NIAID Research Education Program Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 21 258

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 258

This funding opportunity, PAR-21-258, is a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) NIH Research Education Program (R25) grant focused on advancing the careers of a diverse research workforce. The program sits within NIH's broader R25 mechanism, which is designed to support structured research education activities aligned with NIH mission areas. In this case, the core purpose is to expand and strengthen the pipeline of people pursuing biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research careers, with particular emphasis on individuals from diverse backgrounds and from groups that are underrepresented in these research fields.

The central goal is workforce development through education rather than through conducting new research studies. The opportunity encourages applicants to propose creative, well-organized education programs that help participants gain the skills, experiences, and professional support they need to continue into research training and research careers. NIAID highlights three main activity types that it expects to see as the primary focus of supported programs: courses for skills development (for example, structured instruction in research methods, scientific writing, data analysis, responsible conduct of research, or other career-relevant competencies), research experiences (such as supervised, hands-on research exposure that builds practical capability and confidence), and mentoring activities (formal mentoring structures that provide guidance, networking, career planning, and ongoing support).

The award is categorized as a discretionary grant under the health funding activity category (CFDA 93.855) and uses the R25 funding instrument. A key restriction is embedded in the title: "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." That means applications cannot propose independent clinical trials as part of the program. The emphasis is on education and career development activities rather than testing interventions in clinical trial formats.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and institutions. Eligible applicants include a wide range of governmental entities (state, county, city or township governments, and special district governments), independent school districts, and public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities. Higher education institutions are eligible, including public and state-controlled institutions and private institutions of higher education. Tribal entities may apply, including federally recognized Native American tribal governments and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. The FOA also allows nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)) and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), as well as small businesses and other types of applicants included under NIH rules. In addition, the announcement specifically calls out a range of mission-relevant institution types and community-linked entities as "other eligible applicants," including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs). Faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies are also identified as potential applicants, reflecting the program's interest in reaching trainees through multiple educational and community pathways. U.S. territories and possessions are also included.

At the same time, the FOA places clear limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components, as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. In practical terms, the applicant organization and the supported program activities must be structured so they do not rely on foreign organizational components in ways NIH defines as foreign components.

The opportunity was created on July 16, 2021, with an original closing date listed as September 7, 2023. While the listing does not provide an award ceiling or expected number of awards, the core takeaway is that this is a capacity-building and career-advancement program aimed at strengthening research readiness and career progression for diverse and underrepresented participants through targeted coursework, meaningful research exposure, and sustained mentoring, all within NIAID-relevant mission areas and without proposing clinical trials.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIAID Research Education Program Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.855.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-07-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-07. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 21 258

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