Leveraging Nursing Research to Advance Healthy School Environments for All
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for nursing researchers and academic institutions advancing school health environments through research. Eligible applicants include universities, medical schools, nursing schools, and research-focused nonprofits with strong research infrastructure.
The program prioritizes nurse researchers and collaborative teams. Applicants typically need institutional review board (IRB) capacity and federal funding experience.
Supported activities include empirical research on school health policies, interventions, and environmental improvements. Funding covers research design, data collection, and analysis to support healthy school settings for all students.
Geographic scope is national. Awards support planning, pilot studies, or full research projects addressing school-based health systems.
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Key dates
- May 28, 2025 Applications open
- Apr 27, 2026 Application deadline
- Sep 1, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 1, 2026 Project start
Program description
The purpose of this notice is to inform the research community that the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), with other NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs) listed above, intends to publish a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) to solicit applications for research on Leveraging Nursing Research to Advance Healthy School Environments for All.
This initiative will solicit applications to foster multi-disciplinary and multisectoral research to fill critical research gaps in understanding and intervening on the complex interplay between school environments, education, health services, and the surrounding ecosystem to optimize educational and health outcomes for all youth.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- HBCU
- HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution)
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project Narrative (research aims, methods, significance)
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Biographical Sketches (key personnel)
- Letters of Support (school/institutional partners)
- Preliminary Data or Feasibility Studies
- IRB Approval or Plan
Program contact
- 👤 Bill Duval, PhD National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
- 📧 bill.duval@nih.gov
- 📞 301-435-0380
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.361 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$57,577,134
-
$22,922,703
-
$21,569,241
-
$21,520,028
-
$20,637,207
-
$20,579,767
-
$20,359,653
-
$20,254,434
-
$19,085,847
-
$18,080,014
Top States by Funding
- NY 12 awards $77.2M
- NC 7 awards $63.0M
- AK 1 awards $57.6M
- PA 9 awards $50.0M
- CA 5 awards $35.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.361). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $153,520,124 | |
| 2025 | $152,273,865 | |
| 2026 est. | $156,087,739 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Universities, academic medical centers, nursing schools, and nonprofits with research capacity can apply. Most applicants must have institutional research infrastructure and prior federal funding experience.
What types of research projects are funded?
Projects addressing school health environments, nursing interventions, health equity in schools, and policy research. Studies should produce evidence to improve health outcomes for all students.
What is the typical application timeline?
Applications typically open 6-12 months before the deadline. NIH generally allows 6-8 weeks for application preparation once RFP details are published.
How competitive is this funding?
NIH grants are highly competitive. Success typically requires preliminary data, experienced research teams, and clear evidence of feasibility.
What is the typical funding range?
NIH nursing research grants typically range from $150,000 to $500,000 annually depending on project scope and institution type.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start with strong preliminary data showing your research approach works in school settings.
- Build a collaborative team including school partners, nurses, and institutional researchers.
- Align your study design with current school health priorities and equity frameworks.
- Plan for sustainable partnerships with school districts or health departments beyond the grant period.
- Budget realistically for school-based recruitment, IRB reviews, and data collection compliance.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak or missing preliminary data demonstrating feasibility in school environments. Unclear connection between nursing research and school health improvement outcomes. Insufficient detail on partnerships with actual schools or district buy-in and participation plans.
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