Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools
Can you apply?
This grant is for health professional schools and graduate schools that do not receive substantial NIH funding. Eligible applicants include institutions with health professional and graduate programs seeking to support investigator-initiated research. Projects must address mechanistic research or minimal-risk clinical trials aligned with participating NIH institutes' missions. Supported activities include biomedical research experiences for health professional, undergraduate, and graduate students, plus research environment enhancement.
Key dates
- Jun 16, 2025 Applications open
- Feb 25, 2026 Application deadline
- Dec 25, 2026 Award announced
- Dec 25, 2026 Project start
Program description
The National Institute on Aging (NIA), with the National Eye Institute (NEI); National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI); National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA); Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD); National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD); National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA); National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH); National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR); National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD); and National Cancer Institute (NCI), intend to publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) as part of the Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools. The participating institutions invite applications that support investigator-initiated mechanistic and/or minimal risk clinical trials addressing the mission and research interests of the participating NIH institutes. For the purposes of this NOFO, minimal risk clinical trials are defined as those that do not require FDA oversight, do not intend to formally establish efficacy, and have low risks to potentially cause physical or psychological harm. The purpose of the REAP for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools is to support small scale research grants at institutions that do not receive substantial funding from the NIH, with an emphasis on providing biomedical research experiences primarily for health professional, undergraduate and graduate students and enhancing the research environment at applicant institutions.
Applications are not being solicited at this time. Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects. This NOFO intends to utilize the R15 activity code. Investigators with expertise and insights into this area of aging research are encouraged to begin to consider applying for this new NOFO.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- R15 application format (specific NIH SF-424 R&R form)
- Project narrative/research proposal
- Budget and budget justification
- Institutional support letter
- Biosketch(es) of key personnel
- Letters of institutional commitment
Program contact
- 👤 Jean Yuan, Ph.D. National Institute on Aging (NIA)
- 📧 jean.yuan@nih.gov
- 📞 301-827-0009
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.866 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$463,372,200
-
$172,327,224
-
$115,145,694
-
$99,649,073
-
$93,275,174
-
$78,657,309
-
$75,825,492
-
$75,398,895
-
$70,985,470
-
$64,812,576
Top States by Funding
- CA 8 awards $516.8M
- MI 2 awards $511.9M
- MO 8 awards $437.0M
- IN 4 awards $303.9M
- PA 6 awards $298.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.866). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $3,746,886,731 | |
| 2025 | $3,777,464,644 | |
| 2026 est. | $261,814,471 |
FAQ
Who can apply for REAP?
Health professional schools and graduate schools, particularly those receiving limited NIH funding. Your institution's lack of substantial prior NIH support is a key eligibility factor.
What types of research are funded?
Investigator-initiated mechanistic research and minimal-risk clinical trials without FDA oversight or efficacy claims. Projects must align with participating NIH institutes' research priorities.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is February 25, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling acceptance.
What should my application emphasize?
Highlight student research experiences, institutional research capacity building, and alignment with NIH institute missions. Demonstrate how the project strengthens your research environment.
How much funding is available?
Award amounts are not specified in the current announcement. Check the full NOFO when it releases for funding details.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start collaboration planning now. The announcement emphasizes building meaningful partnerships before the formal application period.
- Focus on student development. Clearly show how this project provides research training for health professional, undergraduate, or graduate students.
- Align with participating institutes. Review the missions of all 12 participating NIH institutes and explicitly connect your research to their priorities.
- Keep it minimal risk. Avoid proposals requiring FDA oversight or claiming efficacy, as these fall outside funding scope.
- Highlight institutional need. Emphasize your school's limited prior NIH funding and how this grant strengthens your research infrastructure.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when they propose research requiring FDA oversight or designed to establish efficacy. Many miss the student development requirement—emphasize hands-on student involvement. Weak alignment with participating institute missions is common; explicitly connect your work to specific NIH priorities.
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