While they may sound similar, "Research Support" and "Other Support" serve very different functions within the grant application.
Research Support
Research Support is a section of the biographical sketch and serves to highlight the investigator's scientific accomplishments. This information will be used by reviewers to assess both the individual and team qualifications of those involved in the proposed project.
Research Support is captured in Part D of the biographical sketch. Investigators should list selected ongoing and completed federal and/or non-federal research projects during the last three years. Investigators should first list those projects most relevant to the research proposed in the application, indicating the overall goals of the projects and responsibilities of the key person listed on the biographical sketch. Do not include person months or direct costs.
Information on Other Support beyond the requirements listed above should not be submitted with the application. In the event that this information is included, processing may be delayed, or the application may be returned to the applicant without review.
Other Support
- In contrast, NIH requires Other Support for all applications selected to receive grant awards. NIH requests this document to provide complete and updated information to NIH staff after peer review has been conducted. NIH uses this information to evaluate how key personnel spend their time, whether the proposed plans are viable, and whether research projects overlap in any way. Institute- and center-specific scientific programs and grants management staff review this information prior to awarding. There is no specific form for Other Support, but investigators should follow the instructions listed below:
- List all information for active and pending Other Support for all Key Personnel, excluding consultants
- Other Support includes all active and pending funds from local, state, and federal agencies; private associations; non-federal agencies; foundations; companies; and institutional awards
- Individuals with no active or pending support should indicate "none"; neither the application under consideration or the current PHS award for this project should be listed as Other Support
- Those individuals considered "Other Significant Contributors" should not be included in Other Support, unless their involvement has changed to an extent that they are now considered Key Personnel
- If support is provided under a consortium/subcontract arrangement or is part of a multi-project award, indicate the project number, principal investigator, and source for the overall project
- Elements of Other Support are as follows:
- Project number - include code or identifier for the project, if applicable
- Source - identify the agency, institute, foundation, or other organization providing the support
- Major goals - provide a brief statement of the overall objectives of the project, subproject, or subcontract
- Dates of approved/proposed project - indicate the inclusive dates of the project as approved/proposed; for example, for NIH support provide the dates of the approved/proposed competitive segment
- Annual direct costs - provide the current year's direct cost budget for an active project and proposed direct cost budget for the initial budget period for a pending project
- Person months - provide the level of actual effort in person months, even if unsalaried, for the current budget period of an active project; for a pending project, indicate the level of effort in person months as proposed for the initial budget period
- Overlap - identify and summarize any potential overlap for this application with any active or pending projects for each individual in terms of science, budget, or committed effort