NIH’s evolving use of multiyear funding raises concerns about the potential impact on institutions
Historically, the multiyear funding mechanism has not been widely employed by the NIH to fund new and competing (“competitive”) research project grants (RPGs). However, during the final quarter of FY 2025, the NIH greatly accelerated its use of multiyear funding and has continued to use the mechanism regularly in the first two-thirds of FY 2026.
This Data Brief examines FY 2024 - FY 2026 data to better understand the evolving use of multiyear funding (also referred to as “forward funding”) by the NIH and how it could impact institutional research programs. Further updates on the NIH’s FY 2026 obligations and funding trends can be found on the AAMC website at the Tracking NIH Funding data dashboard: aamc.org/nihfunding.