RR Series — Research Grants

NIH R35 Grants — Outstanding Investigator Award

Long, flexible support for productive investigators (one program per lab)

Funding

Varies by IC, typically $600K–$1.5M direct/year

Duration

5–8 years

Eligibility

Established investigators with strong track record (program-specific)

Activity code

R35

What is the NIH R35 grant?

The R35 — Outstanding Investigator Award — provides long-duration, flexible support for the entire research program of an established investigator. R35s are an alternative to holding multiple R01s: you can hold only one R35 at a time, and most participating institutes restrict you from holding overlapping R01s.

Recent R35 awards (last 24 months)

Live data from NIH RePORTER

5,035

Awards

$256,831,155

Total funding (sample)

$513,662

Average award

Sample reflects up to the most recent 500 NIH RePORTER awards with this activity code in the past 24 months. Total project count is the full RePORTER count.

Most recently awarded R35 grants

Translational approaches to unravel organ-specific microvascular endothelial responses in sepsis.

Mihir Atreya · CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR, OH · NIH

$389,997

FY 2026

Project: 5R35GM155165-03

Mechanisms that establish a functional stem cell niche during organogenesis

Lauren Anllo · EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY, NC · NIH

$168,918

FY 2026

Project: 1R35GM162435-01

Sex differences in circadian output signaling

Annika Barber · RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J., NJ · NIH

$392,500

FY 2026

Project: 5R35GM155111-03

How cell maturation is regulated by circadian and metabolic rhythms

Juan Alvarez · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, PA · NIH

$406,250

FY 2026

Project: 5R35GM157320-02

Coordination of DNA Metabolism by Replication Protein A

Edwin Antony · SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY, MO · NIH

$546,612

FY 2026

Project: 5R35GM149320-04

Molecular Mechanisms of Non-muscle Myosin II Contractility

Derek Applewhite · REED COLLEGE, OR · NIH

$430,383

FY 2026

Project: 1R35GM164067-01

Deciphering The Role of RNA Modifications In Maternal Mrna Clearance

Pavla Brachova · OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY, VA · NIH

$440,000

FY 2026

Project: 5R35GM159853-02

Next-generation optical nanoprobes: From quantum biosensing to cellular monitoring

ISHAN BARMAN · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY, MD · NIH

$409,375

FY 2026

Project: 5R35GM149272-04

Top NIH institutes funding R35

By total funding in the last 24 months

  1. 1.NIH500 · $256,831,155

Top funded institutions

Most R35 awards in the last 24 months

  1. 1.PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, THE17 awards
  2. 2.UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA17 awards
  3. 3.UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL14 awards
  4. 4.UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON14 awards
  5. 5.UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR12 awards
  6. 6.UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON12 awards

Who applies for R35

Established investigators with a strong publication record and multiple prior R01s. Eligibility criteria vary by institute (NIGMS MIRA, NCI Outstanding Investigator, NHLBI ESI R35, NINDS R35, etc.).

When to choose R35

Choose R35 when you want flexibility, longer time horizons, and stability over multiple smaller R01s. NIGMS investigators in particular default to R35 (MIRA) for most of the institute's portfolio.

When NOT to choose R35

R35 caps total NIH direct costs and typically restricts other research grants. If you need to hold multiple coordinated R01s on different topics, R35 may not fit.

Search tips for R35

  • NIGMS MIRA awards are R35 — useful for tracking the entire NIGMS portfolio.
  • NCI's Outstanding Investigator Award is R35; NHLBI has both ESI and Established R35s.

Search NIH grants by activity code

Open NIH grant search

Find R35-funded PIs

Open PI Finder

R35 funding trends

Open trend search

R35 frequently asked questions

Can I hold an R01 and an R35 at the same time?

Generally no. Most R35 programs (NIGMS MIRA, NCI OIA, NHLBI R35) restrict overlapping R01 funding from the same institute. Check the specific FOA.

Related NIH grant types

RR01

Research Project Grant

Discrete, specified investigator-led research project

RR37

MERIT Award

R01 with extended funding for top-scoring established investigators