R01

R01, the Research Project Grant, is the National Institutes of Health’s principal mechanism for supporting health-related research. It funds discrete, specified projects conducted by investigators at universities, medical centers, and other eligible institutions. R01s are designed to support a broad range of basic, translational, and clinical studies and are commonly awarded to individual principal investigators or small teams.

Most R01s run for up to five years, with the duration and budget determined by the scope and resource needs of the proposed research. Applicants request direct costs appropriate to the project, plus indirect costs negotiated by the hosting institution. The mechanism accommodates both single-PI and multi-PI (team) configurations.

Eligibility typically requires affiliation with an eligible institution and a track record of research leadership. NIH Institutes and Centers fund R01s across diverse disciplines, and proposals may include collaborations with foreign components under appropriate rules. Applicants prepare a detailed plan that demonstrates significance, innovation, and a clear set of objectives.

Applications are submitted through federal portals and include sections such as Specific Aims, Research Strategy, Significance, Innovation, and Approach, along with biosketches and institutional information. Compliance with human subjects, vertebrate animal, and biosafety requirements is addressed as applicable. After submission, applications undergo external peer review by NIH study sections that evaluate significance, approach, innovation, investigator qualifications, and institutional environment. Funding decisions follow programmatic priorities and budgetary considerations, with award decisions made by the sponsoring NIH Institute or Center.

R01 funding is widely regarded as a milestone for research independence and has underpinned many major scientific advances across disciplines.