NIH Payline
🎓 New to reviewing grants? Start here Quick-Start Guide

Review an Existing Grant

Upload your grant document (PDF or DOCX) or paste the text below. Choose how you want to proceed.

1 Select Grant Type

Required — the reviewer panel depends on the grant type.

1b What are you uploading?

Tells the reviewer which sections to evaluate — missing sections are not penalized.

2 Upload Your Grant Document

Drop your PDF or DOCX here, or click to browse
Supports: .pdf, .docx — Max 100 MB
or paste text directly

Review Extracted Sections — Edit Before Importing

Each field below will be imported into the corresponding module. Edit any field before confirming. Fields marked Not Found were not detected in your document.

Module / FieldExtracted ContentStatus
Import

Import from White Paper or Narrative

Paste or upload any document — white paper, concept paper, prior grant, scientific narrative — and the system will extract and populate all 8 modules automatically. You can then review, edit, and refine each section before compiling.

Paste the full text of your white paper, narrative, or concept paper below. The more content you provide, the better the extraction.
— or upload a file —
Select the grant mechanism you are targeting. This determines which modules and fields are populated.
Module 1

Project Overview

Provide the foundational details of your project. This information populates the Cover Page, Project Summary/Abstract, and Project Narrative.

NIH: Project Summary/Abstract · Project Narrative · Cover Page
SBIR/STTR Phase I Budget cap is $314,363 total costs for 6–24 months. Focus on establishing feasibility and commercial potential. The PI must have >50% employment at the small business (SBIR) or at either the small business or research institution (STTR).
SBIR/STTR Phase II Budget cap is $2,095,748 total costs for 24–36 months. You must have received a Phase I award (or demonstrate equivalent prior work for Direct-to-Phase II). Focus on advancing toward a market-ready product.
SBIR/STTR Fast Track Combines Phase I and Phase II in a single submission reviewed together. Total budget can exceed $2.4M over ~3 years. Requires a fully developed Phase II plan and explicit Go/No-Go milestones at the time of submission.
Maximum 81 characters. Be specific and descriptive — reviewers read this first.
0 / 81
Full name and highest degree(s). For SBIR/STTR, the PI must have primary employment (>50%) at the small business (SBIR) or at either the small business or research institution (STTR).
For SBIR/STTR: primary applicant is the small business. For STTR: also name the partnering research institution.
30-line limit (~250 words). Describe the problem, your approach, and expected impact. Written for a general scientific audience. Do not include proprietary or confidential information.
0 / 2500 chars
2–3 sentences maximum. Explain the relevance of this research to public health in plain language for a lay audience.
0 / 600 chars
Proposed start date, total duration, and total direct costs requested. For Fast Track, use the combined total.
Start Date
Duration
Total Direct Costs
Module 1 of 8
Module 2

Specific Aims

The most critical page of your application (1 page limit). State the problem, your central hypothesis, and the 2–4 aims you will pursue to test it.

NIH: Specific Aims (1-page attachment)
Phase I Focus: Aims should be narrow and feasibility-oriented. Typically 2–3 aims. Reviewers want to see that you can establish proof-of-concept within the Phase I budget and timeline.
Phase II Focus: Aims should build directly on Phase I results. Typically 3–4 aims. Reviewers expect you to reference Phase I milestones that were met and explain how Phase II will advance toward commercialization.
Fast Track Focus: Aims must be organized in two groups — Phase I aims (feasibility) and Phase II aims (development). Clearly indicate which aims belong to each phase. Go/No-Go milestones separating the phases are required (see Module 5).
1–2 sentences. State the gap in knowledge, unmet clinical need, or technical challenge your project addresses. This is the "hook" for reviewers.
0 / 800 chars
1 sentence. What is the overarching scientific or translational goal of your research program (beyond this grant)?
0 / 400 chars
1–2 sentences. State your testable, falsifiable central hypothesis. Describe the preliminary data or rationale that led you to it.
0 / 600 chars
Phase I Aims (Feasibility) — Enter your Phase I aims below. Phase II aims will be entered separately.
Enter each aim with a concise title and a brief description of the rationale and approach. Use the + Add Aim button to add more.
1–2 sentences. What will successful completion of these aims establish, and what is the broader impact?
0 / 600 chars
Module 2 of 8
Module 3

Significance

Explain why the problem is important, what is currently known, and what critical gaps your project will address. For SBIR/STTR, also establish the commercial opportunity.

