NIH Support of International Research: Navigating NIH Public Resources

Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health

NIH remains committed to funding strong international collaborations when conducted in a secure, justifiable, and responsible way that ensures benefits for the American people.

Effective May 1, 2025, NIH updated its policy on foreign subawards. NIH created and implemented the NIH Collaborative International Research Project Award, a dedicated award application and structure for research grants (PF5) and cooperative agreements (UF5) involving NIH-funded international collaborations. As part of this change, NIH prohibits foreign subawards from being nested under the parent grant. Under this new structure, NIH establishes direct legal and financial relationships with the U.S. prime recipient and the collaborating foreign organizations. This enhances transparency, financial oversight of U.S. taxpayer dollars, and compliance, in alignment with the NIH Director’s fundamental principles, which emphasize all NIH-supported international research should have:

1. A clear scientific rationale to be conducted abroad rather than in the U.S., and
2. The direct potential to generate knowledge to improve or protect the health of Americans.

The PF5/UF5 application needs to be submitted by a U.S. institution and include at least one proposed funded international subproject (replaces foreign subawards). The PF5/UF5 uses a multi-project application. Additional resources are expected soon.

Select NIH Guide Notices and NIH Extramural Nexus (News) resources in addition to the PF5 parent announcement:

• NOT-OD-26-084 Reminder – Definition of Foreign Components
  • Foreign Component Case Studies
  • Acknowledging Foreign Components throughout NIH Application and Award Processes
• New Video Overview for NIH’s Collaborative International Research Projects (PF5)
• What Are the Components of a Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) Application and What Should Be Included?
• NOT-OD-25-155 New Application Structure for NIH-Funded International Collaborations
  • Announcing New Application and Award Structure for NIH-Funded International Collaborations (Replacing Foreign Subawards)
• NOT-OD-25-130 Updated Implementation Guidance of NIH Policy on Foreign Subawards for Active Projects
  • Short-Term Supplement Model for Human Subjects Research Supported by Foreign Subawards
• NOT-OD-25-104 Updated NIH Policy on Foreign Subawards
  • New NIH Foreign Subaward Structure Enhances Integrity, Accountability, Oversight, and National Security of NIH Funded Research
• NOT-OD-25-098 Reminder: Application Requirements for Projects Involving Activities Outside of the United States or Partnerships with International Collaborators.
• Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) Activity Code and Linked International Research Project (RF2) Activity Code + UF5: Cooperative Agreement Equivalent and Linked International Cooperative Agreement (UL2)
  
• Foreign Subaward Policy FAQs

Other NIH Extramural Nexus (News) that may be of interest:

• Streamlined Way to Learn About NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices: Profile Pages
• Stay Informed About NIH Grants Policy and Processes
• Implementing a Unified NIH Funding Strategy to Guide Consistent and Clearer Award Decisions

NIH funds international research with scientific and technical justification via:

• Direct foreign awards or direct foreign awards with U.S. subawards. Check the funding opportunity for eligibility.
• U.S. prime awards with foreign subprojects (PF5/RF2 or UF5/UL2). If chosen for funding, foreign subprojects will be converted into independent foreign awards.

Funding opportunities allowing foreign components may continue to accept applications with unfunded international collaborations (e.g., U.S.-Ireland R&D Partnership Program) or foreign components other than those previously supported by subawards or consortia agreements (e.g., foreign consultants, international travel) may continue to be supported through other activity codes unless otherwise indicated in the NOFO.

Updated June 30, 2026