Vision Research

How to Apply

Award Procedure:
Applications are reviewed initially for scientific and technical merit. A second level review of the programmatic relevance of applications is provided by the National Advisory Eye Council. (Second level review of NRSA fellowship applications is performed by a committee of senior staff of the National Eye Institute. Final approval is made by the Director, National Eye Institute. Formal award notices are transmitted to the appropriate institutional official.

Preapplication Coordination:
Applicants for core grants, clinical vision research development awards, clinical study planning grants, cooperative agreements, clinical vision research development awards, small research grants for data analyses, and bioengineering research partnerships should seek preapplication coordination through contact with the National Eye Institute staff. Applicants planning to submit a grant application requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year are required to discuss their eligibility with the NEI staff. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:
Standard application forms, as required by 45 CFR, Part 74 and 92, must be used for this program. Applicants to the Cooperative Program on Retinal Degenerative Disease Research who wish to be considered for funding by the FFB must submit a brief letter of authorization. Prior to making formal application to the NRSA programs, individual NRSA applicants must be nominated and sponsored by a federal, public, or nonprofit institution having staff and facilities appropriate to the proposed research program. An application form, PHS- 398 (Rev.4/98), for research grant and cooperative agreement awards may be requested from the Division of Extramural Outreach and Information, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7910, Bethesda, MD 20892-7910. Telephone: 301 435-0714, e-mail: ASKNIH@odrockml.od.nih.gov and should be submitted to the Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892. Supplemental instructions for preparing applications for Core Grants, Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards, Clinical Vision Research Development Awards, Clinical Study Planning Grants, Small Research Grants for Data Analyses, and cooperative agreements for clinical studies or conferences are available on the internet at http://www.nei.nih.gov/ or they can be requested from National Eye Institute staff. SBIR and STTR Grant Solicitations and SBIR Contract Solicitation may be obtained electronically through the NIH's "Small Business Funding Opportunities" home page at http://www.nih.gov/grants/funding/sbir.htm on the World Wide Web. The Solicitations include submission procedures, review considerations, and grant application or contract proposal forms. SBIR and STTR grant applications should be submitted to the Center for Scientific Review, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 1040 - MSC 7710, Bethesda, MD 20892-7710. Application forms and information concerning the NRSA program are available from the Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, and should be submitted to the same address. National Eye Institute guidelines and supplemental instructions for preparing Institutional NRSA applications are available on the World Wide Web at http://www.nei.nih.gov/ or can be obtained from the National Eye Institute, EPS 350, 6120 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7164, Bethesda, MD 20892-7164. This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR 74 and 92 and OMB Circular No. A-110 for nonprofit organizations, as applicable.

Deadlines:
New research grants and cooperative agreements: February 1, June 1, and October 1. Renewal, revised, and supplemental applications: March 1, July 1, and November 1. Academic Research Enhancement Award: January 25, May 25, September 25. NRSA Individual Postdoctoral fellowship: April 5, August 5, and December 5. NRSA Individual Predoctoral Fellowship for Minority Students or Students with Disabilities: May 1 and November 15. NRSA and Career Development Institutional: May 10. SBIR and STTR: April 1, August 1, and December 1. Core Grants and Vision Research Infrastructure Development Grants: August 27. AIDS ASAP grants: January 2, May 1, and September 1. Loan Repayment Program applications: February 1.

Range of Approval / Disapproval Time:
Approximately 6 to 9 months for Research Grants, Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards, Clinical Vision Research Development Awards, Clinical Study Planning Grants, cooperative clinical studies or conferences, Core Grants, and NRSA Institutional applications; from 6 to 7 months for NRSA individual applications; and for SBIR, about 7-1/2 months.

Appeals:
A principal investigator may communicate to the staff of the National Eye Institute any concerns regarding the substantive or procedural aspects of the review of an application.

Renewals:
Renewals of research grant or cooperative agreement support are by competitive application and review. Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards, Clinical Research Development Awards, Clinical Study Planning Grants, Small Grants for Data Analysis, and Small Grants for Pilot Research are non-renewable.