Asked Questions for NIH Challenge Grants

Grants written in response to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) or stimulus package.

How much money is available?

Applicants may request $500,000 total costs per year for up to 2 years. Please note that the dollar limits for these grants are for total costs, not direct costs. This brings the annual direct cost limit to 320,512

I have a question about the grant. Can I contact my program officer?

Yes. NINR has instituted the following guidelines for contact. Email the questions with the following information:

1. An updated biosketch with your research experience and relevant publications
2. A brief concept paper (1-2 pages) with your potential research project outlined as follows:
   • The specific aims to be achieved
   • The significance/rationale (i.e., how will your proposed work move the science forward in your specified area and what gap will it fill relative to Nursing/Public Health)
   • Theoretical framework
   • Synopsis of research design/methods
   • What is innovative about your approach?

If I get a Challenge Grant, will I still be considered a "New Investigator" when I apply for another grant, such as an R01?

Because the awards made under this program are substantial competing NIH research grants, recipients will not be considered New PIs or ESIs when they apply for NIH research grants in the future.

Can I request funds for equipment?

Yes, as always you may request funds for equipment and computers that are specfiic to that grant.

Do I need a resource sharing plan even though this grant will not meet the normal requirements?

Yes, all challenge grants must include this section.

There is no boilerplate text for resource sharing plans.  Each plan needs to be customized to the grant, the kind of data collected, and the logistics of sharing that data in a proper way.  There is no text that can be copied and pasted for every grant.  However, the School of Nursing does have an example of a Data Sharing Plan online. 

When does a challenge grant have to start and end?

The start date must be on or before 9/30/2009.

The challenge grants may be no more than 2 years. These are two normal 12-month calendar years as always. The end date therefore must be before 9/29/2011.

 

 

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The AQs page reflects asked questions. If there is information missing, the question needs to be asked. Please email the grant specialist with any other questions you may have. jennbond@u.washington.edu