Research to Improve Rigor, Replicability, and Reproducibility in Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences
🏛 National Institutes of Health (HHS-NIH11)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 19, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research institutions and organizations with scientific capacity to conduct rigorous research on improving biomedical and behavioral science practices. Eligible applicants typically include universities, research centers, nonprofit research organizations, and other entities capable of conducting federally-funded research. Projects must directly address rigor, replicability, reproducibility, or related methodological improvements in biomedical and behavioral sciences. Foreign organizations may be eligible under standard NIH policy, but applications are not currently being solicited.
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Key dates
- Sep 22, 2026 Applications open
- May 25, 2027 Application deadline in 217 days
- Apr 1, 2028 Award announced
- Apr 1, 2028 Project start
Program description
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), in collaboration with other National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes, Centers, and Offices, intends to support research projects that directly improve or evaluate biomedical and behavioral rigor, replicability, and reproducibility. Example projects include, but are not limited to:
- Assessing the scientific and behavioral impact of improving rigor, replicability, and reproducibility
- Developing decision-making frameworks to select candidate studies for replication with the highest potential for scientific value or novel insights
- Measuring replicability, reproducibility, robustness, and generalizability of important research findings to accelerate scientific innovation
Applications are not being solicited at this time. This notice is to allow applicants time to develop collaborations and responsive projects.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- NIH R&R Application Form (SF-424 equivalent)
- Project Narrative/Specific Aims
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Biographical Sketches
- Current and Pending Support
- Letters of Support (for collaborating institutions)
Program contact
- 👤 NINDS Office of Research Quality (ORQ)
- 📧 RigorChampions@nih.gov
- 📞 Please contact via e-mail.
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.853 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$56,262,774
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$45,083,283
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$43,730,658
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$38,186,781
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$37,769,493
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$35,655,349
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$35,655,116
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$34,183,297
-
$32,294,153
-
$32,164,022
Top States by Funding
- MA 7 awards $186.3M
- CA 6 awards $163.5M
- FL 4 awards $121.0M
- OH 4 awards $112.5M
- NY 3 awards $91.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.853). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $2,362,835,459 | |
| 2025 | $2,345,500,401 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Research institutions, universities, and nonprofits with strong scientific capacity typically qualify. Foreign organizations may be eligible under standard NIH rules.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is May 25, 2027. Note that applications are not currently being solicited—organizations should use this time to develop projects.
What types of projects are supported?
Projects that assess, measure, or improve rigor, replicability, and reproducibility in biomedical and behavioral research. This includes developing frameworks, evaluating impact, and measuring robustness of findings.
Is cost-sharing required?
No. Federal funding covers the full project cost. However, NIH grant awards vary by specific program mechanisms.
What should I do now if interested?
Begin developing collaborations and a responsive project proposal. Monitor NIH funding announcements for when applications open officially.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start planning your research collaboration and project scope now—applications are not yet being solicited, so use this time strategically.
- Ground your proposal in a clear methodological problem. Show how your project directly improves or rigorously evaluates current practices.
- Build a team with expertise in both research methodology and your target discipline (neuroscience, behavioral science, etc.).
- Review recent NIH R01 and other grant applications to understand strong narrative structure and justification.
- Monitor the NIH Funding Opportunities page regularly for the formal solicitation notice when applications open.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing descriptive studies without clear intervention or evaluation framework. Submitting a project that addresses symptoms of poor science rather than root causes of irreproducibility. Underestimating the cross-institutional collaboration required for credible replication or methodology validation studies.
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