Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions that educate health professionals and graduate students. Eligible applicants include health professional schools, graduate schools, and related research institutions. The institution must have a strong commitment to research and education. Clinical trial research is not permitted under this program.
Applicants must demonstrate capacity to conduct quality research and provide mentorship. The award supports research projects that align with NIH priorities. Institutions must have adequate research infrastructure and institutional support.
Geographic scope covers U.S.-based institutions and territories. International collaborations are allowed but the primary applicant must be U.S.-based. Most awards support early-stage researchers developing their research programs.
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Program description
The purpose of the Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools is to stimulate basic and clinical research in educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees for a significant number of the Nation’s research scientists, but that have not been major recipients of NIH support. REAP grants create opportunities for scientists and institutions otherwise unlikely to participate extensively in NIH research programs to contribute to the Nation’s biomedical and behavioral research effort. REAP grants are intended to support small-scale research projects proposed by faculty members of eligible, domestic institutions, to expose undergraduate and/or graduate students at health professional schools or graduate schools to meritorious research projects, and to strengthen the research environment of the applicant institution.Eligible institutions must award NIH-relevant baccalaureate or advanced degrees in health professions and have received less than $6 million per year of NIH support (total costs) in 4 of the last 7 fiscal years. In this NOFO, a college is a stand-alone entity and not a component of a university system.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Form
- Project Narrative
- Research Plan
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches (Key Personnel)
- Letters of Institutional Support
- Current and Pending Support
- Facilities and Resources documentation
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.839 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$70,347,724
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$28,221,244
-
$26,367,044
-
$26,196,066
-
$24,828,830
-
$22,197,349
-
$20,132,449
-
$18,556,003
-
$17,136,580
-
$16,771,574
Top States by Funding
- MA 15 awards $153.6M
- WI 6 awards $113.6M
- PA 13 awards $111.9M
- CA 9 awards $110.4M
- NY 8 awards $77.5M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.839). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $431,558,338 | |
| 2025 | $425,332,322 |
FAQ
What types of institutions can apply?
Health professional schools, graduate schools, and similar research-focused educational institutions. Your institution should primarily train health professionals or graduate students.
What research is not allowed?
Clinical trials are explicitly excluded from this program. Focus on non-clinical research that advances scientific knowledge.
What does the award support?
Research projects, equipment, salaries, and research infrastructure. Mentorship and capacity-building are key components of funded projects.
How competitive is this funding?
Moderately competitive. Success depends on research quality, institutional support, and alignment with NIH priorities. Early-career researchers are encouraged.
What is the typical funding level?
R15 grants typically fund $250K-$350K total per year. Specific amounts vary by program and number of funded projects annually.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize institutional commitment to research and researcher development. Show dedicated mentorship and infrastructure.
- Align your research with explicit NIH priorities published in the funding announcement. Avoid mismatches that reduce competitiveness.
- Build a realistic budget tied to specific research milestones. Detail how funds improve research capacity at your institution.
- Clearly distinguish your project from clinical trials. Clinical research involving patient outcomes will be rejected.
- Include letters of institutional support confirming resources, mentorship, and facilities. Weak institutional backing is a common reviewer concern.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Submitting clinical trial research, which violates program restrictions. Proposing projects without clear NIH priority alignment or institutional support. Weak budgets that don't demonstrate how funding builds research capacity.
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