International Health Research

While most of NCCIH’s research support goes to U.S. institutions, we do in some instances support work outside of the United States which is in alignment with our strategic plan and research priorities.

Most work in other countries is supported through subcontracts or consortium agreements of U.S. grantees.

Direct funding of research at foreign institutions is possible under a limited set of grant mechanisms or specifically targeted initiatives. Investigators from non-U.S. institutions interested in direct funding of their research by NCCIH should contact the appropriate NCCIH Program Director to discuss eligibility and opportunities.

Eligibility for Direct Funding Initiatives

NCCIH will not consider applications involving interventional clinical trials outside of the United States and Canada.

Foreign institutions are eligible for funding through direct mechanisms (R01, R21, and R03) only when specified in the PA or RFA. In addition, NCCIH encourages foreign researchers to contact the appropriate NCCIH Program Director noted in the PA or RFA, or on the NCCIH website.

Foreign institutions are not eligible to submit grant applications for the following types of grant mechanisms used by NCCIH:

• Institutional Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Awards (NRSAs) (T32 mechanism)
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award Short-Term Research Training (T35 mechanism)
• Program Project Grants (P01 mechanism)
• Center Grants (P30 and P50 mechanisms)
• Resource Grants (P41 mechanisms)
• Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Grants (R41 and R42 mechanisms)
• Conference Grants (R13 mechanism)
• Career Development Awards (all K mechanisms)
• Academic Research Enhancement Awards (R15 mechanism)
• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Grants (R43 and R44 mechanisms)

Consortium Partnership Type Funding Initiatives

Foreign institutions often receive NIH/NCCIH support as foreign components of a grant made to another research institution. In these cases, the funding flows from the grantee institution to the foreign collaborating institution through a subcontract agreement between the two institutions. The subcontract agreement details the respective roles, activities and responsibilities of both institutions, and any conditions or terms for payment of subcontract funds. These arrangements are developed during the grant application process.

Additional Review Criteria and Funding Considerations

All research proposals submitted to NIH undergo the same process of scientific peer review.

In addition, NIH policy requires that specific criterion be considered in the review process and award decision for foreign grant applicants, including whether the project presents special opportunities for furthering research programs through the use of unusual talent, resources, populations or environmental conditions in other countries that are not readily accessible in the United States, or that augment existing U.S. resources, and whether the proposed project has the potential for significantly advancing the health sciences.

Policy requires that all proposed projects must have specific relevance to the mission and objectives of NCCIH and also stipulates that all foreign grant applications be specifically reviewed and recommended for funding by NCCIH’s National Advisory Council.

Clearance by the U.S. Department of State may also be required, and there may be special requirements of the government of the foreign country in which the research will take place.

NIH Fogarty International Opportunities for Foreign Scientists

The Fogarty International Center is dedicated to advancing the mission of NIH by supporting and facilitating global health research conducted by U.S. and international investigators, building partnerships between health research institutions in the United States and abroad, and training the next generation of scientists to address global health needs. Information on specific opportunities can be found at fic.nih.gov.

Contacts

For questions about the research project:

Please contact the Program Director who can discuss the scientific area of your research.

For general inquiries about international health research:

Please contact the NCCIH Division of Extramural Research at NCCIHDERInquiries@mail.nih.gov.