**Steps to Find Opportunities in the *NIH Guide* and Download
Application Package**

![](media/image1.png){width="7.0in" height="0.1in"}

**Note**: In order to view application packages and instructions, you
will need to download and install the [PureEdge
Viewer](http://www.grants.gov/DownloadViewer) on your machine. Please
make sure PureEdge is installed on your local machine before proceeding.

**\
**

1.  The **NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts** (often referred to as the
    *NIH Guide*) is the official publication for NIH medical and
    behavioral research grant policies, guidelines and funding
    opportunities. NIH will simultaneously post Funding Opportunity
    Announcements (FOAs) in the *NIH Guide* and in Grants.gov Find. The
    *NIH Guide* can be found off of the [Office of Extramural Research
    (OER) home page](http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm) or directly
    at <http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html>.

2.  Once in the *NIH Guide*, you will see a search screen. You can enter
    search criteria directly on this screen or choose one of the other
    targeted search options. The Advanced Search feature provides the
    most flexibility in your search. For illustrative purposes, choose
    **Advanced Search**.\
    \
    ![](media/image2.png){width="5.875in" height="3.1173611111111112in"}

3.  The Advanced Search feature provides many options to narrow your
    search. Enter your search criteria and click on the Search button.

> **Example 1: All grant applications must be submitted in response to
> an FOA. "Investigator-initiated" applications will now be submitted,
> via Grants.gov, to parent announcements that are mechanism (e.g. R01,
> R21, R44, etc.) specific. NIH will include the word "Parent" in the
> title of all FOAs that target investigator-initiated applications. If
> you are looking for an opportunity that allows investigator-initiated
> applications for the NIH Small Grants Program (R03), your search
> criteria may be *Activity Code (Types of Grants) = R03* and *Title
> Text Includes = Parent*.**
>
> ![](media/image3.png){width="5.845138888888889in"
> height="3.567361111111111in"}
>
> ![](media/image4.png){width="5.845138888888889in"
> height="3.3756944444444446in"}

**Example 2: If you are looking for all Small Business Innovation
Research (R43) opportunities, your search criteria may be *Activity Code
(Types of Grants) = R43*.**

> ![](media/image5.png){width="5.845138888888889in"
> height="3.3833333333333333in"}

4.  Identify an FOA of interest and click on the FOA number to open the
    announcement.

![](media/image6.png){width="5.875in" height="3.9895833333333335in"}

5.  Carefully read the announcement. Application packages are
    opportunity-specific (i.e., you cannot use an application completed
    for one opportunity to apply for another), so be sure you have
    chosen the correct FOA before you download and complete the
    application package. A button added to the *NIH Guide* announcements
    allows applicants to access the Grants.gov application package
    directly from the *NIH Guide*. Find and click on the Apply for Grant
    Electronically button contained in the FOA.

![](media/image7.png){width="5.875in" height="2.0256944444444445in"}

6.  Click on *download* under the Instructions and Applications header
    to access the Grants.gov Download Opportunity and Applications page
    for that FOA.

![](media/image8.png){width="5.875in" height="4.7125in"}

7.  The Grants.gov Download Opportunity Instructions and Applications
    page provides an option to sign-up to receive notifications of
    changes to the application package. The page also includes the links
    that allow you to download both the Application Instructions and the
    actual Application Package. Click on the links and your ready to
    start preparing your application.

![](media/image9.png){width="5.875in" height="5.0in"}