Summer Research Education Experience Program (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for institutions seeking to provide summer research education experiences to students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds in science and health-related fields. Eligible applicants typically include accredited domestic institutions such as universities, colleges, medical schools, and research centers with established research infrastructure. Academic institutions must have institutional research capacity and mentorship infrastructure. The program supports educational activities, not clinical trials, and is designed to provide students with meaningful research experiences during summer months. Geographic scope is limited to domestic U.S. institutions. Funding supports the direct costs of student stipends, research supplies, faculty mentorship, and program administration to facilitate high-quality research training.
This grant is for institutions seeking to provide summer research education experiences to students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds in science and health-related fields. Eligible applicants typically include accredited domestic institutions such as universities, colleges, medical schools, and research centers with established research infrastructure. Academic institutions must have institutional research capacity and mentorship infrastructure. The program supports educational activities, not clinical trials, and is designed to provide students with meaningful research experiences during summer months. Geographic scope is limited to domestic U.S. institutions. Funding supports the direct costs of student stipends, research supplies, faculty mentorship, and program administration to facilitate high-quality research training.
Program description
The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The over-arching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that foster a better understanding of biomedical, behavioral and clinical research and its implications. To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this FOA will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on research experiences for high school or undergraduate students or science teachers during the summer academic break. The proposed program needs to fit within the mission of the participating IC that the application is being submitted to and should not have a general STEM focus (see below and Table of IC-Specific Information and Points of Contact).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- 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
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for institutions seeking to provide summer research education experiences to students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds in science and health-related fields. Eligible applicants typically include accredited domestic institutions such as universities, colleges, medical schools, and research centers with established research infrastructure. Academic institutions must have institutional research capacity and mentorship infrastructure. The program supports educational activities, not clinical trials, and is designed to provide students with meaningful research experiences during summer months. Geographic scope is limited to domestic U.S. institutions. Funding supports the direct costs of student stipends, research supplies, faculty mentorship, and program administration to facilitate high-quality research training.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- NIH R&R SF424 (R&R) application form
- Project Narrative (typically 15–25 pages describing program design, mentorship structure, and learning objectives)
- Budget narrative and detailed budget justification (SF-424 R&R Budget)
- Institutional assurances and certifications (e.g., IRB compliance, facility access)
- Letters of support from mentors, department chairs, and institutional leadership
- Current and pending support documentation
- Biographical sketches of key personnel (program director, faculty mentors)
- Evidence of institutional commitment (e.g., cost-share documentation, facility availability)
- Evaluation plan with measurable outcomes and assessment methods
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
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
-
$82,511,281
-
$67,362,785
-
$62,646,087
-
$56,144,651
-
$45,268,737
-
$40,959,789
-
$35,655,349
-
$35,655,116
-
$35,335,145
-
$34,183,297
Top States by Funding
- MA 6 awards $186.5M
- CA 4 awards $129.9M
- OH 4 awards $112.5M
- FL 3 awards $100.3M
- MN 2 awards $99.4M
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
What types of institutions are eligible to apply for this R25 program?
Typically, accredited domestic institutions including universities, colleges, medical schools, research centers, and other organizations with established research capacity and mentorship infrastructure. Some programs may prioritize minority-serving institutions or institutions serving underrepresented populations.
Can this grant fund clinical trial research?
No, this specific R25 program explicitly prohibits clinical trial research. Funding must support educational research experiences, mentorship, and capacity building—not patient-centered clinical studies.
What activities are typically supported under an R25?
Common supported activities include student stipends and housing, mentored research experiences, faculty training in mentorship, curriculum development for research education, and administrative costs related to program implementation and evaluation.
How competitive is this funding opportunity?
R25 programs are moderately to highly competitive. Success depends on institutional research capacity, demonstrated commitment to mentoring underrepresented groups, clear learning objectives, and realistic budgets. Strong track records in similar initiatives significantly strengthen applications.
What is the typical funding range and project period?
R25 programs typically award $200,000–$500,000 annually for project periods of 3–5 years, though specific amounts vary. Check the current funding opportunity announcement for exact figures and allowable budget categories.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize your institution's existing research infrastructure, mentorship culture, and track record of supporting student researchers, particularly from underrepresented backgrounds. Reviewers want confidence that your program will deliver high-quality mentored experiences.
- Design a clear, measurable curriculum for the research experience with specific learning objectives, milestones, and assessment methods. Show how students progress from orientation through independent research to career readiness.
- Invest time in letters of support from faculty mentors, department chairs, and institutional leaders. These should speak credibly to commitment and capacity, not just endorse the idea.
- Address diversity, equity, and inclusion explicitly. Explain recruitment strategies, support systems, and pathways that enable underrepresented students to succeed in research and consider STEM careers.
- Budget realistically for student stipends, travel to conferences, research supplies, and faculty course release for mentorship. Be transparent about matching or institutional contributions, which strengthen competitiveness.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Many applications fail because they conflate general student support with structured research mentorship—reviewers expect detailed curricula, measurable outcomes, and evidence of mentorship infrastructure, not just summer employment. Another common rejection reason is inadequate attention to diversity and pipeline-building; programs that lack a clear strategy for recruiting and supporting underrepresented students in science struggle to align with NIH priorities. Finally, weak institutional commitment signals (inadequate faculty buy-in, insufficient research environment, or vague sustainability plans) undermine credibility in a competitive funding landscape.
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