Lantern Grants

NIH Research Project Grant (R01)

The R01 is NIH's standard grant for a discrete, investigator-initiated research project, and the award most biomedical labs are built on.

80 open NIH R01 calls right now →

What it funds

A specific, hypothesis-driven project in an area within an NIH institute's mission. You choose the question, aims and methods; the institute that funds it is decided by referral after you apply, unless you respond to a targeted NOFO.

Who can apply

Any eligible U.S. or foreign institution can apply on behalf of a principal investigator. There is no career-stage limit, but Early Stage Investigators (within 10 years of their terminal degree, without a prior substantial NIH award) are flagged and often funded at a more generous payline.

Award size

No fixed ceiling. Requests up to $250,000 in direct costs a year use a modular budget in $25,000 modules; asking for $500,000 or more in direct costs in any year needs agreement from the institute before you apply.

Duration

Up to 5 years; 4 to 5 is typical.

How applications are reviewed

Peer review in a study section under the Simplified Review Framework: Importance of the Research and Rigor and Feasibility are scored 1 to 9, Expertise and Resources is rated sufficient or not, and reviewers give an overall impact score. The Research Strategy is limited to 12 pages.

Deadlines

Standard due dates for new applications are 5 February, 5 June and 5 October; renewals and resubmissions are due 5 March, 5 July and 5 November. Targeted NOFOs (RFAs and many PARs) set their own dates.

Our summary, checked against NIH guidance in October 2026. Rules, budgets and dates change: always confirm in the current announcement before you apply.

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