Research Education Program – Courses, Curriculum & Methods (Parent R25 – Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions, universities, medical schools, and nonprofit organizations seeking to develop and improve educational programs and curricula related to biomedical and behavioral research. The program supports institutional activities that strengthen research education methods and course development—with the explicit caveat that clinical trial activities are not permitted. Generally, institutions must have research capabilities and demonstrate commitment to training the next generation of researchers. Federal institutions and for-profit organizations are typically not eligible. Activities supported include curriculum design, instructor training, development of educational materials, and implementation of evidence-based teaching methods in research settings. Geographic scope is nationwide, and awards are primarily intended for domestic U.S.-based institutions.
Key dates
- Jun 8, 2026 Applications open
- Apr 1, 2027 Award announced
- Apr 1, 2027 Project start
- May 25, 2029 Application deadline in 1078 days
Program description
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Education Program supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of the Research Education program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance training of a workforce to meet the Nation’s biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs; help recruit individuals with specific specialty or disciplinary backgrounds to research careers in biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences; and foster a better understanding of biomedical, behavioral and clinical research and its implications. To accomplish this far-reaching goal, this opportunity will primarily focus on one or more of the following educational activities: Courses for Skills Development, Curriculum and Methods Development. In addition to the focused activities, applications may incorporate elements such as mentoring, research, and outreach to prepare participants for careers that will have a significant impact on the health-related research needs of the Nation. Grant authorities that allow NIH to forecast this opportunity are as follows: Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 2 CFR Part 200.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) form and related ASSIST forms
- Project Narrative (research strategy or educational plan section)
- Detailed Budget and Budget Justification
- Institutional support letter(s) confirming commitment and available resources
- Biographical sketches of key personnel (NIH format)
- Letters of support or collaboration from partner institutions (if applicable)
- Current and Pending Support documentation
- Facilities and resources description
- Data management and sharing plan (if applicable)
Program contact
- 👤 Division of Biomedical Research Workforce (DBRW)
- 📧 NIHTrain@mail.nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.172 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$36,101,109
-
$34,574,245
-
$32,186,204
-
$30,195,606
-
$26,495,937
-
$26,020,371
-
$24,964,130
-
$24,413,854
-
$23,757,911
-
$22,364,647
Top States by Funding
- CA 19 awards $308.5M
- MA 15 awards $288.7M
- WA 9 awards $135.9M
- NY 6 awards $93.6M
- NC 4 awards $82.3M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.172). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $452,727,668 | |
| 2025 | $423,878,429 | |
| 2026 est. | $9,989,158 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this NIH R25 grant?
Nonprofit organizations, universities, research institutions, medical schools, and certain academic entities can apply. For-profit organizations and federal agencies are typically ineligible, though nonprofit organizations operated by federal agencies may qualify. Your institution should have existing research education programs or demonstrated capacity to develop them.
What activities are NOT supported under this grant?
Clinical trial activities are explicitly prohibited under this Parent R25. The focus is on research education, curriculum development, and teaching methods—not on conducting clinical trials themselves.
What types of educational programs can I propose?
Supported activities include developing courses in research methodology, creating curricula for biomedical training, improving teaching methods, training instructors in modern research pedagogy, and producing educational materials or toolkits for research education.
How competitive is this program?
NIH R25 grants are moderately to highly competitive. Success typically requires a clear institutional commitment, evidence of need in the target audience, innovative or evidence-based instructional approaches, and a realistic budget and timeline.
What is the typical funding range?
While specific amounts vary by FOA and year, NIH R25 grants typically provide $100,000–$300,000 annually. Check the specific funding opportunity announcement for exact ranges and project period limits (often 3–5 years).
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate the gap or need your educational program addresses in research training, with data or literature support where possible.
- Demonstrate institutional commitment by securing letters of support from leadership, commitments of matching funds or in-kind resources, and a realistic implementation timeline.
- Emphasize the innovation or evidence base for your educational approach—what makes your curriculum or methods superior to existing alternatives?
- Build a strong evaluation plan with measurable outcomes (e.g., participant knowledge gains, career advancement, publication rates) and include external evaluation if possible.
- Remember: the focus is education and training, not research conduct itself. Avoid proposing research activities or clinical trials, which are explicitly prohibited under this parent announcement.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they blur the line between research education and actual research/clinical trial conduct. The R25 funds teaching and curriculum development, not the conduct of research studies. Weak applicants also underestimate the need for institutional buy-in and matching resources, submit vague or overly broad educational goals, or lack a rigorous evaluation plan that demonstrates impact on learner outcomes.
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