NIH: Research Strategy – Section 1: Significance
Phase I: Briefly establish the scientific and commercial significance. Reviewers understand this is early-stage; focus on the size of the unmet need and why your approach is promising.
Phase II: Provide a more thorough treatment of significance, including updated literature and market data. Reference how your Phase I results have refined your understanding of the problem.
Fast Track: Significance must support both phases. Establish the scientific rationale for Phase I feasibility work AND the commercial significance that justifies the Phase II investment.
Summarize the current state of knowledge. What is known, and what critical gap does your project address? Cite key literature.
0 / 3000 chars
What specific barriers, limitations, or knowledge gaps prevent progress in this field? Your project must directly address these.
0 / 1200 chars
If your aims are achieved, how will the field be advanced? What new capabilities, knowledge, or tools will result?
0 / 1000 chars
Module 3 of 8
Module 4

Innovation

Explain what is new and different about your approach. NIH reviewers look for conceptual and/or methodological novelty that challenges existing paradigms.

NIH: Research Strategy – Section 2: Innovation
Phase I: Focus on the novelty of the concept and the technical approach. Explain why existing solutions are inadequate and how your approach is fundamentally different.
Phase II: Build on Phase I innovation narrative. Highlight how Phase I results validated your innovative approach and what additional innovations will be introduced in Phase II (e.g., new manufacturing process, novel regulatory strategy).
Fast Track: Address innovation at both the feasibility level (Phase I) and the development/commercialization level (Phase II). Explain how the combined approach is uniquely positioned to reach the market faster than a sequential Phase I → Phase II pathway.
What new concepts, methods, technologies, or applications does this project introduce? Use "This application is innovative because..." as a framing device.
0 / 2000 chars
How does your approach improve upon or differ from current methods, products, or research directions?
0 / 1200 chars
Module 4 of 8
Module 5

Approach & Research Plan

Describe your experimental design, methods, expected outcomes, and how you will handle potential pitfalls.

NIH: Research Strategy – Section 3: Approach (6 pages Phase I; 12 pages Phase II/Fast Track)
Phase I — Research Strategy: 6 page limit. Focus on feasibility experiments. Describe the key experiments that will establish proof-of-concept. Reviewers expect concise, focused plans. Preliminary data is helpful but not required for Phase I.
Phase II — Research Strategy: 12 page limit. Provide a comprehensive experimental plan building on Phase I results. Include detailed methods, power calculations, and a robust timeline. Preliminary data (from Phase I) is required and should be prominently featured.
Fast Track — Research Strategy: 12 page limit (combined). The approach section must clearly delineate Phase I work (feasibility) from Phase II work (development). Go/No-Go milestones are required and will be used by NIH to decide whether to fund Phase II after Phase I completion.
Summarize your key preliminary findings that support the feasibility of your proposed work. For Phase I, even limited preliminary data strengthens your case. For Phase II/Fast Track, Phase I results are required.
0 / 3000 chars
Provide an overview of your research design and the logic connecting your aims. Include a brief description of your model systems, key reagents, or platforms.
0 / 1500 chars
For each aim, describe: (a) rationale, (b) specific experiments/tasks, (c) expected outcomes, and (d) potential pitfalls and alternative approaches.
0 / 6000 chars
Describe the projected timeline for completing each aim. A Gantt-style description is acceptable. For Fast Track, show both Phase I and Phase II timelines.
0 / 1200 chars
NIH requires explicit attention to scientific rigor. Describe your blinding strategy, statistical power, inclusion of both sexes, and steps to ensure reproducibility.
0 / 1000 chars
Module 5 of 8
Module 6

Human Subjects, Ethics & Inclusion

NIH requires detailed information on the protection of human subjects, animal welfare, and the inclusion of diverse populations in research.

NIH: PHS Human Subjects & Clinical Trials · Animal Welfare · Inclusion Policy
Does your research involve human subjects? Select the appropriate category.
If human subjects are involved, describe risks, benefits, consent procedures, and privacy protections.
0 / 1500 chars
NIH policy requires the inclusion of women and minorities. Describe your planned inclusion or justify any exclusions.
0 / 800 chars
If vertebrate animals are used, describe the species, numbers, justification, and procedures to minimize pain and distress.
0 / 1000 chars
Module 6 of 8
Module 7

Team, Biosketches & Resources

Describe the qualifications of your team and the facilities available to carry out the proposed research. Reviewers assess whether you have the expertise and resources to succeed.

