The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the nation’s medical research agency — making important discoveries that improve health and save lives.
The grant program appears to encourage early communication through optional but encouraged Letters of Intent, to be submitted 30 days prior to the full proposal deadline. This suggests a desire for a preliminary review or interaction, possibly to streamline the application process or to provide feedback. However, without more specific details on the goals, guiding principles, or causes supported by the grant, it's challenging to provide a comprehensive overview based on the provided text alone.