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You are here: Home / Announcements / NIH Guidance on Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) Applications

NIH Guidance on Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) Applications

April 6, 2026

Announcement: On March 19, 2026, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published new guidance in the NIH Extramural Nexus outlining the required and optional components of a Collaborative International Research Project (PF5) application. The article provides clarification on what must be included in each section of the application and highlights common areas that require careful attention during proposal preparation.

The guidance includes a quick-reference table summarizing, by component type, the applicable page limits, expected content, budget scope, and key review considerations. NIH emphasizes that PF5 applications must clearly document the structure of the international collaboration and demonstrate how each participating organization contributes to the overall project.

Applicants are reminded to carefully follow the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) instructions and ensure the application includes an International Project component and a Letter of Support for each foreign organization, as required for collaborative international submissions. Failure to include required components may result in administrative withdrawal or delays during review.

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