Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
The AREA grant supports small-scale research projects at undergraduate-focused institutions with limited NIH funding, aiming to enhance research opportunities for undergraduates.
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Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: February 25, 2027 (Applications) | June 25, 2027 (Applications) | October 25, 2027 (Applications) | January 7, 2028 (Closing date)
Funding Amounts: Up to $375,000 in direct costs, excluding consortium F&A, for up to 3 years
Summary: Supports small-scale biomedical research at undergraduate-focused institutions with limited NIH funding, strengthening research environments and undergraduate research participation.
Key Information: Clinical trials and research at health professional schools are not supported.
Description
NIH’s Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA), offered through PAR-25-134, supports faculty-led biomedical research at undergraduate-focused institutions or institutional components that have not been major recipients of NIH support. Its three objectives are to support meritorious research, strengthen institutional research environments, and give undergraduate students significant biomedical research experience through active participation.
Projects must involve undergraduates, with research teams composed primarily of undergraduate students from eligible institutions or components. Participation can include experimental design, data collection and analysis, troubleshooting, presentations, and publications. AREA is a research grant, not a training or fellowship program: applications should not include formal training plans or non-research professional development activities. Participating NIH institutes and centers support research within their respective scientific missions.
