Program Guidance to Potential Applicants for NHGRI Support

Letters of Intent (LOIs)

NHGRI requests Letters of Intent in all its RFAs and PARs. This section describes what is included in LOIs and what additional information is important for program staff to provide guidance to potential applicants.

NIH-requested information in LOIs

According to NIH policy, LOIs are not required, are not binding, and do not enter into the review of a subsequent application. The information requested in an LOI includes:

• Descriptive title of proposed activity
• Name, address, and telephone number of the PD/PI
• Names of other key personnel
• Participating institution
• Number and title of this funding opportunity
   

This information is useful to the scientific review staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

Helpful information for NHGRI staff providing guidance to potential applicants

The information requested above in the LOI does not provide NHGRI staff with sufficient information about the scientific focus of potential applications. Thus, to have a meaningful discussion about proposed applications, potential applicants are encouraged to provide staff with a one to two-page document with thisinformation:

• Goals or specific aims
• Summary of the project significance, innovation, and generalizability
• Summary of the approaches to be used
• Estimated direct and total costs for each year being requested.
   

This information is not mandatory, but it will allow staff to evaluate the responsiveness of the proposed research to the FOA and whether the research aligns with NHGRI priorities. It also allows program staff to give feedback that may allow applicants to make the proposed research better fit the FOA and NHGRI priorities.

Additional information for some NHGRI RFAs and PARs

The NHGRI initiatives listed below are unique in their program requirements and their relevance to NHGRI’s research mission. Program staff find that, in addition to the information requested above, the following information is useful for providing guidance on these initiatives:

• For U24 Genomic Resource applications, explain whether this work would be a one-time award or whether the resource would require any renewal applications.
• For R35 Genomic Innovator applications, include a brief description of participation in “team-science” efforts.
• For RM1 CEGS applications, explain how the approach to be developed is highly innovative or transformative for genomic research.
   

The NIH-requested information for LOIs and the NHGRI-suggested additional information should be included in one e-mail to the program staff contact listed in the FOA.

The Center for Scientific Review staff will evaluate RFA applications for completeness and compliance with application instructions, and NHGRI staff will evaluate their responsiveness. Applications that are incomplete, non-compliant, or nonresponsive will not be reviewed.

Applications Requesting More than $500K in Direct Costs in Any Year

Applicants planning to submit applications that request more than $500K direct costs in any year MUST get approval from NHGRI. The request should be sent to a program director at least eight weeks prior to the anticipated submission date. Note that this eight-week approval timeframe for applications assigned to NHGRI exceeds the timeframe described in NOT-OD-02-004, but we’ve found it better serves the applicants’ needs. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to consult NOT-HG-22-033 for additional information.

The e-mail requesting approval should include:

• Name of PI
• Title of Project
• Name of Institution
• Anticipated submission date
• One to two pages about the proposed project, including:
  • Goals and specific aims
  • Summary of the project’s significance, innovation, and generalizability
  • Summary of the approaches to be used
  • Estimated direct and total costs for each year being requested.
  • For renewal applications, budgets of no more than 10% above the previously awarded budget (or a yearly average if the final year was awarded at significantly lower cost) are expected. In rare and extraordinary cases, a request to exceed this 10% cap may be considered but will require a compelling justification any request for an increase, however, must be strongly justified.
• Other support pages for the PI (or Multiple PIs, as applicable)

If approved, the document acknowledging that NHGRI will accept this application should be submitted in a cover letter along with the application.

The only exceptions to this policy are RFAs or PARs that specifically allow budgets more than $500K direct costs per year.