Utilizing Equipment to Study Environmental Extrinsic Factors and Enhance Rigor and Reproducibility of Animal Research (R24, Clinical Trials Not-Allowed)
Can you apply?
This grant is for biomedical and behavioral research institutions seeking support to acquire or develop equipment and infrastructure that will improve the quality, rigor, and reproducibility of animal research. Eligible applicants typically include academic research institutions, nonprofit research organizations, and other research entities that conduct NIH-funded animal research. The focus is on enhancing institutional capabilities for environmental control, monitoring, and standardization in laboratory animal facilities. Activities supported include acquisition of equipment, facility modifications, development of protocols, training programs, and quality assurance systems that reduce variability in animal research. Clinical trials are not supported. Applicants must demonstrate institutional commitment and have established animal research programs.
This grant is for biomedical and behavioral research institutions seeking support to acquire or develop equipment and infrastructure that will improve the quality, rigor, and reproducibility of animal research. Eligible applicants typically include academic research institutions, nonprofit research organizations, and other research entities that conduct NIH-funded animal research. The focus is on enhancing institutional capabilities for environmental control, monitoring, and standardization in laboratory animal facilities. Activities supported include acquisition of equipment, facility modifications, development of protocols, training programs, and quality assurance systems that reduce variability in animal research. Clinical trials are not supported. Applicants must demonstrate institutional commitment and have established animal research programs.
Program description
The Office of Research Infrastructure Programs (ORIP) invites grant applications from core facilities, resource centers, animal vivaria, or individual investigators of other shared resources to systematically study the roles of critical environmental extrinsic factors in biological, behavioral, and treatment studies using animal model species, with the objective of enhancing the rigor and reproducibility of animal research. The research area must be broadly applicable to the scientific interests of two or more NIH Institutes or Centers (ICs) and must evaluate the biological processes that impact multiple organ systems in order to align with the ORIPs NIH-wide mission and programs. The program supports the acquisition or update of modern equipment for measuring, monitoring, recording, and reporting environmental, biological or biobehavioral variables. The equipment requested must be capable of recording and reporting multiple parameters simultaneously.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- City / Municipal Government
- Colleges (all higher ed)
- County Government
- Nonprofits
- Private University
- Public Authority
- Public K-12 School
- Public University
- Small Business (SBA-defined)
- Special District
- State Government
- Tribal Nation
- Tribal Organization
Details
This grant is for biomedical and behavioral research institutions seeking support to acquire or develop equipment and infrastructure that will improve the quality, rigor, and reproducibility of animal research. Eligible applicants typically include academic research institutions, nonprofit research organizations, and other research entities that conduct NIH-funded animal research. The focus is on enhancing institutional capabilities for environmental control, monitoring, and standardization in laboratory animal facilities. Activities supported include acquisition of equipment, facility modifications, development of protocols, training programs, and quality assurance systems that reduce variability in animal research. Clinical trials are not supported. Applicants must demonstrate institutional commitment and have established animal research programs.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (R&R) Application for Federal Assistance
- Project Narrative (typically 6–8 pages)
- Budget and Budget Justification (with detailed cost breakdowns for equipment and installation)
- Institutional Support Letter and Facility Commitment
- Biographical Sketches of key personnel
- Facilities and Resources documentation
- Animal Welfare Assurance and IACUC approval or commitment letter
- Data Management and Sharing Plan
- Letters of Collaboration from other research groups using the facility
Program contact
- 👤 National Institutes of Health
- 📧 grantsinfo@nih.gov
- 📞 301-402-2541
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.351 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$189,307,929
-
$188,853,963
-
$179,413,083
-
$156,271,917
-
$140,230,629
-
$132,964,607
-
$122,234,337
-
$37,946,246
-
$37,475,785
-
$33,218,050
Top States by Funding
- OR 7 awards $270.5M
- CA 8 awards $254.8M
- TX 10 awards $224.3M
- WA 2 awards $219.0M
- LA 5 awards $184.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.351). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $279,889,905 | |
| 2025 | $284,089,258 | |
| 2026 est. | $283,084,958 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this R24 grant?
Academic research institutions, nonprofit organizations, and other entities with active animal research programs funded by NIH are eligible. For-profit institutions may have restrictions; check with your grants office.
What types of equipment and improvements qualify for funding?
Equipment and infrastructure that enhance environmental control, monitoring, and standardization in animal facilities—including environmental monitoring systems, specialized housing, data collection tools, and facility modifications that improve research rigor and reproducibility.
Can clinical trials be included in this grant?
No. This grant specifically excludes clinical trials. Focus must be on preclinical animal research infrastructure and capabilities.
What makes an application competitive?
Strong proposals demonstrate how the equipment will reduce variability across multiple research projects, address facility gaps, involve investigator collaboration, include detailed implementation timelines, and show institutional support and long-term sustainability planning.
What is the typical funding range?
R24 grants typically range from $250,000 to $500,000 in total costs, though exact amounts vary by program year and review priorities. Check the program solicitation for current guidelines.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Frame your project around reducing variability and improving reproducibility across multiple research studies, not just one investigator's work. NIH emphasizes this heavily in animal research infrastructure grants.
- Secure strong institutional commitment letters demonstrating the facility will be maintained, operated, and accessible to a broad research community beyond your immediate team.
- Provide detailed environmental specifications (temperature, humidity, light cycles) and explain how your proposed equipment will standardize these conditions across housing systems.
- Include a comprehensive timeline with realistic milestones and a sustainability plan showing how the equipment and facility upgrades will be maintained after the grant period ends.
- Highlight collaborative benefits: describe how other research groups at your institution will use the enhanced facility, increasing the impact beyond your own research program.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Common rejections occur when applicants focus narrowly on a single investigator's research rather than institutional infrastructure. Reviewers also penalize weak sustainability plans that don't explain how equipment will be maintained and funded after the grant ends. Additionally, insufficient detail on how the equipment directly improves rigor and reproducibility—rather than simply advancing research productivity—weakens competitiveness significantly.
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