University of Wisconsin
School of Medicine and Public Health

Project Life Cycle Steps

For new principal investigators, or even for long-time faculty members, the process of seeking, obtaining and managing an externally funded research project can be challenging.

Before getting started, take time to understand the structure of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and how they approach grant funding, what types of organizations and people are eligible to apply, what they look for in a research project, and what types of grant programs are available. To learn more, visit NIH Grant Basics.

When you're ready to move forward, review the pages in this section for a summary of the steps you should follow through the life cycle of a project. 

If you have questions throughout any stage of the process, please visit the Office of Research Services web page or email us at researchservices@medicine.wisc.edu.