Editing National Institutes of Health (section)

====Extramural researchers and scientists====
Important stakeholders of the NIH funding policy include researchers and scientists. Extramural researchers differ from intramural researchers in that they are not employed by the NIH but may apply for funding. Throughout the history of the NIH, the amount of funding received has increased, but the proportion to each IC remains relatively constant. The individual ICs then decide who will receive the grant money and how much will be allotted.

Policy changes on who receives funding significantly affect researchers. For example, the NIH has recently attempted to approve more first-time NIH R01 applicants or the research grant applications of young scientists. To encourage the participation of young scientists, the application process has been shortened and made easier.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Science |year=2008 |volume=322 |issue=5905 |pages=1187–8 |doi=10.1126/science.322.5905.1187c |title=Changes to NIH grant system may backfire |vauthors=Karp PD, Sherlock G, Gerlt JA, Sim I, Paulsen I, Babbitt PC, Laderoute K, Hunter L, Sternberg P, Wooley J, Bourne PE |pmid=19023064|s2cid=47509185 }}</ref> In addition, first-time applicants are being offered more funding for their research grants than those who have received grants in the past.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=Acad Med |date=May 2010 |volume=85 |issue=5 |pages=775–9 |doi=10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181d74256 |pmid=20520024 |title=Perspective: is NIH funding the "best science by the best scientists"? A critique of the NIH R01 research grant review policies |author=Costello LC|doi-access=free }}</ref>