Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: June 25, 2025 | October 25, 2025 | February 25, 2026 | June 25, 2026 | October 25, 2026 | February 25, 2027 | June 25, 2027 | October 25, 2027
Funding Amounts: Up to $375,000 in direct costs for up to 3 years per award.
Summary: Supports small-scale biomedical research projects at undergraduate-focused institutions with limited NIH funding, emphasizing hands-on research experience for undergraduates and enhancement of institutional research environments.
Key Information: All applications must propose a minimal risk or mechanistic clinical trial; eligibility is restricted to institutions with ≤$6M/year NIH funding (non-health professional schools) in 4 of the last 7 years.
Description
This NIH funding opportunity supports small-scale biomedical research projects at undergraduate-focused institutions that have not been major recipients of NIH support. The program aims to:
- Provide support for meritorious research at eligible institutions.
- Strengthen the research environment at these institutions.
- Offer undergraduate students significant hands-on experience in biomedical research.
Projects must involve undergraduate students as primary research participants and propose a clinical trial that is either mechanistic or minimal risk (i.e., not requiring FDA oversight, not intended to establish efficacy, and with low risk of harm). The AREA program is not a training or fellowship program; the focus is on research, not didactic or professional development activities.
Due Dates
- Standard NIH due dates apply for new, renewal, resubmission, and revision applications:
- June 25, 2025
- October 25, 2025
- February 25, 2026
- June 25, 2026
- October 25, 2026
- February 25, 2027
- June 25, 2027
- October 25, 2027
All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
Funding Amount
- Maximum direct costs: $375,000 for the entire project period (up to 3 years).
- No cost sharing or matching required.
- The number of awards depends on NIH appropriations and the number of meritorious applications.
Eligibility
- Institutions: Accredited public or non-profit private schools awarding baccalaureate degrees in biomedical sciences, with undergraduate enrollment greater than graduate enrollment.
- Funding threshold: All non-health professional components of the institution must have received no more than $6 million/year in NIH support (direct + indirect costs) in 4 of the last 7 fiscal years.
- Health professional schools/colleges (e.g., medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health) are not eligible.
- Foreign organizations are not eligible; foreign components are allowed.
- Principal Investigators: Must have a primary appointment at an eligible non-health professional school/college and may not hold more than one active NIH research grant (including R15) at the time of award.
- Student involvement: The research team must be composed primarily of undergraduate students.
Application Process
- Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov or NIH ASSIST.
- Required registrations: SAM, eRA Commons, Grants.gov.
- A signed letter from the Provost (or equivalent) verifying institutional eligibility must be included.
- Use the Modular Budget if requesting ≤$250,000 in direct costs; use the R&R Budget for $250,001–$375,000.
- Undergraduate students must be compensated for research participation (salary or course credit, as justified).
- All applications must propose a clinical trial that meets NIH definitions for mechanistic or minimal risk trials.
- Follow the NIH Application Guide and program-specific instructions in the NOFO.
Additional Information
- Clinical Trial Requirement: All applications must propose a clinical trial (mechanistic and/or minimal risk). Projects not involving a clinical trial should apply to the companion "clinical trial not allowed" NOFO.
- Participating NIH Institutes: Multiple NIH institutes participate; applicants are encouraged to contact the relevant program officer for guidance.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Applications should describe plans to inform and recruit undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds.
- Provost Letter: Applications without the required eligibility letter will be withdrawn without review.
- Review Criteria: Emphasis on research significance, undergraduate engagement, institutional impact, and scientific merit.
External Links
Contact Information