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NIH Planning Grant (R34)

NEI Clinical Research Study Planning Grant Program

Funds the planning work behind a large vision research study — the protocol and procedures manual, not the study itself.

Before NEI can competitively fund a large randomized trial or epidemiologic study in eye and vision disease, someone has to write the study protocol and Manual of Procedures the review will actually be judged against — and that document is itself costly and slow to produce.

This notice funds that planning stage directly: developing the study protocol and Manual of Procedures, and running prelimin

Planning support for a large-scale clinical vision research study — development of the study protocol and Manual of Procedures, and preliminary work to refine study procedures or document recruitment potential, for either a randomised trial or an epidemiologic study of eye or vision conditions. The grant may not be used to generate data on the effects of the proposed intervention.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Multiple per year
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.7 Jan 2028
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.26 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: PAR-25-358Source: www.grants.gov