This webpage provides an overview of and instructions on how to apply to the NIH Academy, the OVPRI's faculty training program for writing grant proposals to NIH.
Overview of the Academy
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is one of the top funders of research at the University of Oregon (UO), and the Office of the Vice President of Research and Innovation (OVPRI) seeks to boost the success of UO researchers applying to the NIH through targeted support and training through our NIH Academy. In the two years since launching the first NIH Academy cohort in 2024-2025, twenty scholars have been supported in preparing and submitting R- and K- series proposals. For the third cohort in 2026-2027 academic year, we will continue to offer two tracks of the NIH Academy: Early Career Cohort and Community Cohort. Questions about this program should be directed to Research Development Services.
Early Career Cohort
The average age of investigators who receive their first NIH R01 award has steadily increased over the past two decades. In 2020, the average age of PI at the time of the first R01 award was 44 for both men and women. Given that receiving an R01 (or equivalent major NIH research award, such as an R35 or DP2) is critical to establishing a productive and high-impact research trajectory, shortening the time to receipt of this first award is a key priority among our early career scholars. K awards also pave the way to earlier R01s and for some early career scholars, a K award is the optimal first step.
The OVPRI is excited to support another cohort of trainees to enhance their understanding, preparation, and success in securing their first R01 or K Series grant.
Important Dates
- Application Deadline: Monday, May 4, 2026
- Participant Selection: Late May 2026
- Initial Cohort Meeting: Summer 2026
- Academy Runs: September 2026- June 2027
- Note: NIH Academy will be held on Thursdays from 9 am-1 pm during the 2026-2027 academic year (approximately once per month, but we encourage faculty to protect this time for peer review and grant work). Applicants are expected to work with their department heads to ensure they do not have scheduling conflicts (e.g., teaching) during this time.
Eligibility
The NIH Academy Early Career Cohort is open to:
- Tenure-track assistant professors or research assistant professors applying for an R-series award;
- Postdoc scholars or research associates applying for a K-series award.
- Recently tenured (within 3 years) associate professors or research associate professors who have not yet won a substantial NIH independent research award (see NIH page on ESI status); and,
- Research associates with a track record of securing independent research grants.
- NOTE: The OVPRI will prioritize faculty applying for their first R-series or K-series award for inclusion in the Academy. However, faculty working on their first resubmission are also welcome to apply.
- Research Readiness: The NIH Academy seeks to support scholars in submitting a competitive submission after the year-long program. As such, participants should be at the stage where they have generated preliminary data, have an appropriate publication record, and are committed to preparing a submission for the June deadline.
- Mandatory Participation: Accountability to yourself and your peers is an essential to this cohort-based training program. As such, faculty accepted into the program must agree to fully participate in all aspects of the NIH Academy (e.g., attend all workshops, complete deliverables, and submit an NIH grant application at the end of the program). To ensure full participation, faculty applicants must also secure a commitment from their department head or center/institute director in support of their participation.
- External Grant Submission: All participants are expected to submit an NIH R-series or K-series award for the June deadline following the Academy.
Training Model
The NIH Academy is a cohort model led by a faculty chair and the Assistant VP of Strategic Research Initiatives, with significant support from Research Development Services. The NIH Academy will provide a supportive learning community that trains participants in every stage of the proposal development process, from finding the correct institute and contacting the program officer, to crafting compelling specific aims, to producing key ancillary documents such as the biographical sketch and human subjects research documents.
The program will include in-person workshops, peer review, external review, dedicated support from RDS, and additional services, including graphic design.
Structure and Time Commitment
The NIH Academy will consist of 8-10 in-person training sessions, as well as follow-up assignments and meetings with key mentors/advisors outside of scheduled training sessions. Should trainees not score high enough for funding on their first application submitted after their cohort training period, they will receive support the following year through a post-NIH review analysis to enable a strong resubmission.
The NIH Academy training model:
- Empowers trainees with a deep understanding and knowledge of grant writing;
- Offers multi-tiered mentorship across schools/colleges/divisions;
- Enhances the competitiveness of NIH submissions among early career scholars, shortening the time between their initial independent research appointment and receipt of their first major NIH research award; and,
- Builds community and engagement among early career scholars, offering structure and accountability in the grant development process.
Science Mentor
Each participant will identify a science mentor who will commit to providing intellectual feedback at several key points across the program year. Most often, these will be the mentors assigned to faculty via their department or research center/institute. In some instances, an external science mentor may be most appropriate. Each science mentor will receive a modest stipend given the expected level of time and investment in helping the participant refine their scientific rationale and approach.
Sample Curriculum
Below is an overview of the in-person training sessions for 2025-26. A final course syllabus will be released this summer. The curriculum for each year’s Academy is set by co-chairs for that year, and therefore, participants’ experience might differ from year to year as program leaders customize the outcomes, resources, and specific needs of the participants.
- Summer Introduction (June 2026): Introduction to the academy, team building, summer work to set yourself up for success
- Session 1 (October): Introduction, self-evaluation, goal setting, team building, Specific Aims part 1
- Session 2 (October): Specific Aims part 2
- Session 3 (November): Project scoping and budget development, writing Significance & Innovation sections
- Session 4 (January): Writing the Approach section, data analysis plans, graphics
- Session 5 (February): Building necessary partnerships, writing “ancillary” documents (e.g., human sub
- Session 6 (March): Managing external review and responding to feedback
- Session 7 (April): Peer review, check-ins with co-chairs
- Session 8 (June): Graduation celebration
Application to the Academy
The OVPRI will use a competitive application process to select faculty best positioned for success given the program structure. We expect to recruit 8-12 faculty trainees for the 2026-27 academic year.
