NIH U01 Grants — Research Project — Cooperative Agreement
Investigator-led research with NIH staff substantial involvement
Funding
R01-like; varies
Duration
3–5 years
Eligibility
Investigators on NIH-led initiatives
Activity code
U01
What is the NIH U01 grant?
The U01 is a cooperative agreement — similar in scope and funding to an R01, but with substantial involvement from NIH program staff. NIH staff participate in steering committees, scientific decisions, and milestone definitions. U01s are common for clinical trials, network science, and consortia where NIH-driven coordination matters.
Recent U01 awards (last 24 months)
Live data from NIH RePORTER2,569
Awards
$481,104,515
Total funding (sample)
$962,209
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 U01 grants
Marina Caskey · ROCKEFELLER UNIVERSITY, NY · NIH
$1,569,774
FY 2026
Project: 5U01AI169385-05
Kara Chew · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES, CA · NIH
$1,429,199
FY 2026
Project: 5U01AI172800-03
Benjamin Chaffee · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, CA · NIH
$647,819
FY 2026
Project: 5U01DE033953-03
Faraz Bishehsari · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR HOUSTON, TX · NIH
$639,628
FY 2026
Project: 5U01AG086145-03
Lucio Castilla · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER, MA · NIH
$485,790
FY 2026
Project: 5U01CA296350-02
Daniel Bauer · BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, MA · NIH
$1,675,364
FY 2026
Project: 4U01AI191210-02
Milton Brown · OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY, VA · NIH
$548,931
FY 2026
Project: 5U01AI187033-02
Amal Assa'ad · CINCINNATI CHILDRENS HOSP MED CTR, OH · NIH
$380,000
FY 2026
Project: 5U01AI181966-03
Top NIH institutes funding U01
By total funding in the last 24 months
- 1.NIH443 · $450,514,842
- 2.ALLCDC41 · $25,360,836
- 3.FDA16 · $5,228,837
Top funded institutions
Most U01 awards in the last 24 months
- 1.VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER17 awards
- 2.JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY14 awards
- 3.ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI13 awards
- 4.MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL13 awards
- 5.UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO12 awards
- 6.UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH11 awards
Who applies for U01
When to choose U01
When NOT to choose U01
Search tips for U01
- U01 awards anchor NIH consortia like the HEAL Initiative, RECOVER (long COVID), and the Cancer Moonshot.
Search NIH grants by activity code
Find U01-funded PIs
U01 funding trends
U01 frequently asked questions
What is the difference between R01 and U01?
R01 is investigator-initiated with minimal NIH involvement once funded. U01 is a cooperative agreement with substantial NIH program staff involvement (steering committees, milestones).