Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) Program (S10 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions seeking to acquire or upgrade major scientific instruments and equipment essential for NIH-sponsored research. Eligible applicants include universities, colleges, hospitals, standalone research institutions, and other organizations that have a documented history of NIH-funded research. Applicants must be domestic, U.S.-based institutions with 501(c)(3) status or equivalent federal recognition. The equipment must support ongoing or planned NIH-funded research, and applicants must demonstrate institutional commitment to sharing the instrument with a broad user base. Geographic scope is the entire United States. Supported activities include purchase or upgrade of major research instruments, equipment, and related facilities that will advance NIH-supported research across multiple disciplines.
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Program description
The Shared Instrument Grant (SIG) Program encourages applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase or upgrade a single item of high-priced, specialized, commercially available instruments or integrated instrumentation system. The minimum award is $50,000. There is no maximum price limit for the instrument; however, the maximum award is $750,000. Instruments supported include, but are not limited to: light microscopes, biomedical imagers, mass spectrometers, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, flow cytometers, DNA and protein sequencers, biosensors, and X-ray diffractometers.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form or application cover page per NIH guidelines
- Project narrative describing scientific rationale, research impact, and how the instrument addresses existing gaps
- Detailed equipment specifications, quotes from vendors, and justification for selected model
- Budget and budget justification with itemized costs and explanation of any institutional cost-share
- Letters of support from NIH-funded researchers or research groups planning to use the equipment
- Organizational management and maintenance plan for the instrument
- Evidence of institutional commitment (matching funds, facility improvements, personnel allocation)
- Current and pending research support documentation showing NIH funding history
- Facility and equipment use agreement or sharing policy
- Curriculum vitae or biographical sketches of key personnel involved in instrument management
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.859 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$59,464,779
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$57,271,194
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$56,019,458
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$54,912,096
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$53,329,877
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$52,858,544
-
$52,347,059
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$52,026,661
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$50,897,104
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$49,349,731
Top States by Funding
- ME 4 awards $143.3M
- MS 4 awards $135.1M
- NY 5 awards $131.6M
- CA 5 awards $129.3M
- RI 4 awards $126.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.859). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $3,085,929,426 | |
| 2025 | $3,092,472,727 | |
| 2026 est. | $3,093,422,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for a Shared Instrumentation Grant?
Research institutions with active NIH funding, primarily universities, medical centers, and standalone research organizations. Applicants must be domestic, U.S.-based organizations with appropriate federal tax-exempt status (501(c)(3) or equivalent). Institutions must demonstrate a history of NIH research support and institutional commitment to sharing equipment.
What is the typical funding range for SIG awards?
Awards typically range from $100,000 to $1,000,000, with specific amounts dependent on instrument cost, justification, and available program funds. The program is designed for major equipment requiring significant investment.
What types of equipment are supported?
The program funds major scientific instruments used in biomedical research, including imaging systems, analytical instruments, genomics equipment, and other specialized research tools. Equipment must directly support NIH-funded research activities.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline for this cycle is June 1, 2027. Applicants should consult Grants.gov and the NIH website for any updates or program-specific details.
How competitive is the SIG program?
Competition is moderate to high. Reviewers evaluate institutional justification, research impact, breadth of user base, facility management plans, and evidence of institutional support. Strong applications clearly demonstrate how the instrument advances multiple research programs.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate the research gaps that the new instrument will address. Explain what cannot be done with existing equipment and how the instrument enables new research directions supported by current NIH funding.
- Demonstrate genuine institutional commitment through matching funds, renovations, or personnel support. NIH reviewers want evidence that the institution views this as a strategic priority beyond just the grant funding.
- Build a compelling user base narrative. Document current and pending NIH-funded projects that will use the instrument, including letters of support from research groups. Show that the equipment serves diverse research programs, not just one lab.
- Include a detailed management and maintenance plan. Specify staffing, training, calibration protocols, and quality assurance measures. Address how the institution will ensure long-term sustainability and prevent the equipment from becoming obsolete.
- Provide accurate and competitive pricing information. Include vendor quotes, justification for the specific instrument model, and documentation of comparable costs. Explain why this particular instrument is optimal for your research needs compared to alternatives.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they lack sufficient institutional commitment or matching funds, suggesting the equipment is not a true priority for the research community. Weak user base documentation—where applicants cannot clearly demonstrate multiple NIH-funded research groups that will use the instrument—significantly reduces competitiveness. Additionally, inadequate attention to long-term sustainability, maintenance, and management plans raises reviewer concerns about the institution's ability to maintain the instrument and keep it operational for the research community.
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