Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required)
Supporting small-scale research grants for undergraduate-focused institutions with limited NIH funding, emphasizing biomedical research experiences for undergraduates and enhancing the research environment.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
National Institutes of Health has archived this opportunity.
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.
