Biomedical Research Environment and Sponsored Programs Administration Development (BRE-SPAD) Program (UC2- Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions, including universities, colleges, research hospitals, and other eligible organizations seeking to strengthen the biomedical research environment and research administration infrastructure. The program supports capacity-building efforts to enhance sponsored programs administration, regulatory compliance, and institutional research support systems. Applicants must be domestic institutions with existing or developing research programs and the ability to demonstrate how funding will improve their research administration capabilities. This UC2 mechanism explicitly does not support clinical trial activities, though it may support other types of research and research infrastructure development. Geographic scope is U.S. domestic institutions only.
This grant is for research institutions, including universities, colleges, research hospitals, and other eligible organizations seeking to strengthen the biomedical research environment and research administration infrastructure. The program supports capacity-building efforts to enhance sponsored programs administration, regulatory compliance, and institutional research support systems. Applicants must be domestic institutions with existing or developing research programs and the ability to demonstrate how funding will improve their research administration capabilities. This UC2 mechanism explicitly does not support clinical trial activities, though it may support other types of research and research infrastructure development. Geographic scope is U.S. domestic institutions only.
Program description
The Biomedical Research Environment and Sponsored Programs Administration Development (BRE-SPAD) Program aims to promote broad participation in the biomedical research ecosystem by supporting resource limited organizations to conduct research, enhance the research environment, and increase sponsored programs administration capacity.This program intends to support eligible, domestic organizations with limited research resources and few biomedical doctoral students.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- Hospital
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public University
Details
This grant is for research institutions, including universities, colleges, research hospitals, and other eligible organizations seeking to strengthen the biomedical research environment and research administration infrastructure. The program supports capacity-building efforts to enhance sponsored programs administration, regulatory compliance, and institutional research support systems. Applicants must be domestic institutions with existing or developing research programs and the ability to demonstrate how funding will improve their research administration capabilities. This UC2 mechanism explicitly does not support clinical trial activities, though it may support other types of research and research infrastructure development. Geographic scope is U.S. domestic institutions only.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative (research strategy / program description, typically 15-25 pages)
- Budget Justification and Budget forms (SF-424 R&R Budget)
- Institutional biosketches for key personnel
- Letters of institutional support and commitment
- Current and pending support documentation
- Compliance and institutional certification forms
- Organizational capacity/capability statements
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.121 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$443,702,768
-
$32,310,944
-
$31,252,186
-
$29,535,192
-
$23,987,187
-
$23,513,241
-
$18,362,716
-
$16,829,492
-
$15,691,075
-
$14,460,130
Top States by Funding
- WA 2 awards $451.4M
- CA 13 awards $134.6M
- MI 4 awards $75.8M
- PA 4 awards $67.6M
- MA 5 awards $39.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.121). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $319,987,302 | |
| 2025 | $332,151,837 | |
| 2026 est. | $337,316,521 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for BRE-SPAD?
Domestic research institutions, including universities, colleges, research hospitals, and other domestic public and private research organizations are eligible. Your institution should have an established commitment to research or demonstrate capacity to conduct NIH-funded research.
What types of projects are supported?
BRE-SPAD funds capacity-building in research administration, including improvements to regulatory compliance systems, sponsored programs offices, institutional research infrastructure, and related research support functions. Clinical trial activities are not supported under this UC2 mechanism.
What is the typical timeline and how often does this opportunity open?
NIH typically has annual or semi-annual application deadlines. Check NIH's Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT) and the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts for specific deadlines and funding period length.
How competitive is this grant?
NIH research grants are highly competitive. Success rates typically range from 20-30% across most programs. Strong emphasis is placed on demonstrated need, clear methodology, feasible timelines, and institutional commitment to research administration improvement.
What is the typical funding range?
Funding varies by mechanism and institutional size, but capacity-building grants typically range from $150,000 to $500,000 over the project period. Consult the specific funding opportunity announcement for exact budget parameters.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly document your current research administration challenges and gaps in your institutional capacity. NIH reviewers want to see a compelling problem statement showing why this funding is needed now.
- Align your proposed improvements with NIH priorities and regulatory requirements (e.g., compliance with NIH policies, research security, regulatory oversight). Demonstrate how investments will enable more efficient grant management and reduce compliance burden.
- Secure institutional commitment from leadership (letters of support, budget allocations for matching or sustainability). Show that your institution views this as a priority and will sustain improvements beyond the grant period.
- Develop a realistic implementation timeline with clear milestones, responsible parties, and measurable outcomes. NIH values institutions that can demonstrate progress and sustainability.
- Include a sustainability plan showing how improvements will continue after federal funding ends. This demonstrates serious institutional commitment and increases competitiveness.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they lack a clear, well-documented institutional need assessment—vague descriptions of current challenges don't persuade reviewers. Many proposals underestimate the importance of demonstrating institutional buy-in and commitment; without strong leadership support and matching resources, reviewers question whether improvements will be sustained. Proposals that don't explicitly connect proposed activities to NIH compliance and regulatory requirements miss an opportunity to show direct relevance to NIH's mission and priorities.
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