When we help investigators seek research grants, we often need to translate the lingo that funders use. There are a lot of nuances that can be tough to know or remember when you’re not applying for grants every day, and the tendency toward acronyms doesn’t do a lot to aid understanding.

In this vein, a key part of grantsmanship is understanding the different kinds of funding opportunities and how to approach them as an applicant. When you see various listings like NOFO, RFA, PA, PAR, BAA, RFP… it all gets a little confusing.

For example, even among investigators who’ve submitted a few federal grant applications, it’s not uncommon to hear “What on earth is a NOSI?” when we’re discussing opportunities they might pursue. So, today we’re going to talk about the NOSI (pronounced “noh-see”), a specific announcement from the NIH called a Notice of Special Interest. 

The NIH has many different kinds of funding programs, a number of which include opportunities for investigator-initiated research on topic areas of interest to the investigators. Many of these are captured in traditional parent or program announcements (PAs) and notices of funding opportunity (NOFOs*), with which investigators seeking NIH funding are often familiar. [*Note: The NIH previously used the designation funding opportunity announcement, or FOA, but has switched to NOFO to align with other US agencies. These terms are interchangeable.]

Building off of these existing funding programs, NOSIs can present a unique opportunity to “matchmake” an investigator’s research interest with an area of interest for the NIH. NOSIs highlight specific areas where the NIH seeks to support research initiatives that align with their evolving priorities. In this article, I’ll share a general overview of how NOSIs work and some strategies to prepare a grant application responding to a NOSI.

Understand the Difference Between a NOSI and Other NOFOs

The first step is understanding what a NOSI is and how it differs from other NIH announcements. NIH designates NOSIs with the letters NOT (compare to PA/PAR/PAS/RFA; see example below).

Importantly, a NOSI is not a standalone funding mechanism. Instead, it serves as a directive, calling attention to specific scientific areas that are of high interest to the NIH. 

To submit under a NOSI, you must apply to an existing NOFO (e.g., a parent announcement; see example below),

and make sure your application aligns with the goals outlined in the NOSI. Unlike requests for applications (RFAs), NOSIs do not typically involve any specially reserved funds for making awards under a specific purpose; instead, they represent areas of high interest for the participating institutes or centers (ICs) and encourage submissions under those topic areas through existing NOFOs that are commonly supported through congressional budget appropriations.

In practical terms, this means that a NOSI supplements or narrows the focus of an existing funding opportunity. Therefore, you’ll want to review both the NOSI and the relevant NOFO to ensure your work is relevant to ICs participating in both announcements. You also want to be sure to follow the appropriate application preparation and submission instructions: any special instructions or requirements outlined in the NOSI supersede those of the NOFO (see graphic above where instructions are denoted).

Read the NOSI in Detail and Align Your Research Goals

Once you’ve identified a NOSI that aligns with your research, read it multiple times. NOSIs can be brief but packed with critical details about the types of projects the NIH is particularly interested in funding (see example below).

Look out for keywords in the NOSI that indicate the goals and priorities of the issuing IC(s). These keywords will guide you as you craft your specific aims and research objectives.

For example, if a NOSI emphasizes “innovative approaches” to address a specific topic area, you’ll want to highlight how your project represents an innovative advancement. If the NOSI refers to “health disparities” or “underrepresented populations,” you’ll need to ensure that your research proposal directly addresses these themes, not just tangentially, but as a core component of your application.

It’s not enough to simply conduct excellent research. Your proposal must make a strong case for why it aligns with the NIH’s evolving priorities as outlined in the NOSI. Investigators sometimes mistakenly submit projects that fall outside the NOSI’s scope, only to be disappointed when they’re not funded. If the NOSI describes “non-responsive” topics or project types, make sure your work doesn’t fall in this category.

Consult with Program Officers

The NIH program officer (PO) is such an invaluable resource to investigators. They are there to help you navigate the complexities of NIH funding and to clarify whether your research is a good fit for both the parent NOFO and the NOSI. The program officer will often have additional insights into what the institute is hoping to achieve with the NOSI, insights you may not be able to glean from the document itself.

We always advise researchers to reach out to the program officer as soon as they’ve identified a NOSI that appears to be a good fit and have a solid idea of their project. Among the many questions you can ask:

• Does my research align with the goals of this NOSI?
• Are there specific elements of the NOSI that I should emphasize in my application?
• Are there recent funding decisions related to this NOSI that I should be aware of?

If your project idea is far enough along, sharing your aims may provide an opportunity for feedback from the PO to help you better meet the intent of the NOSI or the IC’s mission. If your project could align with more than one IC, it’s ok to talk with POs from each IC before you decide how to move forward.

Customize Your Specific Aims

Your specific aims page is often the first point of contact for your grant application, and you want it to demonstrate a tight fit to the NOSI. NIH program staff will want to see a clear connection between your proposed research and the intent of the NOSI. You should explicitly mention how your project fits into the NOSI and how it addresses the priority areas.

To strengthen your application:

• Incorporate the key language from the NOSI into your specific aims. (You might also list the notice number on the aims page somewhere, for example by stating “This project aligns with NOT-xx-xxx by addressing …”.)
• Demonstrate that you understand the current landscape of research in the area of interest and how your project will advance the field.
• Make it clear how your research contributes to the scientific goals laid out in the NOSI, as well as how it fulfills the mission of the IC or the NIH more broadly.

Tailor the Narrative and Budget to the NOSI

Beyond the specific aims, your full proposal narrative needs to consistently reflect the priorities outlined in the NOSI. From your background and significance sections to your approach and innovation, the alignment with the NOSI should be apparent throughout. This not only strengthens your argument for why your research should be funded but also ensures that reviewers see your project as a strong candidate for the available resources.

Additionally, when preparing your budget, be sure to include items that support the work required under the NOSI. If the NOSI calls for community engagement, allocate funds for participant recruitment, engagement activities, and any required personnel to oversee these efforts. If your project includes significant data collection or requires novel equipment, ensure that your budget is comprehensive and reflects the unique needs of the research proposed under the NOSI. Be sure any other specific instructions within the NOSI are addressed where appropriate.

Be Competitive in a Standing Review Panel

Applications targeted to NOSIs are submitted under existing NOFOs, and are therefore subject to the same requirements and review processes as all applications submitted under that announcement (again, unless the NOSI delineates specific instructions or criteria). Thus, your application will not go to a special panel, but will instead be reviewed in the appropriate study section as other applications submitted under that NOFO. Please note that reviewers might not even read the NOSI.

What does this all mean? Well, in brief, reviewers’ expectations remain the same as for the “regular” applications, and you want your application to be competitive in that landscape. Don’t expect that you’ll receive any special considerations. Be sure to address all of the review criteria and to convince reviewers that you can and should do the proposed work. This outcome is critical to ensure that your application moves forward to council review, where funding decisions are made with consideration toward the priorities outlined in relevant NOSIs.

Applying under an NIH NOSI is a unique opportunity to tailor your research proposal to meet specific NIH priorities. If you still have questions, please let us know.