Do I need to write a cover letter for my grant application?

In 2016, NIH added a new PHS Assignment Request Form.  Previously, applicants would add a cover letter to request assignment to a particular study section or institute, ask to exclude a reviewer, or request reviewers with particular expertise.  The form streamlines this process and eliminates the need to write a cover letter.  A sample version of the form is located here.  You can also visit this link for more information and instructions.

There are times when a cover letter is required.  This includes:

• Applications that require prior approval to submit, such as grants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year, conference grants (e.g. R13), and investigator-initiated clinical trial planning and implementation awards
• Applications that will generate large-scale genomic data or that plan to access data in the NIH genome-wide association study (GWAS) data repository
• Corrected applications submitted after the deadline.  This will also require an explanation of why your application is late.
• Indicating you are an NIH study section member who is eligible for continuous submission
• Explaining that you will send video files  

This helpful site provides more details and instructions.