NIH: Biographical Sketches (5 pages each) · Facilities & Other Resources · Equipment
Phase I: Reviewers want to see that the PI and team have the expertise to execute feasibility studies. For SBIR, emphasize the PI's entrepreneurial and scientific credentials. A lean team is acceptable for Phase I.
Phase II: A more complete team is expected. Include any new hires, consultants, or CRO/CMO partners needed for scale-up, regulatory work, or clinical studies. Show that the team has grown appropriately since Phase I.
Fast Track: Describe the team for both phases. Identify any team members who will be added for Phase II activities (e.g., regulatory affairs specialist, clinical operations lead). Letters of support from key collaborators strengthen the application.
Summarize the PI's relevant expertise, prior grant funding, and key publications that qualify them to lead this project. For SBIR/STTR, also describe entrepreneurial experience.
0 / 1500 chars
List co-investigators, collaborators, and consultants. Describe each person's role and relevant expertise. For Phase II/Fast Track, include any CRO, CMO, or regulatory affairs partners.
0 / 1500 chars
Describe the laboratory space, core facilities, equipment, and institutional resources available to support the proposed work. For SBIR/STTR, describe the small business's facilities.
0 / 1200 chars
Upload biosketches, the Facilities & Resources statement, letters of support, and any other supporting documents. These are passed directly to the AI review panel.
👥 Upload All Biosketches at Once
Drop all biosketches here in one go — the system will create a labeled slot for each file. Assign each person’s role and edit their name below.
👥 Drop multiple biosketch PDFs/DOCXs here, or click to select all at once
PI Biosketch(es) For multi-PI grants, add one slot per PI
📄 Drop biosketch PDF/DOCX or click to browse
Key Personnel Biosketches Co-investigators, collaborators, key consultants
Facilities & Resources Statement Upload the full Facilities & Other Resources document (PDF or DOCX)
Drop Facilities & Resources PDF/DOCX or click to browse
Letters of Support Collaborator letters, institutional letters, key opinion leader letters
Other Supporting Documents IRB approval, data management plan, equipment list, contracts, etc.
Analyzes your uploaded biosketches against the grant's Specific Aims to produce: a Team Adequacy sign-off, a Key Personnel Gap analysis, and a Biosketch Quality score for each person. Requires at least one PI biosketch and a grant title or Specific Aims.
Module 7 of 8
Module 8

Budget, Data Sharing & Commercialization Plan

Provide a budget justification narrative, your data management and sharing plan, and your commercialization strategy.

NIH: Budget Justification · Data Management & Sharing Plan · SBIR/STTR Commercialization Plan (12 pages, Phase II/Fast Track)
Phase I: Budget cap is $314,363 total costs. A brief commercialization potential section is expected but a full 12-page commercialization plan is NOT required for Phase I. Focus on justifying personnel, supplies, and equipment needed for feasibility experiments.
Phase II: Budget cap is $2,095,748 total costs. A full 12-page Commercialization Plan is REQUIRED. This is a major scored component. Reviewers look for a credible, detailed path to market including regulatory strategy, manufacturing plan, and funding strategy.
Fast Track: Provide separate budget justifications for Phase I and Phase II. A full 12-page Commercialization Plan is REQUIRED. The commercialization plan should address both the near-term (Phase II) and long-term (Phase III / post-NIH) funding and market strategy.
Build your NIH budget from scratch or upload an existing Excel spreadsheet. All calculations (fringe, indirect, fee, MTDC) are automatic. NIH caps and SBIR/STTR ratio compliance are checked in real time.
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NIH requires a Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan for all applications. Describe what data will be generated, how it will be managed, and how/when it will be shared.
0 / 1500 chars
List the key references cited throughout your application. Use a consistent citation format (e.g., Vancouver/NLM style).
0 / 3000 chars
Module 8 of 8
Module 9

Commercialization Plan

Required for Phase II and Fast Track applications. Limited to 12 pages. Reviewers read this section first — before the research plan. A compelling commercialization plan demonstrates that your innovation has a clear, credible path from bench to market.

