Training Modules to Enhance the Rigor and Reproducibility of Biomedical Research (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA GM 18 002

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA GM 18 002

The funding opportunity titled "Training Modules to Enhance the Rigor and Reproducibility of Biomedical Research (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" is an NIH Research Education Program (R25) grant designed to strengthen how biomedical research is taught and practiced, with a specific emphasis on improving rigor and reproducibility. The core purpose is educational rather than experimental: it aims to support the development and delivery of training modules and related educational activities that better prepare the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce. In practical terms, the program is meant to help institutions and organizations create structured learning experiences that improve researchers ability to design sound studies, document methods clearly, analyze data appropriately, and report results transparently, so that findings can be trusted and independently replicated when appropriate. Because the funding mechanism is an education grant, the opportunity explicitly does not allow clinical trials.

This opportunity is issued by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under Funding Opportunity Number RFA GM 18 002. It falls under the discretionary grant category and is classified under an education and health funding activity area. The associated CFDA numbers are 93.121, 93.213, 93.279, 93.853, and 93.859, reflecting NIH program areas that can support research training and education efforts. The original posting date is listed as February 1, 2018, with an original closing date of June 29, 2018. The award ceiling is $250,000, indicating the maximum budget level that could be requested per award under this announcement. The listing also notes "Expected Awards:" but does not provide a number, so applicants would need to consult the full NIH notice for details on likely funding volume or competition level.

Eligibility is intentionally broad to encourage wide adoption of rigor and reproducibility training across many types of institutions and communities. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. The opportunity is also open to public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (in both cases, other than institutions of higher education), for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and small businesses. The announcement further highlights additional eligible applicant categories, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, eligible federal agencies, Indian/Native American tribal governments that are not federally recognized, and U.S. territories or possessions. This broad eligibility signals NIH interest in distributing high-quality training content widely, including to organizations that serve historically underrepresented or underserved populations in biomedical research.

At the same time, the opportunity has clear restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. These restrictions mean the project leadership, administering organization, and supported program activities must remain domestic in structure and execution, without formal foreign components under NIH definitions.

Overall, this R25 opportunity is best understood as support for building and disseminating educational modules that raise the standard of biomedical research practice, rather than funding a traditional research project. The central deliverable is training capacity: curriculum content, instructional approaches, and educational programming that complements existing research training and helps ensure that future and current researchers apply best practices in study design, methodology, analysis, and reporting. The "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" designation reinforces that proposed activities should focus on education and skill-building rather than initiating or running clinical trials as part of the funded work.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Training Modules to Enhance the Rigor and Reproducibility of Biomedical Research (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.213, 93.279, 93.853, 93.859.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-02-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-06-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA GM 18 002

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