Review the funding opportunity carefully before beginning. PHA research grant applications are managed through ProposalCentral. All PHA research grant opportunities will include a Letter of Intent (LOI) stage. Applicants should use the individual award page and ProposalCentral opportunity record for the current cycle timeline and requirements.

• Confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements for the specific award.
• Review the award amount, project period, and allowable cost requirements.
• Confirm the LOI and full-application deadlines for the current cycle.
• Create or update your ProposalCentral profile, including your institutional affiliation and contact information.

First-time ProposalCentral users must register for an account and complete their professional profile before applying. Returning users should confirm that their profile and institution information are current. Funding opportunities are accessed from the Grant Opportunities area after login.

• Locate the applicable PHA research grant opportunity.
• Select Apply Now to begin the application or LOI.
• Save your work before leaving the application.
• If another registered user needs access, use the application permissions function and assign only the level of access needed.

Unless the specific funding opportunity states otherwise, PHA grant materials should use Times New Roman 12-point or Arial 11-point font with margins of at least 0.5 inch on all sides. Applicants must follow any award-specific page limits and template instructions.

ProposalCentral displays the sections and attachments required for the selected funding opportunity. Common sections across PHA applications may include:

• Title page and project information
• Applicant information and professional profile
• Institution and contacts
• Biographical sketches for the applicant and key personnel
• General-audience and/or scientific project summaries
• Research plan or other scientific narrative
• Budget and budget justification
• Resources, facilities, or other support information, when required
• Organizational assurances and institutional documentation, when applicable
• Letters of support, reference letters, or institutional commitment, when required
• Electronic signatures
• Validation and final submission

Download and use the templates provided within the specific ProposalCentral opportunity when required. Upload documents in the requested format and verify that each file meets the applicable page limit. Requirements can differ by award, so applicants should not rely on documents from a previous PHA application cycle.

Some applications require information, signatures, letters, or other materials from institutional officials, mentors, referees, or collaborators. Begin these requests early enough for all required materials to be completed before the deadline. The specific opportunity will identify which third-party materials are required.

After completing all required sections, use the Validate function in ProposalCentral. Resolve all identified omissions or errors, then validate again. Validation is a required quality check, but it is not the same as submitting the application.

After successful validation and completion of required signatures, select Submit. PHA does not receive an application until the submission step is completed. ProposalCentral sends an automated confirmation email after successful submission. Applicants should retain that confirmation and verify the application status in ProposalCentral.

• First-time users: create a ProposalCentral account and complete your professional profile.
• Returning users: log in and confirm that your contact and institution information are current.
• After login, open Grant Opportunities and locate the applicable PHA research grant.
• Select Apply Now to begin the LOI or application for the current cycle.

• Save your work before leaving a section or exiting the application.
• Download and use the templates provided within the specific funding opportunity.
• Upload all required documents in the requested format.
• Complete applicant, institution, and contact information as prompted.
• If needed, provide another registered user access to the proposal using the permissions feature.
• Complete any third-party, referee, mentor, or institutional requirements early.

1. Review: Confirm that every required section and attachment is complete.
2. Validate: Select Validate and resolve all omissions or errors identified by ProposalCentral.
3. Sign: Complete all electronic signatures required for the specific opportunity.
4. Submit: Select Submit. Validation alone does not send the application to PHA.
5. Confirm: Look for the automated ProposalCentral confirmation email and verify your submitted status.

PHA research grant applications are submitted through ProposalCentral. Applicants should locate the applicable PHA opportunity after logging in and follow the instructions for that funding cycle

Yes. PHA research grant opportunities include an LOI stage. Review the specific award page and ProposalCentral opportunity for the current cycle deadline and instructions.

PHA will review submitted LOIs according to the process established for the applicable funding opportunity. Applicants selected to advance will receive instructions regarding the next stage of the application process. Submission of an LOI does not guarantee an invitation to submit a full application

No. An invitation to submit a full application means the applicant has been selected to advance to the next stage of the application process. Full applications undergo additional review, and an invitation to apply does not guarantee funding.

No. Eligibility varies by award. Review the specific funding opportunity before beginning an application.

No. Funding levels and project periods vary by award. The individual funding opportunity is the authoritative source for the current award amount and term.

Yes. PHA follows the current NIH salary cap when determining allowable salary support on PHA-funded research grants. Applicants should use the NIH salary cap in effect at the time of application unless otherwise stated in the specific funding opportunity. The applicable salary cap will also be reflected in PHA’s current budget guidance and application materials.

