NCCIH Research Blog

If you are a potential applicant for, or you have received, a grant from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), you may be interested in learning more about how NCCIH prioritizes certain types of grants and utilizes its budget allocation to optimize the number and impact of grants. 

NCCIH funds scientific research on complementary and integrative health and for research training and career development of investigators. Our overall research strategy is based on our mission and vision and outlined in the current strategic plan. The draft of the next strategic plan (Fiscal Years [FY] 2021–2025) is online, with the final version to be released soon.

You may find it helpful to know:

• NCCIH awards funding only in response to grant applications sent to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• The Center allocates its annual budget among many programs and mechanisms. Please visit Types of Grants and Active Funding Announcements on the NCCIH website to see whether there are opportunities that interest you. Like other institutes and centers at NIH, NCCIH accepts investigator-initiated applications based on ideas applicants formulate in an area of science within NCCIH’s mission. NCCIH also solicits or encourages applications in response to funding opportunity announcements that are focused on specific areas of research.
• NIH uses a well-honed process for application submission, peer review, and competitive funding. Scientific peer review groups convened by the NIH Center for Scientific Review or NCCIH Office of Scientific Review evaluate the scientific merit of all applications. 
• Applications with the best ratings (by priority score and/or percentile order) are considered for funding, and they receive a second, high-level evaluation by the National Advisory Council for Complementary and Integrative Health. Additional considerations include program relevance and need, NCCIH strategic priorities, availability of funds, and potential for duplication with ongoing research.
• NCCIH gives additional consideration to applications from first-time R01 investigators (“new” and “early-stage” investigators as defined by NIH).

Each year, after Congress passes a budget, NIH institutes and centers post their funding strategies for the fiscal year, which give details on how they fund applications. In the NCCIH Funding Strategy FY 2021, you will find details about topics such as:

• Future year commitments for FY 2021 new and competing renewal awards.
• Duration of NCCIH’s grants.
• New and early-stage investigators.
• Continuation awards (Type 5 Noncompeting Renewal).
• Individual predoctoral or postdoctoral fellowship awards via the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards.

NCCIH has a wide range of exciting current and upcoming funding opportunities. To find out about upcoming initiatives, researchers may want to read about concepts approved by the NCCIH advisory council and check this blog for updates. This year, I am planning more blog posts to help grantees and potential applicants; please comment below if you have suggestions for topics. Subscribe to the NCCIH Research Blog if you’d like to receive emails on new posts.