By applying, selected participants agree to commit to attending the in-person workshops, and to dedicating the time and effort necessary to develop a full proposal for NIH submission after the program.
- Application Form: The online form collects basic information in the form’s text boxes. (Note that the form cannot be saved partway through.)
- One-Page Summary or Specific Aims page: If you have a prepared Specific Aims page, you may submit that by attaching it to the online form. For those without a Specific Aims page, please provide an overview of your proposed NIH research project (single-spaced text, Arial, 11-point or larger, and 0.5” margins). Use the following questions extracted from DARPA’s Heilmeier Catechism to help shape your narrative: Note: For those applicants who do not submit a Specific Aims page with their application, they will be expected to share a Specific Aims page at the June 2025 introductory meeting.
- What are you trying to do? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon.
- How is it done today, and what are the limits of current practice?
- What is new in your approach, and why do you think it will be successful?
- Who cares? If you are successful, what difference will it make?
- What are the risks?
- How long will it take?
- CV or Biographical Sketch
- (Note: For K-series applicants, please have your Advisor/Sponsor sign this form)
Criteria for Participant Selection
- Proposed research mechanism and activities
- Publication record
- Stage of project and proposal readiness
- Diversity of disciplines and career type (TTF vs. career)
Community Cohort
The NIH Academy Community Cohort is tailored for faculty members with prior grant experience who would benefit from navigating competing priorities and the changing federal research environment through a structured grant development program. The goals of this program are to provide accountability and peer review from a cohort program design, as well as a timeline for structured feedback from external reviewers and graphic design support.
Important Dates
- Application Deadline: April 27, 2026
- Participant Selection: May/June 2026
- Initial Cohort Meeting: August 2026
- Academy Runs: September 2026- June 2027
- Note: NIH Academy will be held on Thursdays from 9 am-1 pm during the 2026-2027 academic year (approximately once per month, but we encourage faculty to protect this time for peer review and grant work). The Community Cohort will meet less frequently, but we ask that applicants work with their department heads to ensure they do not have teaching conflicts during this time so they may participate.
Eligibility
The NIH Academy Community Cohort is open to faculty of any rank with prior external grant funding who intend to prepare and submit an NIH R01 (or equivalent, e.g., R35) during the 2026-27 academic year.
- Research Readiness: The NIH Academy Community Cohort seeks to support faculty in submitting a competitive R01 (or equivalent) submission after the year-long program. As such, participants should be at the stage where they have generated preliminary data, have an appropriate publication record, and are committed to preparing a submission for the June deadline.
- Mandatory Participation: Accountability to yourself and your peers is an essential element of this cohort-based training program. As such, faculty accepted into the program must agree to fully participate in all aspects of the NIH Academy (e.g., participate in Community Cohort workshops, complete deliverables, and submit an NIH grant application at the end of the program). To ensure full participation, faculty applicants must also secure a commitment from their department head or center/institute director in support of their participation.
- External Grant Submission: All participants are expected to submit an NIH R01 (or equivalent) for the June deadline following the Academy. Note: if you are targeting different mechanisms, you are expected to submit within the program year or the immediate deadline following the training period.
Training Model
The NIH Academy is a cohort model led by a faculty chair and the Assistant VP of Strategic Research Initiatives, with significant support from Research Development Services. The goals of this program are to provide accountability and peer review from a cohort program design, as well as structured support for developing a competitive proposal for submission at the end of the academic year.
The program will include in-person workshops, peer review, external review, dedicated support from RDS, and additional services, including graphic design.
Structure and Time Commitment
The NIH Academy will consist of 8-10 half-day, in-person training sessions (syllabus to be completed and circulated this summer), as well as follow-up assignments and meetings with key contributors and partners outside of scheduled training sessions.
Application to the Academy
The OVPRI will use a competitive application process to select faculty best positioned for success given the program structure. We expect to select 4-6 faculty trainees for the Community Cohort for the 2026-27 academic year.
By applying, selected participants agree to commit to attending the in-person workshops, and to dedicating the time and effort necessary to develop a full proposal for NIH submission after the program.
- Application Form: The online form collects basic information in the form’s text boxes. (Note that the form cannot be saved partway through.)
- One-Page Summary or Specific Aims page: If you have a prepared Specific Aims page, you may submit that by attaching it to the online form. For those without a Specific Aims page, please provide an overview of your proposed NIH research project (single-spaced text, Arial, 11-point or larger, and 0.5” margins). Use the following questions extracted from DARPA’s Heilmeier Catechism to help shape your narrative: Note: For those applicants who do not submit a Specific Aims page with their application, they will be expected to share a Specific Aims page at the June 2025 introductory meeting.
- What are you trying to do? Articulate your objectives using absolutely no jargon.
- How is it done today, and what are the limits of current practice?
- What is new in your approach, and why do you think it will be successful?
- Who cares? If you are successful, what difference will it make?
- What are the risks?
- How long will it take?
- CV or Biographical Sketch
- Unit Head Support Form, Signed
Criteria for Participant Selection
- Proposed research mechanism and activities
- Publication record
- Stage of project and proposal readiness
- Diversity of disciplines and career type (TTF vs. career)