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (for program director/principal investigator and all project leaders)
- Institutional Commitment Letters
- Other Support Statement (all current and pending funding for key personnel)
- Letters of Institutional Support
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.839 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$70,347,724
-
$28,221,244
-
$26,367,044
-
$26,196,066
-
$24,828,830
-
$22,197,349
-
$20,132,449
-
$18,556,003
-
$17,136,580
-
$16,771,574
Top States by Funding
- MA 15 awards $153.6M
- WI 6 awards $113.6M
- PA 13 awards $111.9M
- CA 9 awards $110.4M
- NY 8 awards $77.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.839). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $431,558,338 | |
| 2025 | $425,332,322 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Universities, HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges, faith-based organizations, and eligible government agencies can apply. U.S. organizations with foreign components are eligible, but foreign organizations cannot be the primary applicant.
How many research projects must be included?
A minimum of three interrelated research projects addressing a central theme are required. All projects must connect thematically and advance NHLBI's scientific mission.
What research topics are supported?
Heart, lung, and blood vessel diseases; blood disorders; sleep disorders; transfusion medicine; implementation science; and health disparities research are supported.
Can an Early Stage Investigator lead a project within the Program?
Yes. NHLBI encourages applications that include a project led by an Early Stage Investigator to develop emerging scientific leaders.
What is the typical application timeline?
The deadline is fixed for September 25, 2026. Applicants should allow several months for internal preparation and institutional review.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Frame your application around a strong central scientific theme that integrates all three or more projects, not a loose collection of separate studies.
- Highlight how each project team member contributes unique expertise and how projects will collaborate and share resources effectively.
- Include a detailed budget justification for any core units, demonstrating how they reduce redundancy and accelerate the research effort.
- Consider including an Early Stage Investigator as one project leader to signal commitment to developing new talent and innovation.
- Use the application to articulate how the collaborative structure will advance knowledge faster than individual grants could achieve.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Projects fail to demonstrate meaningful scientific integration—they read as separate studies with no real interaction. Budget justification for core units is weak or core units seem unnecessary. Applicants underestimate the administrative burden of managing multiple projects under one program.
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- OPEN NHLBI Emerging Investigator Award (EIA) (R35 Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health
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