Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award Extension Request (Type 4 eSubmission Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for established researchers seeking to extend active NIH-funded research projects. The MERIT Award Extension is designed to support senior investigators with a strong track record of research productivity and NIH funding. Eligible applicants are typically investigators with demonstrated scientific excellence and ongoing NIH grant support. The program supports continuation and expansion of research activities across biomedical and behavioral sciences. Applicants must be at institutions with appropriate fiscal and research infrastructure. Clinical trials may be optional depending on project scope. Award extensions allow qualified researchers to consolidate and advance their research portfolios without competing with new applications.
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Program description
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) (R37) Award provides extended grant support to Early Stage Investigators (ESIs). By providing such an opportunity for longer term support to ESIs, the NCI intends to offer flexibility and opportunity for creativity and innovation and additional time to successfully launch their careers and to become more established before having to submit renewal applications (NOT-CA-18-037). The objective of the NCI’s ESI MERIT Award is to allow eligible investigators the opportunity to obtain up to 7 years of support in two segments:
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative (aims, background, and research plan)
- Detailed Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (PD/PI and key personnel)
- Current/Pending Support statement documenting all active funding
- Research Plan addressing gaps, innovation, and extension rationale
- Letters of Institutional Support
- Appendices (publications, letters of collaboration, data management plans as applicable)
- IRB/IACUC approvals if human subjects or animal research involved
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.393 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$213,206,023
-
$60,172,321
-
$50,762,187
-
$42,878,192
-
$37,448,862
-
$31,845,334
-
$31,382,143
-
$25,337,287
-
$24,427,436
-
$22,993,873
Top States by Funding
- MA 10 awards $379.0M
- CA 11 awards $245.2M
- MN 4 awards $108.9M
- NY 7 awards $101.6M
- TN 7 awards $99.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.393). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $754,945,159 | |
| 2025 | $834,514,512 | |
| 2026 est. | $520,096,276 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for a MERIT Award Extension Request?
Typically, investigators with active NIH funding, a strong publication record, and demonstrated scientific achievement. You should have an established research program and institutional support. Contact your institution's grants office to confirm your eligibility status.
What is the deadline and when does the application period open?
The application deadline is September 7, 2028. The application period opens January 6, 2025. Grant writers should plan submissions well in advance, as NIH applications require extensive preparation and internal institutional review.
What types of research activities does this grant support?
MERIT Award Extensions support continuation and expansion of ongoing research programs. This can include laboratory research, clinical studies, data analysis, and dissemination activities. The "Clinical Trial Optional" designation means clinical trials may be incorporated but are not required.
How competitive is this grant?
MERIT Awards are highly competitive and reserved for investigators with substantial track records. Success typically requires a strong publication record, significant prior NIH funding, strong preliminary data, and clear scientific innovation. Institutional support and infrastructure quality also factor heavily.
What is the typical funding range?
MERIT Award Extensions typically provide multi-year funding to support continuation of research. Actual award amounts vary based on scientific scope and budget justification. Contact the NIH program officer for guidance on realistic funding expectations for your project.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Begin your application preparation immediately despite the 2028 deadline; MERIT applications require extensive documentation of research impact and preliminary findings. Gather publications, citation metrics, and grant history early.
- Emphasize research continuity and advancement: clearly articulate how the extension builds on prior work and addresses new questions. Show incremental progress and future significance rather than proposing entirely new research directions.
- Secure strong institutional commitment: obtain letters from department chairs, deans, and research administrators confirming financial and infrastructural support for the extended project period.
- Highlight your research team's productivity: provide evidence of successful mentorship, student/postdoc training outcomes, and collaborative contributions. MERIT reviewers value broader impact beyond the PI.
- Address feasibility meticulously: include detailed timelines, resource availability, and risk mitigation plans. NIH reviewers scrutinize whether extensions are appropriately scoped and achievable given institutional capacity.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail by inadequately documenting research impact and investigator track record. Reviewers expect extensive evidence of prior productivity, competitive funding success, and high-impact publications. Weak or unclear justification for why an extension is needed—rather than a standard competing renewal—significantly reduces competitiveness. Additionally, applications that lack specific aims or appear to simply continue prior work without meaningful advancement frequently receive lower scores.
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- OPEN Competing Revisions to Existing NIH Single Project Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Clinical Trial Optional) — National Institutes of Health
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