Summer Research Education Experience Program (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The Summer Research Education Experience Program (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a federal funding opportunity administered by the National Institutes of Health, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Multiple NIH institutes participate in this program, including the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Eye Institute, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and others, each contributing mission-specific priorities. The program is designed to strengthen the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce by supporting structured educational experiences that complement existing training programs. The opportunity specifically emphasizes early-stage engagement in research through immersive summer experiences. The primary purpose of this program is to fund research education activities that provide hands-on, open-ended research experiences for high school students, undergraduate students, and high school science teachers. These activities are expected to occur during the summer academic break and include laboratory or field-based research aligned with NIH mission areas. In addition to research exposure, programs must incorporate complementary training such as scientific writing, presentation skills, and instruction in rigor and reproducibility. The overarching goal is to enhance participant knowledge, stimulate interest in research careers, and build a pipeline of future scientists. Funding supports programmatic costs associated with designing and implementing the research experience, including administrative personnel, participant compensation, and program-related expenses. Direct costs are capped at 125000 dollars per year, and project periods may extend up to five years. Allowable expenses include participant salaries, housing support, and limited travel, while certain costs such as faculty mentor salaries and general institutional administrative expenses are not permitted. No cost sharing or matching requirement is imposed. Participants must be engaged for a minimum of eight weeks and may participate up to the equivalent of fifteen weeks within a twelve month period. Eligibility for applicants is broad and includes higher education institutions, nonprofits, for profit organizations, and various government entities such as state, local, and tribal governments. However, foreign organizations and non domestic components are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate institutional commitment, including adequate facilities, staff, and resources. Program directors must be qualified investigators capable of leading both the scientific and administrative aspects of the program. Participants supported must generally be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, unless otherwise justified. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov or NIH ASSIST systems, with tracking through eRA Commons. While a letter of intent is not required, it is encouraged and due thirty days prior to the application deadline. Required application components include a detailed research education program plan, evaluation plan, dissemination strategy, and documentation of institutional support. Applications must adhere strictly to NIH submission guidelines, and incomplete or non compliant applications will not be reviewed. Applications are evaluated through NIH peer review processes based on criteria such as significance, investigator capability, innovation, approach, and environment. Additional considerations include the effectiveness of the educational environment and plans for responsible conduct of research. Review cycles occur annually, with application deadlines typically in March, followed by scientific review in July, advisory council review in October, and earliest project start dates in December. The program operates on a recurring annual cycle, though the current funding announcement expired early on July 8, 2026. Historically, application deadlines have occurred in March each year, indicating an annual cadence. Prospective applicants are advised to monitor NIH communications for reissuance or related opportunities. For inquiries, applicants may contact NIH program staff such as Marguerite Matthews at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke via email or phone. Overall, this program represents a significant federal investment in early research education and workforce development in biomedical sciences.

Align program with NIH institute mission; demonstrate strong evaluation plan; emphasize participant outcomes and research exposure; ensure compliance with application instructions