Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required)

The Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools is administered by the National Institutes of Health, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency responsible for conducting and supporting medical research in the United States, and it distributes funding through a variety of grant mechanisms to advance biomedical and behavioral science. This specific REAP opportunity is designed to broaden the distribution of NIH funding by supporting institutions that historically receive limited NIH research support, thereby strengthening research capacity and infrastructure at these institutions. The primary purpose of this program is to fund small-scale research projects that provide meaningful biomedical research experiences to students enrolled in health professional, undergraduate, and graduate programs. The initiative emphasizes enhancing institutional research environments while simultaneously promoting student engagement in scientific inquiry. Projects supported under this program may include mechanistic studies or minimal risk clinical trials that align with the mission areas of participating NIH institutes. Minimal risk clinical trials are defined within this funding opportunity as studies that do not require oversight by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, are not designed to formally establish efficacy, and present minimal risk of physical or psychological harm to participants. Funding under this opportunity is provided through a grant mechanism with an award ceiling of 375000 dollars. While total program funding and the number of awards are not explicitly stated, the structure indicates support for discrete, investigator-initiated projects. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this program, allowing institutions to participate without needing to secure additional financial contributions. The program is intended to support research activities, student training, and infrastructure enhancements that directly contribute to the institution’s research capabilities. Eligibility is restricted to domestic public or private institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate or advanced science degrees. A key eligibility criterion is that applicant institutions must not have received more than 6 million dollars per year in NIH funding in at least four of the past seven fiscal years. This requirement ensures that the program targets institutions with limited NIH funding exposure. Foreign organizations and non-U.S. components of U.S. institutions are not eligible to apply, although foreign components may be included in collaboration as defined by NIH policy. The application process follows standard NIH submission procedures and requires applicants to prepare a complete research proposal aligned with NIH guidelines. While specific application components are not fully detailed in the synopsis, applicants can expect to include research plans, budget justifications, and institutional information. Submissions are made through NIH’s established electronic systems, and applicants must adhere to all formatting and compliance requirements outlined in the full funding announcement. Evaluation criteria are expected to include scientific merit, feasibility, alignment with NIH priorities, and the potential to enhance institutional research capacity and student training opportunities. The funding opportunity was posted on May 29, 2026, with applications accepted through October 25, 2027. This indicates a multi-year open window for submissions, suggesting recurring cycles typical of NIH programs. While specific award notification timelines are not provided in the synopsis, NIH grants generally follow a structured review and funding cycle. Interested applicants can direct inquiries to the National Institute on Aging via the provided email contact. Overall, this program represents a strategic effort by NIH to expand research participation and capacity among underfunded academic institutions.