The University of Toledo Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
NIH R21 Cheat Sheet
Updated September 2021
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5. Check your announcement to see if single or multiple Principal Investigators (PIs) are allowed. For
applications designating multiple PDs/PIs, a Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan must be included.
For more information about Multiple PD/PIs, please go to
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/multi_pi/faq.htm.
6. Purpose and scope: The R21 is intended to encourage exploratory/developmental research by
providing support for the early and conceptual stages of project development. Through this
program, the NIH seeks to foster the introduction of novel scientific ideas, model systems, tools,
agents, targets, and technologies that have the potential to substantially advance biomedical,
behavioral, and clinical research. This includes:
• Exploratory, novel studies that break new ground or extend previous discoveries toward new
directions or applications.
• High-risk, high-reward studies that may lead to a breakthrough in a particular area, or result
in novel techniques, agents, methodologies, models, or applications that will impact
biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.
Projects should be distinct from those supported through the traditional R01 code. Long-term
projects, or projects designed to increase knowledge in a well-established area, are not appropriate for
this FOA.
7. Budget Information: You may request a project period of up to 2 years. The combined budget for
direct costs for the two-year project period may not exceed $275,000. No more than $200,000 may
be requested in any single year. Individual FOAs may require additional budget information.
Review the Application and Submission Information section of the FOA for detailed
instructions.
8. Title: Limited to 200 characters (includes spaces and punctuation marks).
9. Project Summary (Abstract):
• No longer than 30 lines of text.
• Succinct and accurate description of the proposed work, able to stand on its own (separate
from the application). Should be informative to other persons working in the same or related
fields and understandable to a scientifically literate reader. Avoid both descriptions of past
accomplishments and the use of the first person.
• State the application's broad, long-term objectives and specific aims, making reference to the
health relatedness of the project (i.e., relevance to the mission of the agency). Describe the
research design and methods for achieving the stated goals. Be sure that the project
summary reflects the key focus of the proposed project so that the application can be
appropriately categorized. Do not include proprietary, confidential information or trade