Advice on Proposal Timing from NIH

As part of its New Investigator Series, NIAID has released an overview of the ideal planning process for a grant application. It provides an excellent timeline for new investigators to use in planning and preparing an application. Though the information provided is geared toward NIAID proposals, its message is important for all new investigators. In this article, NIAID suggests that you allow 12-21 months to complete your first grant proposal. It may seem like a very long time, and some new investigators can put together excellent applications in a much shorter amount of time. However, this timeline takes into account the planning process and time for review and comments by individuals who are more experienced in your particular field. This type of "pre-review" can be quite useful. Consider using the NIAID timeline in planning your proposal. You may find that it pays off!