The current salary cap will be listed in PHA’s application and budget guidance. Because the NIH salary cap may be updated periodically, applicants should review the current PHA materials before preparing their budget.

Indirect costs are not allowable.

Unless the specific funding opportunity states otherwise, current PHA guidance uses Times New Roman 12-point or Arial 11-point font and margins of at least 0.5 inch on all sides. Award-specific templates and page limits must also be followed.

Applicants should review the current Policy and Guidelines for the funding opportunity and the requirements displayed in ProposalCentral. Award-specific instructions identify required documents, templates, formatting requirements, and applicable page limits. Requirements may vary by award and application cycle.

Applicants should use the current PHA templates provided for the applicable funding opportunity when a template is required. Applicants should not substitute prior-year or prior-application templates, as requirements may change between funding cycles.

Requirements vary by award. Common materials may include biosketches, project summaries/abstracts, a research plan, budget and budget justification, resources/facilities information, institutional materials, assurances, letters, and signatures. ProposalCentral will display the requirements for the opportunity you select.

No. Some awards have unique requirements. For example, the Early Career Mentored Scientist Award includes documents related to a previously reviewed and unfunded early-career application. Always follow the specific award instructions.

Applicants should use the current-cycle instructions and templates. Requirements and templates can differ by award or cycle, so verify each document before uploading.

Applicants should include all individuals who will have a substantive role in the proposed research project, as applicable to the specific funding opportunity. This may include the Principal Investigator (PI), co-investigators, collaborators, consultants, mentors, or other key personnel involved in the proposed work.

Applicants should accurately identify each individual’s role in the application and provide any required supporting documentation. Do not add individuals solely because they are affiliated with the applicant’s department, laboratory, or institution if they will not have a substantive role in the proposed project.

Requirements may vary by PHA funding opportunity. Applicants should review the specific award guidelines and the requirements displayed in ProposalCentral to determine which individuals and supporting documents must be included.

All individuals who have a substantive role in the proposed research should be appropriately identified in the application. The role assigned to each individual should accurately reflect their involvement in the project. Specific personnel and documentation requirements may vary by funding opportunity, so applicants should review the award guidelines and ProposalCentral requirements before submitting.

ProposalCentral allows applicants to give another registered user access to a proposal. The applicant should assign the appropriate permission level. In PHA guidance, only a delegate with Administrator rights can submit on behalf of an applicant.

Character limits refer to the total number of individual characters entered into a field, not the number of words. Letters, numbers, punctuation marks, and spaces generally count toward the character limit. Applicants should use the character counter displayed in ProposalCentral as the final guide and ensure their response does not exceed the limit shown for that field.

Validate checks the application for required information and identifies omissions or errors. It does not send the application to PHA. The application is received only after the Submit step is completed.

ProposalCentral sends an automated confirmation email after successful submission. Applicants should retain the email and verify that the application status reflects submission. If no confirmation is received, contact ProposalCentral promptly.

Applicants should carefully review their application before submitting it. Once an application has been submitted, changes generally cannot be made through ProposalCentral. Applicants should contact PHA at Research@PHAssociation.org if they identify an issue after submission. PHA cannot guarantee that changes or additional materials will be accepted after submission.

Applicants are responsible for submitting all required application materials by the deadline listed for the applicable funding opportunity. Late or supplemental materials should not be assumed to be accepted unless specifically requested or authorized by PHA.

Applicants experiencing technical issues with ProposalCentral should contact ProposalCentral technical support as soon as possible at pcsupport@altum.com or 800-875-2562 (U.S. and Canada). Applicants are encouraged to begin and submit applications early enough to allow time to address technical issues before the deadline.

For ProposalCentral technical support, contact pcsupport@altum.com or 800-875-2562 (U.S. and Canada).

For PHA program or application-content questions, contact Research@PHAssociation.org.

PHA research grant applications must be submitted electronically through ProposalCentral unless otherwise specified by PHA. Materials emailed directly to PHA should not be considered a substitute for completing the required submission process in ProposalCentral.

PHA research grant applications are evaluated through a scientific peer review process. Review criteria vary by funding opportunity and are described in the Policy and Guidelines for each award. Funding recommendations are reviewed in accordance with PHA’s established research grant approval process.

No. Submitting the peer reviewer interest form indicates your interest in serving and does not guarantee selection or assignment to a PHA review committee. PHA will review submissions based on current peer review needs and the alignment of reviewer expertise with applications received. Individuals selected to serve will be contacted by PHA with additional information and next steps.