This Policy is effective for applications submitted to the September 25, 2025 receipt date and beyond. How are applications counted going forward?
A PI/PD’s application limit will be counted based on the calendar year of the Advisory Council date when the application is scheduled to be reviewed. The January 2026 Advisory Council in calendar year 2026 is the first to follow the new Policy and corresponds with scientific review dates in October to November 2025 (Cycle II). For 2027, the application limit resets for applications scheduled to be reviewed at the Advisory Council in January 2027, which corresponds with applications submitted for the May 25, 2026, receipt date or later dates and scientific review dates in October to November 2026.
Applications submitted to receipt dates before the September 25, 2025, receipt date will not be counted towards a PI/PD’s limit for calendar year 2026 and will not be withdrawn if they exceed a PI/MPI’s limit of 6 applications in a calendar year. Applications submitted to the September 25, 2025 receipt date and later dates will be counted towards a PI/PD’s limit for calendar year 2026.
For more information on dates for review cycles, including scientific merit review and Advisory Council dates, see: https://grants.nih.gov/grants-process/submit/submission-policies/standard-due-dates
Which investigator roles are subject to the limit of six applications per calendar year?
Only applications where the investigator is listed as a PI/PD or MPI count toward the investigator’s yearly limit. As indicated in FAQs, for an MPI application, all PI/PDs have equal responsibility and accountability for leading and directing the project. As such, each designated PI in an MPI application has the application count toward their yearly limit.
NIH does not limit the number of applications NIH will accept when an investigator is listed under other roles (e.g., co-investigator, mentor, subaward PIs, or other key/ senior personnel).
What kind of applications are subject to the limit of six applications per calendar year?
Any of the following applications count towards an PI/PD’s or MPI’s limit of six applications: new, renewal, resubmission, or revision submissions. Administrative supplements, non-competing renewals, Type 4 applications, and Type 7 applications are not counted toward the maximum. The Policy applies to all activity codes except T activity codes, Loan Repayment Programs, X01 Applications that are not Council reviewed, R25s, and R13 Conference Grant Applications. Applications that are withdrawn after peer review count toward the maximum.
When in the application process is an application counted towards an investigator’s maximum?
An application is counted after passing administrative review prior to peer review.