NIGMS released a Notice announcing new guidelines for funding investigators with substantial unrestricted research support. These guidelines—which will go into effect for research grants submitted on or after January 2, 2016—define the parameters for awarding NIGMS research grants (e.g., R01s and other RPGs) to investigators with substantial levels of unrestricted research funding (at least $400,000 of unrestricted support for direct costs excluding salary and shared resources to support overall research programs rather than individual projects). NIGMS details the implementation of these guidelines on its website. Some key highlights include:

• An “unrestricted” investigator with no other significant research support may be awarded one new or renewal NIGMS project-based grant (R01 or R35).
• Only in rare, well-justified situations will an “unrestricted” investigator with significant research support (NIH or other grant) will not be awarded a new NIGMS research grant.
• NIGMS-funded investigators with two or more NIGMS research grants who become “unrestricted” investigators will be expected to renew no more than one of the NIGMS grants.
• Participation in a program project (P01), center (P41, P50, U54), or multi-PI R01 will usually be counted as an “unrestricted” investigator’s research support.
• Training grants, support for educational and diversity enhancing programs, resource grants, conference grants, SBIR/STTR and clinical trial grants will not be counted as grants per these guidelines.
• Investigators for whom the “unrestricted” support is being phased out within 2 years of the funding date will be considered as not having “unrestricted” support.