Well Told Grants

Grants / Department of Health and Human Services / National Institutes of Health

Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required)

Open Closes January 7, 2027 (68 days left) Opportunity PAR-24-214

National Institutes of Health is offering grants of up to $375,000 to colleges and universities. Applications close on January 7, 2027.

From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed November 21, 2024. Checked October 31, 2026.

Key dates

PostedMay 8, 2024
DeadlineJanuary 7, 2027
Archived by Grants.govFebruary 6, 2027

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Who can apply

This opportunity is open to colleges and universities.

Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

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Is this a realistic fit?

What the grant funds

The purpose of this Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions is to support small scale research grants at institutions that do not receive substantial funding from the NIH, with an emphasis on providing biomedical research experiences primarily for undergraduate students and enhancing the research environment at applicant institutions. Eligible institutions must award baccalaureate science degrees and have received no more than $6 million dollars per year of NIH support (in both direct and F and A/indirect costs) in 4 of the last 7 fiscal years. For institutions composed of multiple schools and colleges, the $6 million funding limit is based on the amount of NIH funding received by all the non-health professional schools and colleges within the institution as a whole. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supports investigator-initiated mechanistic and/or minimal risk clinical trials addressing the mission and research interests of the participating NIH institutes. For the purpose of this NOFO, minimal risk clinical trials are defined as those that do not require FDA oversight, do not intend to formally establish efficacy, and have low risks to potentially cause physical or psychological harm.

Category: Education, Health, Income Security and Social Services.

How to apply

  1. Read the full notice and attachments on Grants.gov and the agency's announcement. The notice is the official source for deadlines and requirements.
  2. Make sure your organization has an active SAM.gov registration and Unique Entity ID; registration can take several weeks.
  3. Register on Grants.gov and submit through Workspace before the deadline and time given in the notice. Our application guide walks through each step.

Questions go to National Institutes of Health, grantsinfo@nih.gov, 301-402-2541.

Open the official notice

Questions people ask

Who can apply for Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required)?

National Institutes of Health accepts applications from colleges and universities. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

What is the deadline for Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required)?

Closes January 7, 2027 (68 days left). Confirm the date and time in the official notice on Grants.gov.

How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $375,000 each.

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