Research Experiences and/or Mentoring Networks through Research Education to Enhance Clinician-Scientists’ Participation in NIDCDs Research (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions and organizations seeking to develop research experiences and mentoring networks that enhance clinician-scientists' participation in National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) research. Applicants must be domestic institutions and organizations, with principal investigators typically holding a doctoral degree (PhD, MD, DDS, DVM, or equivalent). The program supports educational initiatives that strengthen the research workforce in areas related to deafness and communication disorders. Activities include developing or enhancing research training programs, establishing mentoring networks, creating career development opportunities, and fostering collaborations that prepare clinician-scientists for independent research careers in NIDCD-relevant fields. Geographic scope includes all eligible U.S. institutions.
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Program description
The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that help recruit individuals with specific specialty or disciplinary backgrounds to research careers in biomedical, behavioral and clinical sciences.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- Community College
- County Government
- HBCU
- HSI (Hispanic Serving Institution)
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) research and related activities form
- Project narrative/research training plan (describing program design, mentoring structure, and curriculum)
- Budget and budget justification
- Institutional support letter and letters of commitment from mentors
- Biographical sketches of key personnel and mentors
- Training plan for participants
- Letters of support from institutional leadership
- NIH-specific forms (typically PHS398 or equivalent for this mechanism)
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.173 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$67,501,043
-
$41,811,330
-
$29,666,573
-
$25,009,162
-
$22,883,624
-
$22,740,456
-
$16,596,227
-
$13,760,149
-
$12,363,350
-
$12,276,804
Top States by Funding
- MA 11 awards $143.1M
- CA 10 awards $101.6M
- IA 5 awards $77.5M
- CT 2 awards $76.3M
- MD 8 awards $65.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.173). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $422,034,489 | |
| 2025 | $422,700,014 | |
| 2026 est. | $427,030,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this R25 grant?
Eligible institutions include research universities, academic medical centers, community colleges, schools of health professions, and other domestic institutions with appropriate research infrastructure. PIs should hold a doctoral degree and demonstrate capacity to conduct the proposed educational activities.
What types of activities are supported?
The grant supports research experiences, mentoring networks, workshops, career development programs, and educational initiatives that prepare clinician-scientists for research careers in deafness and communication disorder fields.
Can this grant support clinical trials?
No. The "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation means applicants cannot propose clinical trial activities as part of their research training or education project.
What is the typical funding range and project duration?
R25 grants typically fund 1-5 year projects. Consult the program announcement for specific funding caps and allowable budget amounts for this initiative.
How competitive is this funding opportunity?
NIH R25 grants are moderately to highly competitive. Applications should demonstrate clear educational innovation, strong institutional support, and sustainable approaches to building the NIDCD research workforce.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate the research workforce gap you are addressing in deafness and communication disorders, with specific data on need and institutional capacity.
- Develop a robust mentoring plan with experienced mentors who have track records in NIDCD-relevant research areas and commitment to participant development.
- Design concrete, measurable outcomes that track participant success in research careers (publications, grants, academic positions), not just completion metrics.
- Build institutional commitment through letters of support documenting resources, space, salary commitments, and leadership buy-in for sustainability beyond the grant period.
- Connect your educational innovation to NIDCD's strategic research priorities and demonstrate how your program advances the field's research capacity.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications often fail because they lack clear evidence of genuine workforce need or develop training curricula disconnected from actual career pathways in NIDCD research. Weak mentoring plans with insufficient mentor commitment and limited tracking of participant outcomes are also common rejections, as are proposals that rely primarily on grant funding for sustainability rather than demonstrating realistic institutional support and long-term financial plans.
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