NIH funding trends show how many grants were awarded and how much money was allocated to a research area over time. A rising project count usually means growing interest from both applicants and review panels, while a flat or declining count may reflect shifting priorities, terminology changes, or consolidation into larger awards.
When you search a keyword on this page, the tool queries NIH RePORTER for all projects matching that term across the years you select. The results are grouped by fiscal year and displayed as line charts (project count), bar charts (total funding), and scatter plots (average award size). Together, these views help you understand whether a field is expanding, contracting, or holding steady.
It is important to compare at least five years of data before drawing conclusions. A single-year spike or dip can reflect reporting delays, one-time initiatives such as ARRA or COVID supplemental funding, or changes in how NIH categorizes projects. The trend interpretation panel above the charts provides an automated summary to help you contextualize the numbers.