NIH SF424 R&R SBIR/STTR Application Guide · Sections A–I · 12-page limit
Phase II: The Commercialization Plan is a scored section reviewed by the full study section. It must address all 9 NIH-required areas (A–I). Reviewers expect a realistic, evidence-based path to market. A weak commercialization plan can sink an otherwise strong application.
Fast Track: The Commercialization Plan must address both the near-term Phase II development milestones and the long-term Phase III / post-NIH commercialization strategy. Include separate financial projections for Phase II and post-NIH periods.
AI Commercialization Plan Generator
Uses your project data + real market research to draft all 9 sections in NIH/NCI reviewer-ready language
Or use the button on each section below to generate individually
Provide a clear vision statement for the enterprise. Describe the overall goal, the product/service, the problem it solves, its advantages over competing approaches, commercial applications, non-commercial (societal/public health) impacts, and how this SBIR/STTR project integrates with your overall business plan. Include any history or past data that establishes the problem is real and significant.
0 / 3000 chars
Describe your company's background, core competencies, and commercialization capabilities. Include: founding date, corporate objectives, current size and products/services, history of Federal and non-Federal funding, regulatory experience, and how the company plans to grow from a technology R&D firm to a successful commercial entity. Lead with business expertise (not scientific credentials).
0 / 2000 chars
Define your market size (TAM → SAM → Target Market), identify your primary and secondary customer segments (end users vs. decision-making units), analyze competitors (strengths, weaknesses, market share), and describe your competitive advantage. Include data-supported market size estimates. Avoid overestimating market penetration.
0 / 3000 chars
Summarize how you will protect the IP that enables commercialization. List current patents (granted or pending), describe your IP strategy, and explain how the IP creates a barrier to competitors. If no patents exist, describe your licensing strategy or other barriers (trade secrets, regulatory exclusivity, first-mover advantage).
0 / 1500 chars
Describe your regulatory pathway to market. Specify the FDA submission type (510(k), PMA, De Novo, IND/NDA/BLA, CLIA waiver, etc.) and justify why that pathway applies. Include your timeline to regulatory clearance/approval, any pre-submission meetings planned or completed, and how you will address data compliance and security requirements.
0 / 1500 chars
Describe your financing strategy for commercialization. Identify all sources of Phase III / post-NIH funding (private investors, VC, strategic partners, revenue, other grants). Provide financial milestones and timing. Evidence of investor interest (letters of commitment, LOIs) significantly strengthens this section. Include a brief revenue/cash flow projection.
0 / 2000 chars
Describe how you will manufacture/produce your product at commercial scale (Product), your distribution channels (Place), your communications strategy (Promotion), and your pricing approach (Pricing). Address the 4 P's of marketing. Identify which customer segments to target first and how you will customize your market approach.
0 / 2000 chars
Describe exactly how you plan to generate revenue from the product or service developed under this award. Include your revenue model, projected revenue timeline, and any existing revenue or letters of intent from early customers. Use charts or tables if helpful. Address whether the company is diversified or single-product.
0 / 1500 chars
Use a SWOT framework to identify and address risks. Describe your company's internal Strengths and Weaknesses, and the external Opportunities and Threats. For each risk, provide a specific mitigation strategy. Reviewers want to see that you have thought critically about what could go wrong and have a plan.
Strengths (Internal, Positive)
0 / 600 chars
Weaknesses (Internal, Negative)
0 / 600 chars
Opportunities (External, Positive)
0 / 600 chars
Threats (External, Negative)
0 / 600 chars
Mitigation Strategies
0 / 1000 chars
Module 9 of 9

Compiled NIH Grant Application

NIH Study Section Review Simulation

About This Simulation

This tool simulates an NIH Study Section review using a panel of five reviewers with distinct scientific perspectives. Their independent critiques are synthesized by a simulated Scientific Review Officer (SRO) into a unified Summary Statement.

Each reviewer is assigned a named persona with a defined career background, institutional affiliation, and known evaluation biases. Scoring follows the NIH 1–9 scale (1 = Exceptional, 9 = Poor), calibrated against real NIH payline data. A score of 1–3 is typically fundable; 4–5 is discussed but near the payline; 6–9 is not competitive in most funding cycles.

The Reviewer Tone selector re-runs the full panel with tone-adjusted prompts — scores, language, and emphasis all change. The Scoring System toggle switches between the simplified 2025+ three-factor framework and the legacy five-criteria system.

Disclaimer: This is an AI simulation for educational and preparation purposes only. It does not represent the views of the National Institutes of Health or any federal agency. Scores and critiques are generated by large language models and may not accurately predict actual NIH review outcomes. Always consult your institution's grants office and program officer before submission.
Reviewer Tone:
Scoring System:

Grant Conversion Engine

Transform an existing grant into a different funding mechanism. The system analyzes your grant for translational readiness, then generates a complete first draft of the target mechanism with all required sections.

