NIBIB provides support for investigator-initiated conference and scientific meetings that fall within its research focus in Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering. A scientific meeting is defined as a gathering, symposium, seminar, conference, workshop, or any other organized, formal meeting to coordinate, exchange, and disseminate information or to explore or clarify a defined subject, problem, or area of knowledge. Follow the link below to see the complete Program Announcement.

PA-21-151
Released: February 10, 2021
Receipt Dates: April 12, August 12, and December 12
R13/U13 Advanced Permission: Click to go to the R13 Acceptance Request Form

NIH Frequently Asked Questions about R13 Conference Grants

*THE NIBIB WILL ACCEPT MULTI-YEAR APPLICATIONS STARTING WITH THE DEC. 12, 2017, APPLICATION DUE DATE. Multi-year applications will be accepted only for conferences that have received at least 2 years of NIBIB funding in the past 5 years. Please read the finding policy below for details.

NOT-OD-22-074: Plans to Promote Safe Environments at Conferences Supported by NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements

NOT-OD-21-053: Updated Guidelines for Enhancing Diversity and Creating Safe Environments in Conferences Supported by NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements

Submission Guidelines

The NIBIB is interested in supporting conferences and scientific meetings relevant to our research program areas . However, investigators must receive advance permission from the NIBIB in order to submit an R13/U13 application, as the NIH requires a letter of acceptance from NIH staff. Thus, investigators should submit the R13/U13 Acceptance Request Form to the NIBIB well in advance of the application receipt date. Please refer to the table below for deadlines for requesting pre-approval from NIBIB for each grant cycle. The selected dates ensure an appropriate amount of time to evaluate the “R13/U13 Acceptance Request Forms” submitted by investigators and to ensure all approved awards are made before the conference start date. Please note these are hard deadlines. Applicants with continuous submission privileges are allowed a two-week extension on only the application deadline but must adhere to the acceptance request deadlines outlined below.

Prospective applicants should submit the R13/U13 Acceptance Request Form to Khalil Chughtai for advance permission to submit a R13/U13 application. When filling out the form, please be as detailed as possible so that the NIBIB Program staff may better assess the relevance of the conference to the scientific mission of the NIBIB.

Please note that agreement to accept an application does not guarantee funding.

Funding Policy

Domestic organizations eligible to receive NIH grants, including scientific or professional societies, are eligible to apply for conference grants. Both domestic and international meetings may be supported; however, an international meeting can be supported only through the U.S. representative organization of an established international scientific or professional society.

In general, national meetings that significantly impact the state of a field are preferred over regional ones. In addition, priority will be given to applications that emphasize and encourage the attendance and participation of students, trainees, early stage investigators, and members of underrepresented groups. Applicants are discouraged from using NIBIB funds for honorariums or travel/registration support for plenary speakers or established investigators. In addition, NIBIB funds may not be used for any form of “entertainment” (i.e. coffee breaks, meals, etc.).

The NIBIB will consider funding up to $10,000 in direct costs on applications with primary assignment to the NIBIB. For applications with a secondary assignment to the NIBIB, we will consider funding up to $3,000 in direct costs. The NIBIB will accept multi-year applications requesting up to 3 years of funding only if the conference has received at least 2 years of prior funding from the NIBIB in the last 5 years. Conferences that occur every other year may request support for up to two meetings within the three-year period. Depending on the information provided on the activities, attendance statistics, and how NIBIB funds were used in the previously supported years, NIBIB will consider accepting the application as a single- or multi-year application.

The R13 Conference Grant mechanism is suitable for meetings where the organizers have clear goals and direction. In cases where direct oversight by the NIBIB Program Staff is needed in organizing the meeting, the U13 Conference Cooperative Agreement mechanism is employed. The support level for both mechanisms is the same.

Acknowledgement/Disclaimer of NIH support

For all R13, U13, and other NIBIB awards that support scientific meetings, conferences, and workshops, the grantee must acknowledge NIBIB grant support and display the official NIBIB logo on any conference materials and website(s). The grantee must also provide a disclaimer that NIBIB does not endorse the scientific opinions expressed or statements made.

Contact

Khalil Chughtai
Scientific Program Analyst
Division Of Interdisciplinary Training
National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
Email: khalil.chughtai@nih.gov