Competing Revisions to Existing NIH Single Project Research Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Clinical Trial Optional)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Sep 4, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers and research institutions applying to compete for renewal, expansion, or revision of existing NIH Single Project Research Grants (R01, R03, R21, etc.) and cooperative agreements. Eligible applicants include academic medical centers, research universities, nonprofit research institutions, and other entities with NIH funding experience and the capacity to conduct biomedical or behavioral research. Awards support clinical trial optional research across the full spectrum of NIH mission areas. There is no geographic restriction, though applicants must be able to comply with federal regulations and NIH policies. Applications may include revised research aims, expanded scope, or competitive renewal of existing projects, with clinical trials permitted but optional.
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Program description
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) hereby notifies NIH award recipients that funds may be available for revision applications to support the expansion of existing projects and/or programs within the awarding IC identified in the competitive revision Notice of Special Interest (NOSI). Applications for Revisions will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s), in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Only applications submitted in response to a NOSI published by an NIH Institute or Center will be allowed to apply to this NOFO.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 R&R (Research & Related) application form
- Project narrative (specific aims, research design, methods, timeline)
- Detailed budget and budget justification
- Biographical sketches (NIH format) for all key personnel
- Current and pending support documentation
- Letters of support from collaborators and institutional leadership
- IRB/IACUC approval documentation (if human subjects or animal studies involved)
- Institutional commitments and resource allocation letters
- Facilities and equipment documentation
- Data sharing plan
- Vertebrate animals section (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.865 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$1,073,967,938
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$719,372,575
-
$282,005,487
-
$155,556,396
-
$155,482,198
-
$103,665,364
-
$74,151,078
-
$72,701,366
-
$52,238,426
-
$47,450,377
Top States by Funding
- WA 1 awards $1,074.0M
- NC 7 awards $925.9M
- MD 4 awards $513.0M
- MA 3 awards $190.0M
- PA 3 awards $146.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.865). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $1,282,226,682 | |
| 2025 | $1,333,391,690 | |
| 2026 est. | $184,920,723 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Institutions with existing NIH Single Project Research Grants (R01, R03, R21, etc.) seeking to compete for renewal, revision, or expansion. Eligible applicants include universities, academic medical centers, nonprofit research institutions, and other entities with demonstrated research capacity and federal compliance infrastructure.
What is the application deadline and how long is the period of performance?
The deadline is November 24, 2026. Grants typically support research over a 3-5 year project period, though specific periods depend on the competing revision mechanism and NIH institute/center guidelines.
What types of research activities are supported?
This mechanism supports competitive revision of existing grants across NIH mission areas, including biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and translational research. Clinical trials are optional, allowing flexibility based on research design.
How competitive is this funding opportunity?
Very competitive. This is a renewal/revision mechanism for established researchers with track records. Study section review is rigorous, and fundable success rates typically range from 15-25% depending on the NIH institute/center.
What is the typical funding range?
Awards vary widely based on research discipline and scope, but NIH R01 awards typically range from $150,000 to $500,000+ in total costs per year, depending on field and complexity. Consult the specific IC for funding levels.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate significant scientific innovation and justification for the revision. Study sections carefully evaluate what is new compared to the previous competing period—budget increases alone are insufficient.
- Address prior reviewer critiques explicitly in your application. If your previous grant received specific concerns, use the revision as an opportunity to show how you have addressed them with stronger preliminary data or refined approaches.
- Secure strong letters of support from collaborators, department leadership, and institutional research administration. NIH values institutional commitment and resource allocation for research.
- Build a realistic budget that accounts for inflation and personnel changes, but avoid requesting substantial increases unless scientifically justified. Justified increases in specific aims or scope should align with the expanded research plan.
- Submit your application well before the deadline and engage with your institution's research administration early. Federal compliance documentation and institutional sign-off can take weeks.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications typically fail when they lack sufficient scientific innovation or justification for revision—simply resubmitting a previous grant with minor edits triggers unfavorable review. Another common mistake is inadequate response to prior reviewer feedback; study sections expect explicit acknowledgment and resolution of previously identified weaknesses. Lastly, poor budget justification or unrealistic timelines for expanded aims undermines credibility with reviewers evaluating feasibility.
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