Multiple PI (MPI)
Definition
A multiple PI (MPI) application is an NIH grant application that names two or more principal investigators who share equal authority and responsibility for the project. One of them is designated the contact PI for communication with NIH.
How it works
An MPI application works by listing every PI as a full leader of the project rather than ranking one above the others. NIH requires:
- A contact PD/PI. One PI handles communication with NIH and is listed first. The contact role is administrative and carries no extra authority.
- A Multiple PD/PI Leadership Plan. A section of the application describing how the PIs will divide responsibilities, make decisions, resolve disagreements, and allocate resources.
- eRA Commons accounts for every PI. Each PI needs an eRA Commons account with the PI role.
All PIs receive credit for the award in NIH records, and each one's NIH biosketch is part of the application. PIs at different institutions are typically handled through subawards from the contact PI's institution.
MPI vs co-investigator
An MPI shares leadership of the whole project, while a co-investigator contributes to it under the PI's direction. Being an MPI counts as being a PI for career purposes, including tenure files and future eligibility. NSF works differently: a proposal lists one PI and up to four co-PIs, and multi-institution teams can instead submit a collaborative proposal from each organization.
Why it matters for research offices
MPI matters because large interdisciplinary projects rarely fit one PI, and naming co-leaders makes each one's contribution visible. It also has eligibility side effects: an award can affect each PI's early stage investigator status, and some NIH programs do not allow multiple PIs. Research offices often help assemble MPI teams for center grants and large calls, and must confirm each PI's institution agrees to the leadership plan and budget split.
Common mistakes
- Writing a vague leadership plan that does not explain how disputes will be resolved.
- Adding a senior colleague as MPI for prestige without a clear scientific role, which reviewers notice.
- Forgetting that an MPI application gets ESI consideration only if every PI on it is an early stage investigator.
How Atom helps
Atom's collaboration matching finds faculty whose research complements an opportunity and suggests the team a multi-PI grant needs, drawing on each researcher's publications and prior funding. Department expertise mapping shows where capabilities sit across colleges.
Frequently asked questions
The contact PI is the principal investigator on a multiple PI application who handles communication with NIH. The role is administrative; all PIs share equal authority over the project.
A multiple PI leadership plan is a required section of an NIH MPI application that explains how the PIs will share responsibilities, make decisions, allocate resources, and resolve conflicts.