For Faculty—A Chance To Enhance Research in Your “AREA”

Faculty members, consider the reissued funding opportunity announcement (FOA) Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) if you 1) are at an undergraduate-focused institution* that does not receive substantial funding from NIH and 2) can propose a small-scale research project.

By applying, you have a chance to not only receive funding for your project but also help strengthen your institution’s research environment and give undergraduate students an opportunity to gain significant biomedical research experience.

*One in which the undergraduate enrollment is greater than the graduate enrollment.

Requirements for Research Enhancement

Keep in mind the following:

• You must involve undergraduate students in your proposed research project.
  • “Involvement” includes helping design experiments and controls, collecting and analyzing data, presenting at meetings, and drafting journal articles.
• The research team must be composed primarily of undergraduate students.
• In your application, you must state how students will be compensated for their participation in the lab's research. Stipends are not allowed.

Additionally, NIH encourages you to include students from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce as described in the Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity.

Budget, Deadlines, and More

Applicants may request up to $300,000 in direct costs for the entire project period, the maximum being three years. NIH’s standard Application Due Dates and AIDS and AIDS-Related Due Dates apply.

For additional details such as eligibility and application procedure, read our Research Enhancement Awards (R15) SOP.

A Couple of Related Notes To Note

1. NIAID does not participate in PAR-21-154, which requires clinical trials.
2. NIAID does participate in another R15 FOA: Research Enhancement Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15, Clinical Trial Not Allowed). It follows NIH’s standard Application Due Dates and AIDS and AIDS-Related Due Dates and expires in early January 2022.

Have Questions?

For NIAID, contact our Training Help Desk at AITrainingHelpDesk@niaid.nih.gov.