1

Upload Your Source Grant

Upload the grant you want to convert (R01, R21, R03, or any NIH mechanism). PDF or DOCX accepted.

Drop your grant PDF or DOCX here, or click to browse

PDF, DOCX — up to 20MB

2

Translational Readiness Assessment

The AI analyzes your grant across six dimensions to determine which funding mechanisms are a good fit. Takes about 10 seconds.

3

Select Target Mechanism

Choose the funding mechanism you want to convert to. Fit ratings are based on your TRA results.

4

Provide Conversion Context

A few quick questions to tailor the conversion. The AI uses these to generate the mechanism-specific sections.

Simulating NIH Study Section Review…

0s
Focus Mode
Grants.gov Opportunities
Open funding announcements you can apply to now
Enter a keyword above to search for open opportunities.
NIH Reporter — What Is Funded
Currently funded projects in your topic area (FY2024–2025)
NIH Reporter results will appear here after you search.
NIH Funding Landscape
See what is currently funded in your area. Search above and this panel updates automatically.
Search for a topic above to see the funding landscape.
FOA Scoring Rubric
Select an opportunity from the Opportunities tab, then parse it into a detailed scoring rubric to guide your application.
Select an opportunity first
Select an opportunity from the Opportunities tab, then click “Parse FOA into Rubric” above.
Winning Grant Patterns
AI analysis of funded grants in your topic area — extract the language, framing, and strategies that win funding.
Requires a keyword search above and an AI API key
Search for a topic above, then click “Analyze Winning Grants” to extract success patterns from funded applications.
PubMed Citation Search
Search PubMed and get properly formatted NLM citations ready to paste into your grant.
Enter a search query above to find citable publications.
Study Section Recommender
Rank the best-fit NIH study sections for your grant in priority order — with fit scores, reviewer priorities, and strategic routing advice.
Grant content will be pulled from the Grant Builder automatically. Or enter details below.
Analyzes your grant against 120+ NIH study sections — requires an AI API key
Click “Rank Study Sections” above to get a prioritized list of the best-fit NIH study sections for your grant, with fit scores and strategic routing advice.
Recent Publications Feed
Track the latest publications in your grant topic area — stay current with the field and find papers to cite.
Loads the last 12 months of PubMed publications for your search topic
Search for a topic above, then click “Load Recent Publications” to see the latest papers in your field.

Draft Studio

Bring any draft, white paper, or prior grant. Refine each section into two NIH-compliant versions, choose the best, and compile a submission-ready document.

0 uploaded · 0 generated · 0 selected
Step 1 Import Your Document Upload a white paper, prior grant, concept paper, or any draft. The system reads it and pre-populates all seven section fields below.
Drag & drop your file here, or
PDF, DOCX, or TXT • Max 50 pages
or
Reads your document and fills in all 7 section fields and the project title
Step 2 Project Title Type your title or generate five NIH-compliant alternatives. Maximum 81 characters — NIH enforced.
0 / 81
Active title: (none entered)
Step 3 Refine Each Section Upload or paste your draft for each section. Generate two NIH-compliant versions, edit either inline, and select the one you prefer.
M1
Project Overview
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M2
Specific Aims Page
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M3
Significance
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M4
Innovation
No file loaded
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Statistical & experimental details are used when generating this section.
M5
Approach & Research Plan
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Milestone Compliance: All milestones will be rewritten to NIH SMART format — specific month, numerical threshold, assay/method, go/no-go decision. Language strictly follows NIH SBIR/STTR reviewer expectations. No thresholds will be invented; missing values are flagged as [THRESHOLD NEEDED].
or paste below
P
Preliminary Data & Supporting Evidence
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Researcher-provided only. Upload your actual preliminary data — charts, images, figures, prior results, or supporting documents. The AI will reference this data when generating the Approach section but will never fabricate or invent results. No AI generate button is available for this section.
Accepts: PDF, DOCX, TXT, PNG, JPG, TIFF, GIF — multiple files allowed

No files added yet. Upload charts, images, or documents above.

M6
Human Subjects & Ethics
No file loaded
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M7
Team & Resources
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Runs every section with uploaded or pasted content through the dual-version pipeline simultaneously
Step 4 Compile & Final Coherence Pass

Assembles your chosen versions into a unified grant draft. Runs a final coherence pass to ensure terminology consistency, Aims–Approach alignment, and Innovation–Significance connection. Delivers a clean final document plus an annotation layer showing every change made and why.