Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 214
The Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required) is an NIH grant opportunity designed to fund small-scale biomedical research projects at colleges and universities that have historically received relatively limited NIH support. The core goal is twofold: to strengthen the research environment at eligible institutions and, just as importantly, to provide meaningful, hands-on biomedical research experiences primarily for undergraduate students. In practice, this means the program is meant to help faculty run solid, publishable research projects while directly integrating undergraduates into the research process in ways that build skills, expand training opportunities, and improve the institution's capacity for ongoing research.
To be eligible, an applicant institution must award baccalaureate science degrees and must meet an NIH funding threshold intended to target schools with modest NIH portfolios. Specifically, the institution must have received no more than 6 million dollars per year in total NIH support (counting both direct costs and F and A/indirect costs) in at least 4 of the last 7 federal fiscal years. For universities organized into multiple schools or colleges, the funding cap is assessed based on the combined NIH funding received by all non-health professional schools and colleges across the institution as a whole, rather than focusing on a single department or unit. This structure is meant to keep the program focused on institutions where NIH funding is not already extensive, while still allowing multi-college universities to participate if their non-health professional components remain within the cap.
This specific NOFO supports investigator-initiated research that includes clinical trial activity, but the allowable clinical trials are limited to mechanistic and/or minimal risk clinical trials that align with the missions and research interests of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers. Mechanistic clinical trials generally focus on understanding biological or behavioral mechanisms, pathways, or processes rather than demonstrating whether an intervention "works" in the conventional efficacy sense. Minimal risk clinical trials, as defined here, are those that do not require FDA oversight, are not intended to formally establish efficacy, and present low risk of physical or psychological harm to participants. In other words, the opportunity is not aimed at high-risk, large-scale intervention trials; it is aimed at appropriately scoped human studies that fit the R15 emphasis on smaller projects and undergraduate-centered research training.
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, along with a range of institutions that serve specific populations. The NOFO explicitly notes eligibility for Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). These categories align with broader federal priorities to expand research capacity and training opportunities across a diverse set of institutions and communities.
There are clear restrictions on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning the primary applicant organization must be U.S.-based and eligible, but certain well-justified elements of the research may be carried out abroad under NIH's established foreign component rules.
Administratively, this opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health as a discretionary grant program under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-24-214. The award ceiling is listed as 375,000 dollars, reflecting the small-scale nature of the AREA mechanism. The NOFO covers multiple NIH program areas, reflected in the listed CFDA numbers (including, for example, 93.173, 93.233, 93.242, and others). The original closing date is May 7, 2027, indicating that applications are expected to be accepted over a multi-year window consistent with NIH's standard receipt date cycles and NOFO duration.Apply for PAR 24 214
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.361, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-05-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-05-07.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $375,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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FAQs: NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required) - PAR-24-214
What is this grant opportunity?
The Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required) is an NIH grant opportunity designed to support small-scale biomedical research projects at colleges and universities that have historically received relatively limited NIH funding. A central purpose is to strengthen the research environment at eligible institutions while providing meaningful, hands-on biomedical research experiences primarily for undergraduate students.
What are the main goals of the AREA (R15) program in this NOFO?
This opportunity has a two-part goal: (1) build and strengthen the research environment at eligible undergraduate-focused institutions, and (2) integrate undergraduates into the research process in a substantial way so they gain real training, skills, and experience while contributing to solid, publishable research.
Who is this program primarily intended to benefit?
The program is structured to benefit institutions with modest NIH funding histories and to provide hands-on biomedical research experiences primarily for undergraduate students, while also enabling faculty to conduct investigator-initiated, publishable research.
What types of institutions are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include U.S. public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and U.S. private institutions of higher education. The NOFO also explicitly includes several categories of institutions that serve specific populations, such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).
Does the applicant institution need to award specific degrees?
Yes. To be eligible, the applicant institution must award baccalaureate science degrees.
How does NIH determine whether an institution has "limited NIH support" for eligibility?
The NOFO uses an NIH funding threshold. The institution must have received no more than 6 million dollars per year in total NIH support (including both direct costs and F and A/indirect costs) in at least 4 of the last 7 federal fiscal years.
What does the 6 million dollar per year NIH funding cap include?
The cap is based on total NIH support and explicitly includes both direct costs and F and A (indirect) costs.
How is the funding cap applied at universities with multiple schools or colleges?
For institutions organized into multiple schools or colleges, the cap is assessed using the combined NIH funding received by all non-health professional schools and colleges across the institution as a whole, rather than focusing on a single department or unit.
What is the funding opportunity number for this NOFO?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-24-214.
Who is the funding agency?
The funding agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the award is offered as a discretionary grant program.
What kind of research projects does this NOFO support?
This NOFO supports investigator-initiated biomedical research projects that include clinical trial activity, with the key limitation that the clinical trials must be mechanistic and/or minimal risk, and aligned with the missions and research interests of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
What does "Clinical Trial Required" mean in this context?
It means the proposed research is expected to include clinical trial activity under this specific R15 NOFO. However, the allowable clinical trials are limited to mechanistic and/or minimal risk clinical trials as described in the opportunity.
What is a mechanistic clinical trial as described in this opportunity?
Mechanistic clinical trials generally focus on understanding biological or behavioral mechanisms, pathways, or processes, rather than primarily testing whether an intervention works in a conventional efficacy sense.
What is a minimal risk clinical trial as described in this opportunity?
Minimal risk clinical trials in this context are those that do not require FDA oversight, are not intended to formally establish efficacy, and present low risk of physical or psychological harm to participants.
Are large, high-risk clinical trials supported under this NOFO?
No. The opportunity is not aimed at high-risk, large-scale intervention trials. It is aimed at appropriately scoped human studies consistent with the R15 emphasis on smaller projects and undergraduate-centered research training.
Does the clinical trial need to align with specific NIH priorities?
Yes. The NOFO indicates that supported clinical trial activity must align with the missions and research interests of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Are non-U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization apply if it proposes a non-domestic component?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
Are any international activities allowed at all?
Yes. Foreign components are allowed as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This means the primary applicant organization must be a U.S.-based eligible entity, but certain well-justified elements of the research may be carried out abroad under NIH's established foreign component rules.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is 375,000 dollars, reflecting the small-scale nature of the AREA mechanism.
What CFDA program areas are associated with this NOFO?
The NOFO covers multiple NIH program areas and lists CFDA numbers including 93.173, 93.233, 93.242, and others.
What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The original closing date is May 7, 2027.
Does the long open period mean applications can be submitted at any time?
The NOFO indicates a multi-year window through May 7, 2027, and notes that applications are expected to be accepted over that window consistent with NIH standard receipt date cycles and the NOFO duration.
How does this program support undergraduate research experiences in practice?
Based on the NOFO description, the intent is for faculty to run strong, publishable biomedical research projects while directly integrating undergraduates into the research process in ways that build skills, expand training opportunities, and improve the institution's capacity for ongoing research.
Is this opportunity intended only for institutions with extensive NIH funding portfolios?
No. The eligibility rules and NIH funding cap are specifically designed to keep the program focused on institutions where NIH funding is not already extensive.
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