The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is encouraging researchers to carefully consider whether the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator (MPI) model is appropriate for their proposed research. The model is intended for projects in which scientific leadership, responsibility, and accountability are genuinely shared among investigators. PD/PI designation should reflect a substantive leadership role, not simply recognize collaborators or strengthen an application, and NIH data show no meaningful review advantage for MPI applications.
Researchers should also consider career implications, particularly for Early Stage Investigators (ESIs), as MPI applications receive ESI consideration only when all PD/PIs qualify. Teams using the MPI model must also develop a clear Leadership Plan defining roles, decision-making, communication, and conflict resolution. NIH emphasizes that applicants should choose the leadership structure that best serves the science, recognizing that collaborative research does not necessarily require multiple PD/PIs.
Additional Resources
- NIH Grants Policy Statement: Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Applications and Awards
- FAQs: Multiple PD/PIs
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences: Considerations for Multiple Principal Investigator (MPI) Applications
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Introduction – The Science and Practice of Team Science
Visit the NIH website for additional information.