Investigator-Focused Award (Parent R35)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 20, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers at all career stages seeking stable, long-term funding for a research program. Applicants must be affiliated with a research institution and operating within the mission of an NIH Institute or Center. The R35 is designed as an investigator's primary funding source, providing flexibility to pursue ambitious research directions rather than pre-defined projects. Early Stage Investigators and established researchers are both eligible.
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Key dates
- Jul 30, 2026 Applications open
- Oct 4, 2027 Application deadline in 348 days
- Jul 1, 2028 Award announced
- Jul 1, 2028 Project start
Program description
The National Institutes of Health intends to publish a Parent R35 “Investigator-Focused Award” Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to fund research programs for investigators at all career stages, including Early Stage Investigators (ESIs). The Parent R35 Investigator-Focused Award is intended to provide support for an investigator’s program of research within the mission of the awarding Institute or Center (IC) rather than support for a pre-defined project with specific aims.
The R35 is typically expected to be an investigator’s primary (or only) source of research funding from the awarding IC.
An R35 award gives investigators funding stability and scientific freedom. With R35 support, researchers can pursue ambitious and innovative studies without the pressure of constantly seeking new funding streams. Key benefits include:
- Providing flexibility to follow the science as it evolves within the awarding IC’s mission.
- Providing stability to take on important, challenging research questions.
- Allowing recipients to devote sufficient time to research, mentoring, and scientific service, and less time to grant administration.
- Providing a high potential for scientific breakthroughs by enabling investigators to think broadly and pursue promising opportunities.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Researcher (independent)
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application Form
- Project Narrative (research plan without specific aims structure)
- Biographical Sketch (NIH format)
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Support and Facilities Description
- Institutional Endorsement Letter
Program contact
- 👤 Office of Extramural Research
- 📧 ParentR35@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.398 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$23,853,515
-
$23,602,022
-
$17,454,036
-
$15,407,472
-
$15,007,945
-
$14,832,927
-
$14,670,284
-
$14,531,440
-
$14,522,163
-
$14,410,208
Top States by Funding
- CA 15 awards $122.5M
- MA 10 awards $107.6M
- TX 9 awards $102.7M
- NY 9 awards $68.8M
- PA 7 awards $63.4M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.398). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $228,173,992 | |
| 2025 | $213,201,522 | |
| 2026 est. | $135,455,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for the R35 Investigator-Focused Award?
Researchers at all career stages, including Early Stage Investigators (ESIs), may apply. You must be affiliated with an eligible research institution.
What research areas are supported?
The grant supports any research program within the mission of the awarding NIH Institute or Center. Check the specific IC's NOFO for their research priorities.
Is this a project-based grant?
No. The R35 funds a researcher's entire program of research, not a specific project with defined aims. This allows flexibility to evolve your research direction.
Can I receive other funding while holding an R35?
The R35 is intended to be your primary or sole source of support from that IC. Check the NOFO for specific restrictions on concurrent funding.
What is the funding duration and amount?
Award amounts and project periods vary by IC. Review the specific NOFO for your target Institute or Center for details.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your long-term research vision and how it aligns with the IC's mission. Show why you need funding stability to pursue ambitious work.
- Highlight preliminary data, innovation, and potential for scientific breakthroughs. The R35 rewards bold thinking, not incremental science.
- Demonstrate your track record and capacity to manage a program-level research portfolio. Include evidence of mentoring and scientific leadership.
- Structure your narrative around scientific flexibility and evolution, not fixed specific aims. Explain how you'll adapt as science develops.
- Review your target IC's strategic priorities and recent award patterns. Tailor your application to their research mission and current initiatives.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Treating the R35 as a traditional project grant with specific, rigid aims rather than a flexible program award. Applying without clear alignment to the IC's mission or research priorities. Underestimating the importance of demonstrating your independence and capacity to lead a research program.
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