Grassroots Rigor Projects: Individual Metascience and Individual Laboratory Capacity-Building (RP1)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 29, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research organizations seeking to improve research practices through metascience or laboratory capacity-building projects. Eligible applicants typically include academic institutions, research hospitals, nonprofit research organizations, and consortia with research capacity. Both project types focus on developing and implementing tools, metrics, or processes that strengthen rigor and replicability in scientific research. The grant supports projects that generate practical resources and shared knowledge applicable across the research community.
This is a NIH Common Fund program supporting two distinct project categories. Metascience projects emphasize developing evaluable tools, guidelines, or infrastructure. Laboratory Capacity-Building projects emphasize implementing new techniques while tracking outcomes.
Organizations must have appropriate research infrastructure and institutional capacity. Projects should demonstrate potential for broad applicability or impact on research practices across scientific disciplines.
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Key dates
- Sep 11, 2026 Applications open
- Oct 1, 2027 Application deadline in 336 days
- Jul 1, 2028 Award announced
- Jul 1, 2028 Project start
Program description
R3PEATS Grassroots Rigor Projects supports two project types that generate practical tools and shared knowledge to strengthen research practices. Metascience projects develop and evaluate tools, metrics, guidelines, or infrastructure to promote high-quality research practices. Laboratory Capacity-Building projects support labs in adopting new rigor- and replicability-related techniques or processes while tracking and sharing factors that influence research outcomes. This effort is a part of the NIH Common Fund’s Rigor, Replicability, & Reproducibility to Promote Excellence, Accuracy, & Translation in Science (R3PEATS) program.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 Research and Related (R&R) Application Form
- Project Narrative/Research Strategy
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (Key Personnel)
- Institutional Review/Approval (if applicable)
- Letters of Commitment (for collaborative partners)
- Data Management and Sharing Plan
- Vertebrate Animals Section (if applicable)
- Human Subjects Protection (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 R3PEATS Program
- 📧 R3PEATS@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail.
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.310 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$198,364,987
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$179,737,926
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$169,422,678
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$148,383,140
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$143,679,156
-
$115,739,255
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$79,886,847
-
$68,845,964
-
$60,300,930
-
$56,167,589
Top States by Funding
- MD 2 awards $317.8M
- CA 1 awards $198.4M
- NJ 1 awards $179.7M
- TN 1 awards $143.7M
- NY 2 awards $116.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.310). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,174,839,078 | |
| 2025 | $1,062,277,534 | |
| 2026 est. | $28,100,048 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for R3PEATS Grassroots Rigor Projects?
Research institutions, academic medical centers, nonprofit research organizations, and consortia with research capacity can apply. International collaborations may be possible; check the current NOFO for details.
What are the two main project types funded?
Metascience projects develop tools, metrics, or infrastructure to promote research quality. Laboratory Capacity-Building projects help labs adopt new rigor techniques while documenting implementation factors.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is October 1, 2027. Check NIH Grants.gov for any updates or rolling review periods that may apply.
What makes a competitive application stand out?
Clear articulation of the research problem, realistic implementation timelines, and evidence of stakeholder engagement strengthen applications. Demonstrating scalability and broad applicability increases competitiveness.
What is the typical project duration and funding level?
Project duration and award amounts vary by review; consult the NOFO for specific ranges and budget guidelines for your project type.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Align your project clearly with either metascience or laboratory capacity-building goals. Hybrid or ambiguous projects often score lower.
- Include a robust dissemination and sustainability plan. NIH values tools and knowledge that reach beyond your immediate institution.
- Describe your evaluation approach thoroughly. How will you measure success and adoption of your tools or processes?
- Build in partnerships with other labs or research groups early. Collaborative validation strengthens laboratory capacity-building proposals.
- Address barriers to implementation upfront. What infrastructure, training, or support do labs need to use your tool or adopt your process?
⚠️ Common mistakes
Vague definitions of the research problem or unclear distinction between metascience versus capacity-building goals. Weak or absent dissemination strategy; reviewers want evidence of broader impact beyond one institution. Insufficient attention to evaluation metrics or how you'll measure adoption and success.
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