Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 25 148

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 25 148

The Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required) is an NIH grant opportunity designed to help institutions with relatively low levels of NIH funding build and sustain a stronger biomedical research culture while giving undergraduates meaningful, hands-on research experiences. The program supports small-scale, investigator-initiated projects that are well suited to campuses where undergraduate education is central and where research infrastructure may be more limited than at major research-intensive universities. A core goal is to strengthen the local research environment at the applicant institution, while also training and engaging undergraduate students through real participation in biomedical research.

Institutional eligibility is tightly tied to the institution's NIH funding history and academic profile. Applicants must be institutions that award baccalaureate science degrees and that have not received substantial NIH support. Specifically, the institution must have received no more than 6 million dollars per year in total NIH support (including both direct costs and F and A/indirect costs) in at least 4 of the last 7 federal fiscal years. For universities made up of multiple schools and colleges, the 6 million dollar cap is calculated using the combined NIH funding of all non-health professional schools and colleges within the institution. This structure is meant to keep the AREA program focused on colleges and universities where a modest infusion of research support can make a noticeable difference in research opportunities and capacity, particularly for undergraduates.

The scientific scope emphasizes investigator-driven research that aligns with the missions and research interests of the NIH Institutes and Centers participating in the opportunity. This particular NOFO is labeled "Clinical Trial Required," meaning the proposed research can include clinical trials when appropriate, but it is limited to specific types: mechanistic clinical trials and/or minimal risk clinical trials. Mechanistic trials are typically designed to understand biological or behavioral processes, pathways, or mechanisms rather than to prove that an intervention works clinically. Minimal risk clinical trials, as defined here, are those that do not require FDA oversight, are not intended to formally establish efficacy, and involve low risk of physical or psychological harm. In practice, that definition steers applicants away from higher-risk interventional studies and toward carefully designed human research that advances understanding while keeping participant risk low and regulatory complexity manageable for smaller institutions.

A range of higher education institutions can apply, including public or state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The eligibility description also explicitly highlights several categories of institutions commonly recognized as serving groups historically underrepresented in biomedical and health research, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). While not the only eligible applicants, these institutions are specifically called out as eligible, reinforcing the program's emphasis on broadening participation and strengthening research training pathways where they can have strong downstream workforce impact.

There are clear limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible either. However, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed. This typically means the project can include specific, justified elements conducted abroad (for example, access to a unique population, resource, or expertise), as long as the applicant organization is a U.S. eligible institution and the foreign component meets NIH policy requirements.

Administratively, this opportunity is run by the National Institutes of Health and is offered as a discretionary grant under Funding Opportunity Number PAR-25-148. It is associated with multiple CFDA/assistance listing numbers (including 93.172, 93.173, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.361, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.865, 93.866, and 93.867), reflecting that multiple NIH Institutes and Centers may participate depending on topic area. The original closing date listed for the opportunity is January 7, 2028. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided source information, so applicants would typically rely on the full NOFO and NIH guidance for budget structure, project period expectations, and other application details.

Overall, the AREA R15 mechanism here is best understood as a capacity-building research grant aimed at undergraduate-centered institutions: it funds a focused biomedical research project, expects meaningful undergraduate engagement as a central feature, and permits certain low-risk or mechanistic clinical trial designs that fit NIH priorities while remaining feasible for smaller or less NIH-funded campuses.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.172, 93.173, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.361, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.396, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2028-01-07.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for PAR 25 148

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: