NIH standard due dates 2027
NIH due dates 2027 by activity code
NIH runs three receipt cycles a year. Find your activity code, then use the column for the cycle you are targeting. Dates marked "moved" fall on a weekend or federal holiday in 2027 and shift to the next business day.
| Activity code | Cycle I | Cycle II | Cycle III |
|---|---|---|---|
| R01, U01New | Fri, Feb 5 | Mon, Jun 7moved from Jun 5 | Tue, Oct 5 |
| R01, U01Renewal, resubmission, revision | Fri, Mar 5 | Tue, Jul 6moved from Jul 5 | Fri, Nov 5 |
| K seriesNew | Fri, Feb 12 | Mon, Jun 14moved from Jun 12 | Tue, Oct 12 |
| K seriesRenewal, resubmission, revision | Fri, Mar 12 | Mon, Jul 12 | Fri, Nov 12 |
| R03, R21, R33, R21/R33, R34, R36, U34, UH2, UH3New | Tue, Feb 16 | Wed, Jun 16 | Mon, Oct 18moved from Oct 16 |
| R03, R21, R33, R21/R33, R34, R36, U34, UH2, UH3Renewal, resubmission, revision | Tue, Mar 16 | Fri, Jul 16 | Tue, Nov 16 |
| R15 (AREA)All | Thu, Feb 25 | Fri, Jun 25 | Mon, Oct 25 |
| P series, T and D series, R18, U18, R25, C06/UC6, and other listed codesAll | Mon, Jan 25 | Tue, May 25 | Mon, Sep 27moved from Sep 25 |
| F series fellowshipsAll | Thu, Apr 8 | Mon, Aug 9moved from Aug 8 | Wed, Dec 8 |
| R13, U13 conferencesAll | Mon, Apr 12 | Thu, Aug 12 | Mon, Dec 13moved from Dec 12 |
| SBIR/STTR (R41, R42, R43, R44, U43, U44, and others)All | Tue, Sep 7moved from Sep 5 | Tue, Jan 5 | Mon, Apr 5 |
NIH review cycle: from due date to award
After the due date, applications go to peer review, then to an institute's advisory council, before an award can be made. The earliest start date is the first date NIH could fund the project, not a promise; many awards start later.
| Stage | Cycle I | Cycle II | Cycle III |
|---|---|---|---|
| Due dates | Jan 25 to May 7 | May 25 to Sep 7 | Sep 25 to Jan 7 |
| Peer review | Jun to Jul | Oct to Nov | Feb to Mar |
| Advisory council | Aug or Oct | Jan | May |
| Earliest start | Sep or Dec | Apr | Jul |
NIH due date rules to know
- 5:00 PM local time. Applications are due by 5:00 PM in the applicant organization's time zone.
- Weekends and holidays. A due date on a weekend or federal holiday moves to the next business day.
- No separate AIDS dates. NIH ended dedicated AIDS due dates (NOT-OD-26-029); AIDS-related applications use the standard dates.
- The funding opportunity wins. Many notices of funding opportunity set their own dates. Check the NOFO before planning around the standard dates.
- Your internal deadline is earlier. Most sponsored programs offices want the final application several business days before the NIH date.
Planning around NIH deadlines
Work backward from the due date. Budgets, subaward documents, letters, and biosketches take longer than the science to collect, so start them six to eight weeks out. The proposal submission checklist lists everything the application needs, the NIH modular budget calculator sizes the request, and the R01 program page covers eligibility and budget limits. For how a deadline fits into the full award lifecycle, see the grants management guide.
Frequently asked questions
What are the NIH standard due dates?
NIH accepts most applications on three standard cycles a year. New R01 applications are due February 5, June 5, and October 5, with renewals and resubmissions a month later. Other activity codes, such as K, R21, F, and SBIR, have their own dates in each cycle.
What time are NIH applications due?
5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization on the due date.
What happens when an NIH due date falls on a weekend or holiday?
The deadline moves to the next business day. In 2027, for example, the June 5 R01 date falls on a Saturday, so new R01 applications are due Monday, June 7.
Does NIH still have separate AIDS due dates?
No. NIH ended dedicated AIDS application due dates (NOT-OD-26-029), so AIDS-related applications use the standard dates.
How long after the due date is an NIH award made?
The earliest project start is about seven to ten months after the due date, depending on the cycle. NIAID notes that submission to start typically takes 10 to 12 months.
Do funding opportunities always use the standard dates?
No. Many notices of funding opportunity list their own due dates, which override the standard dates. Always check the funding opportunity.
Never miss an NIH deadline
GrantsManager tracks proposal milestones, internal deadlines, and sponsor due dates for every lab, with reminders weeks ahead.
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