Research grant

Apply for NIH R21 Exploratory Research Grant

This helper is tailored to National Institutes of Health, the program requirements on file, and the documents listed for this grant.

Max award

$275,000

Deadline

Check official source

Agency

National Institutes of Health

Source

federal funding

What this application should emphasize

Use these points to make your draft match this grant instead of sounding like a generic application.

Frame the research question, method, deliverables, and why the work is novel or useful.
Name partners, facilities, prior work, publications, or technical readiness when relevant.
Same institutional eligibility as R01 — doctoral-level PI at an eligible institution
R21 is intended for early-stage or exploratory research — not for continuation of existing R01-funded work

Check off each item as you gather it — have these ready before you open the application.

0 of 8 items ready

Download, complete, and save each item before submitting.

0 of 6 ready

Research Strategy (6-page limit for R21 — shorter than R01)

NIH Biosketch for PI and key personnel

Budget justification (modular or detailed)

Specific Aims page (1 page)

Human Subjects or Vertebrate Animals documentation if applicable

Resource Sharing Plan if generating large datasets or unique research resources

Answer these once — your responses will be used to generate the draft in the next step.