Shared Instrumentation Grants

NOTICE TO APPLICANTS & GRANTEES: The Shared Instrumentation Grant program continues to operate on its regular schedule. The FY 2014 SIG Program Announcement has been published in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts.

ORIP's Shared Instrumentation Grant (SIG) program supports the purchase of research equipment in the $100,000 to $600,000 price range. Examples of instrumentation supported by SIG funding include nuclear magnetic resonance systems, electron and confocal microscopes, mass spectrometers, protein and DNA sequencers, biosensors, X-ray diffractometers and cell sorters.

• Shared Instrumentation Grant Program (S10)
  (Deadline: March 21, 2013)

From FY 2000 to FY 2011, the SIG program provided 1,503 awards to biomedical research institutions in 45 states and the District of Columbia, totaling $507,711,280.

Awards

• FY 2000 – 2012 SIG Awards
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Instrumentation Awards

Purpose

The SIG program provides a cost-effective mechanism for groups of NIH-supported investigators to obtain commercially-available equipment that costs more than $100,000. Instruments in this price range are typically too expensive to be obtained through a research project grant. The maximum SIG award is $600,000. These grants cover the direct costs of the instruments; the grantee institution must meet costs for maintenance, service contracts, and technical support. Awards are for one year only and are not renewable.

Eligibility Requirements

SIG awards are made to domestic public and non-profit institutions, including health professional schools, graduate institutions, hospitals, health departments and research organizations. To be eligible for a SIG, an institution must identify three or more major users of the technology who are principal investigators on active NIH awards funded through the P01, R01, U01, R35, R37, DP1 or DP2 mechanisms. However, the principal investigator of the SIG itself does not have to be NIH funded.

How to Apply

SIG applications are submitted to NIH electronically through Grants.gov , using the SF 424 Research and Related forms. The application receipt date is once a year, usually in March. Detailed information is available in the most recent SIG program announcement.

Because the SIG program interfaces with other NIH grant programs, potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the SIG program director before submitting a proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to view Frequently Asked Questions.

Forms for Grantees

• SIG Final Progress Report - Instructions
• Standard Form 269A - Financial Status Report (Short Form) - 7/97

Contact Information

For further information, contact:

Abraham Levy, Ph.D.
Director, SIG and High End Programs
Division of Construction and Instruments
Telephone: 301-435-0777
Fax: 301-480-3659
E-mail: LevyAbra@mail.nih.gov

Steve Birken, Ph.D.
Division of Construction and Instruments
Telephone: 301-435-0815
Fax: 301-480-3659
Email: birkens@mail.nih.gov 

Mailing address: 
Office of Research Infrastructure Programs
Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives
Office of the Director
National Institutes of Health
One Democracy Plaza, Room 970
6701 Democracy Boulevard, MSC 4874
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4874 (20817 for express mail)