Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) Award (R16 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for researchers at institutions seeking to develop emerging research programs in health-related fields. Typically eligible applicants include academic medical centers, universities, research institutes, and other organizations with research infrastructure. The award supports investigators who are building or expanding their research capacity, often early- to mid-career researchers establishing independent research programs. Activities supported include salary support, equipment, materials, and other direct costs needed to establish or expand research capacity. Geographic scope is nationwide. Some restrictions apply—clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this award mechanism (R16 designation), so applications proposing primary clinical trial activities will be ineligible. Applicants must have institutional research support and administrative infrastructure.
This grant is for researchers at institutions seeking to develop emerging research programs in health-related fields. Typically eligible applicants include academic medical centers, universities, research institutes, and other organizations with research infrastructure. The award supports investigators who are building or expanding their research capacity, often early- to mid-career researchers establishing independent research programs. Activities supported include salary support, equipment, materials, and other direct costs needed to establish or expand research capacity. Geographic scope is nationwide. Some restrictions apply—clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this award mechanism (R16 designation), so applications proposing primary clinical trial activities will be ineligible. Applicants must have institutional research support and administrative infrastructure.
Program description
The SuRE program supports research capacity building at eligible higher education institutions by funding investigator-initiated biomedical research inbasic, social, clinical, behavioral, or translational science that falls in the mission areas of the NIH.
The purpose of SuRE awards is to provide support for investigator-initiated research at resource-limited institutions by full-time faculty who are not currently funded by any NIH Research Project Grants (RPGs) with the exception of SuRE or SuRE-First awards, to furnish students with high-quality undergraduate and/or graduate research experiences, and to enhance the institutional scientific research culture.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for researchers at institutions seeking to develop emerging research programs in health-related fields. Typically eligible applicants include academic medical centers, universities, research institutes, and other organizations with research infrastructure. The award supports investigators who are building or expanding their research capacity, often early- to mid-career researchers establishing independent research programs. Activities supported include salary support, equipment, materials, and other direct costs needed to establish or expand research capacity. Geographic scope is nationwide. Some restrictions apply—clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this award mechanism (R16 designation), so applications proposing primary clinical trial activities will be ineligible. Applicants must have institutional research support and administrative infrastructure.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Research Plan/Project Narrative (typically 12-15 pages)
- Biographical Sketch(es) of key personnel (NIH format, 5 pages max per person)
- Budget Justification and Budget (SF-424 R&R Budget form)
- Institutional Support Letter
- Letters of Collaboration or Commitment from partners
- Facilities and Resources documentation
- Data Management and Sharing Plan
- Conflict of Interest Disclosure forms
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
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
- MI 2 awards $511.9M
- CA 8 awards $511.1M
- 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 is eligible to apply for the SuRE Award?
Eligible applicants typically include academic institutions, research centers, and organizations with established research infrastructure. Individual researchers must be affiliated with an eligible institution. The award targets investigators building emerging research programs.
Can I include a clinical trial in my research project?
No, clinical trials are explicitly not allowed under this R16 award mechanism. Applications proposing clinical trial activities as primary research objectives will be rejected. You may conduct non-clinical research studies.
What types of research activities and costs are supported?
The award supports costs needed to develop research capacity, including investigator salary, equipment, materials, supplies, and other direct costs. It typically funds research infrastructure, pilot studies, and initial project development.
What is the typical funding range for this award?
Funding amounts vary, but NIH research development awards in this category typically range from several hundred thousand to over one million dollars per year, depending on the specific research area and institutional needs. Check the current Funding Opportunity Announcement for exact limits.
When is the application deadline?
The fixed deadline is September 7, 2028. Applications must be submitted by the NIH electronic submission deadline (typically 5 PM ET). The application period opens June 13, 2025.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate how this award will help you establish or expand an emerging research program; reviewers want to see that funding catalyzes new research directions and independence.
- Since clinical trials are excluded, focus your application on observational studies, basic science, methodology development, or non-clinical translational research aligned with your institution's strengths.
- Build a strong institutional letter of support highlighting available resources, mentorship, and commitment to your research program; NIH values institutional investment in researcher success.
- Include a detailed budget justification showing how funds directly support research capacity development; vague or overly broad budgets raise red flags.
- Develop preliminary data demonstrating feasibility of your research approach; even small pilot studies or proof-of-concept results strengthen your application competitiveness.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applicants often propose clinical trial designs or activities despite the R16 "clinical trial not allowed" restriction, leading to automatic rejection. Another frequent error is submitting applications that read like standard R01 research proposals without demonstrating how the award specifically develops research capacity or independence. Weak institutional support letters or failure to show buy-in from the organization significantly damage competitiveness, as NIH expects institutions to invest in awardees.
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