High-End Instrumentation (HEI) Grant 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 academic and research institutions seeking to acquire or upgrade high-end scientific instrumentation for research purposes. Eligible applicants typically include NIH-funded research institutions, universities, medical schools, and nonprofit research organizations. The program supports the purchase of major instrumentation costing $100,000 or more that will be shared among multiple users and research groups. Geographic scope is nationwide; applicants must be able to demonstrate a strong research program and institutional commitment to supporting the instrumentation. Clinical trial-related instrumentation is specifically excluded. Activities supported include equipment acquisition, installation, and associated infrastructure modifications necessary for the instrument's operation.
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Program description
The High-End Instrumentation (HEI) Grant Program encourages applications from groups of NIH-supported investigators to purchase or upgrade a single item of high-end, specialized, commercially available instruments or integrated systems. The minimum award is $750,001. There is no maximum price limit for the instrument; however, the maximum award is $2,000,000. Instruments supported include, but are not limited to, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers, X-ray diffractometers, mass spectrometers, high throughput robotic screening systems, DNA and protein sequencers, biosensors, electron and light microscopes, flow cytometers, and biomedical imagers.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NIH SF-424 (R&R) application form
- Project narrative (research support document detailing instrumentation need and research impact)
- Detailed budget with equipment quotes and cost justification
- Letters of support from department chair and other potential users
- Institutional commitment/cost-sharing documentation
- Curriculum vitae or biosketches of key personnel
- NIH-style biosketch for project director
- Description of equipment maintenance and training plan
- Facilities and equipment documentation showing existing instrumentation and gaps
- Organizational capacity and compliance certifications
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.351 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$203,025,735
-
$201,841,608
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$191,271,017
-
$156,271,917
-
$150,172,413
-
$133,830,113
-
$129,717,894
-
$37,946,246
-
$37,475,785
-
$33,594,411
Top States by Funding
- OR 7 awards $290.0M
- CA 8 awards $266.7M
- WA 2 awards $232.0M
- TX 9 awards $228.2M
- LA 6 awards $189.8M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.351). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $279,889,905 | |
| 2025 | $284,089,258 | |
| 2026 est. | $283,084,958 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for the HEI grant?
Research institutions with active NIH-funded research programs, including universities, medical schools, and nonprofit research organizations with 501(c)(3) status or equivalent government recognition.
Is there a minimum or maximum equipment cost?
Yes, instruments typically must cost $100,000 or more to be eligible. Check the current funding opportunity announcement for exact thresholds.
Can I use this funding for clinical trials or clinical trial equipment?
No. Clinical trial-related instrumentation is specifically excluded from this program. The equipment must support basic or translational research.
What makes an application competitive?
Strong applications demonstrate significant research impact, multi-user benefit, institutional commitment (including matching funds or cost-sharing), experienced personnel, and a clear research need and utilization plan.
What is the typical funding range and deadline?
Funding varies based on equipment needs, but the program is project-based. The next deadline is June 1, 2027. Applications are accepted on a fixed deadline basis.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Demonstrate broad multi-user research impact: show how 3+ research groups will use the instrument and cite preliminary data from each user group to strengthen competitiveness.
- Include letters of support from department leadership and other potential users committing to access and cost-sharing, as institutional backing significantly strengthens applications.
- Build a detailed equipment utilization and maintenance plan that includes staff training, quality assurance protocols, and a realistic timeline for instrument integration into your research program.
- Clearly articulate why existing instrumentation or core facilities are insufficient and why this specific equipment is essential to advance your institutional research mission.
- Request the appropriate budget category and provide detailed quotes from vendors; vague or inflated equipment costs trigger reviewer concerns about application credibility and readiness.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications commonly fail when they lack evidence of genuine multi-user benefit, treating the instrument as a single-investigator purchase rather than a shared resource. Applicants often underestimate the importance of institutional commitment and cost-sharing; institutions that contribute matching funds and demonstrate leadership buy-in score significantly higher. Poor utilization planning, insufficient preliminary data from future users, and clinical trial-adjacent language (excluded) are frequent rejection triggers.
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