Award Supplements

A supplement is a process by which funds are added to an existing grant or cooperative agreement. NIMH supports several supplement programs, including Revision Applications and Administrative Supplement. The distinctions between these two types of supplements are described below.

More detailed NIMH-specific information on each supplement program, as well as the eligibility criteria and application procedures using the resources below. Applicants are encouraged to read the information provided on these linked web pages as well as the information provided in the associated notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).

In addition, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Program Officer assigned to their grant with questions related to developing a supplement application.

On this page:

• Revision applications (formerly competitive supplements)
• Administrative supplements
• Supplements to enable continuity of research experiences of M.D./Ph.Ds. during clinical training
• Research supplements to promote diversity in health-related research
• Research supplements to promote re-entry into biomedical and behavioral research careers

Revision applications (formerly competitive supplements)

This is a request for an increase in support in a current budget period for expansion of the project’s approved scope or research protocol. The request may specify budgetary changes required for the remainder of the project period as well as for the current budget period. Revision applications are submitted using the forms, instructions, and guidelines detailed in the parent grant’s originating notice of funding opportunity . Should the parent grant’s notice be expired, applicants are encouraged to apply via the guidelines for the appropriate omnibus announcement .

Administrative supplements

An administrative supplement is a request to provide additional funds to a grant or cooperative agreement to pay for necessary items or activities that fall within the scope of that award but were unanticipated at the time that the new or competing continuation application was submitted. (See the NIH Grants Policy Statement section on Change in Scope , for more information) NIMH provides such supplements for a current budget period and future years, if necessary. An administrative supplement request is subject to an internal review and does not require peer review.

The award of an administrative supplement depends on several factors, including alignment with institute expectations/priorities, documented need, and availability of funds from NIMH's allocation for supplements. NIMH awards administrative supplements under a limited number of defined circumstances, on a case-by-case basis. Documented justification and the approval of the Program Officer and other designated NIMH staff are required.

As of July 25, 2020, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) requires recipients to submit all administrative supplement applications electronically, for both single and multi-project awards. Please follow the instructions provided in Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements  (Parent Admin Supp). 

Supplements to enable continuity of research experiences of M.D./Ph.Ds. during clinical training

The purpose of the NIMH Administrative Supplement Program to Enable Continuity of Research Experiences of M.D./Ph.Ds. during Clinical Training  (NOT-MH-22-060) is to support advanced research training of exceptional individuals holding the M.D./Ph.D. degree early in their research careers so that they may move more efficiently and effectively from the period of clinical training to the next stage of their research careers. This program will provide opportunities for such individuals to continue to conduct research and to enhance their research skill set while completing clinical training (i.e., during the years of residency and clinical fellowship training).

Administrative supplements must be submitted electronically. Please follow the instructions provided in NOT-MH-22-060. 

Research supplements to promote diversity in health-related research

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NIMH recognize a unique and compelling need to promote diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, clinical, and social sciences research workforce. Learn more about application and review procedures for diversity and re-entry research supplements.

NIH and NIMH expect efforts to diversify the workforce to:

• lead to the recruitment of the most talented researchers from all groups
• improve the quality of the educational and training environment
• balance and broaden the perspective in setting research priorities
• improve the ability to recruit subjects from diverse backgrounds into clinical research protocols
• improve the Nation's capacity to address and eliminate health disparities.

This supplement program allows an opportunity for principal investigators (PIs) with specific types of active NIMH research grants to apply for an administrative supplement to support and recruit individuals at various career levels who come from groups shown to be underrepresented in science.

Administrative Supplements must be submitted electronically. Please follow the instructions provided in Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research  (Admin Supp – Clinical Trial Not Allowed; PA-20-222).

Research supplements to promote re-entry into biomedical and behavioral research careers

This program allows PIs with active NIMH research grants to apply for administrative supplements to support individuals with high potential to re-enter an active research career after a qualifying interruption for family or other reasons. The NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health , which initiated this program, can provide co-funding.

The NIMH-funded supplements encourage such individuals to re-enter NIMH mission-relevant research careers. This program will provide administrative supplements to existing NIMH research grants for the purpose of supporting full-time or part-time research by these individuals in a program geared to bring their existing research skills and knowledge up to date. At the completion of the supplement, it is anticipated that the re-entry scientist will be able to apply for a career development (K) award, a research award (R), or some other form of independent research support.

Administrative supplements must be submitted electronically. Please follow the instructions provided in Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers . 

Learn more about application and review procedures for diversity and re-entry research supplements.