Preparing a Grant

Grant Due Dates

To ensure sufficient time to prepare and submit a grant, it is important to note the grant due date when you begin to prepare an application. If you will be submitting to the NIH, consult the Standard NIH Due Dates website to determine when your application will be due to the agency.

Next, note that the Mailman School requires a draft of your grant to be submitted to the Mailman School Sponsored Projects office by your Department Administrator/ Budget Officer 10 business days prior to the application due date. Columbia Univeristy policy states that an application must be submitted to Sponsored Projects for submission 5 business days prior to the application due date. Keep these dates in mind when developing a grant preparation and submission timeline.

Resources and Regulations

The Office of Research Administration has prepared a list of Sponsored Projects Application Resources. Before starting an application, review the Mailman School Pre-Award Application Checklist, the Mailman School Application Pre-Submission Document, and the list of University Compliance Forms.

Grant-Related Checklists and “Cheat Sheets”

The following documents, prepared by the Mailman Research Resources Office (R2), are designed to help researchers prepare and submit grants at the Mailman School:

Page limits for NIH Grants

Please visit the Table of Page Limits for NIH Forms. Review this table carefully as you prepare your grant application, as page limits and application formats have changed.

Attention Individual Career Development (K) Award Applicants: Changes include a 6 page limit for "Statements by Mentors, Co-Mentors, Consultants and Contributors."

Note that Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) instructions supersede standard page limits.

Sample Grants from NIH

NEW! NIAID has compiled a list of succcessfully grants written in the new, shortened NIH format. View these sample applications.

The R2 office is in the process of compiling a collection of sample grants funded in the new NIH format. If you are a Mailman School investigator who has a grant that has been funded in the new format that you would like to share, please contact us.

Preparing a Budget

The R2 Office recommends using the R2 Budget Preparation Form to prepare the budget that you must submit internally with your grant. If you would like additional guidance on how to use this spreadsheet, please contact the R2 Office.

Please NOTE the changes to DHHS salary caps for 2012, more details available in this notice from Columbia Univerisity's Sponsored Projects Association.

Preparing an Abstract and Specific Aims

Please visit our Training Programs, Informational Sessions, and Workshops page to see material from our Specific Aims Development Panel.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has compiled a page of Examples of Outstanding Titles and Abstracts From New NIAID Investigators.

Other Grant Preparation Information

NIH Changes for Grants Due on or After January 25, 2010

Changes were made to NIH and other PHS agency grant applications due to due on or after January 25, 2010. It is important to ensure that your grants are prepared using the proper format and updated forms. To learn more, visit the official NIH application changes page. Also visit our Training Programs and Information Sessions page to download the slides and handouts from our NIH Changes session, held in December 2009.

Learn more about these important grant application changes.

Faculty & Staff