Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) (R25) | PAR 17 051

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 051

The Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) (R25) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research education grant opportunity designed to strengthen and diversify the future biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce. Run under the NIH Research Education Program (R25) mechanism and aligned with the mission areas of NIH, this specific funding announcement from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) focuses on helping recent college graduates build the preparation they need to successfully enter and complete Ph.D. programs in biomedical-related fields. The central purpose is workforce development through education and hands-on training, with a clear emphasis on expanding participation of individuals from diverse backgrounds that are underrepresented in the biomedical sciences.

At its core, PREP supports institutions in creating structured, high-impact postbaccalaureate training environments that combine extensive research experiences with deliberate skills-building coursework. The program is meant for recent baccalaureate science graduates who are not yet ready to move directly into a doctoral program but who could thrive with targeted support, mentoring, and additional research immersion. Funded programs are expected to provide substantial laboratory or research engagement, along with courses or workshops that address practical and academic readiness. These skills-development components commonly include areas such as scientific writing, quantitative and analytical skills, responsible conduct of research, presentation and communication skills, and other competencies that strengthen a trainee's ability to compete for and succeed in rigorous Ph.D. training.

The funding opportunity encourages applications from research-intensive institutions that can offer strong research infrastructure, robust mentoring teams, and a training culture capable of supporting postbaccalaureate scholars as they develop into competitive Ph.D. applicants. While the general eligible applicant pool includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) entities), the announcement also highlights eligibility and relevance for institutions that serve populations historically underrepresented in biomedical research. Examples specifically named include 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). This signals the program's strong alignment with capacity-building and inclusive training pathways across a range of institutional contexts.

A key boundary of the opportunity is that it is limited to U.S.-based entities. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) institutions are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH Grants Policy) are not allowed. In practical terms, the supported education and research training activities must be conducted within allowable domestic organizational structures and locations consistent with NIH policy.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary grant with an activity category in health and a CFDA listing of 93.859. The funding opportunity number is PAR-17-051, and the NIH is the sponsoring agency. The source information lists an award ceiling of $400,000. The original closing date shown is 2019-01-24, indicating that this particular announcement was time-bound as posted, though similar R25 and PREP opportunities may appear under updated announcements in later years. Overall, PREP (R25) is best understood as a program-development grant that helps institutions build a well-designed bridge between the bachelor's degree and competitive entry into biomedical Ph.D. training, using mentored research and targeted educational supports as the primary tools for increasing representation and long-term success in the research workforce.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) (R25)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-11-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-01-24. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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, Others.

Apply for PAR 17 051

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