The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The over-arching goal of this National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) R25 program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nations biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs and advance the priorities outlined in the Office of AIDS Research (OAR) Annual Strategic Plan and the research program priorities of the NIMH Division of AIDS Research (DAR).To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this NOFO will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on Research Experiences and Mentoring Activities that either capitalize on existing networks of collaborating investigators or develop institute-based research education programs. Both research experiences and mentoring activities are required; research experiences are expected to be primary. Research Education Programs are expected to enhance the professional development of the participants and foster a career trajectory towards independent research in the mental health of HIV/AIDS.

PAR-24-233: NIMH Research Education Mentoring Program for HIV Researchers (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

March 31, 2025

This funding opportunity was updated to align with agency priorities. Carefully reread the full funding opportunity and make any needed adjustments to your application prior to submission.

Part 1. Overview Information

Participating Organization(s) National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Components of Participating Organizations National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Funding Opportunity Title NIMH Research Education Mentoring Program for HIV Researchers (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

Activity Code R25 Education Projects

Announcement Type Reissue of PAR-21-228

Related Notices

• See Notices of Special Interest associated with this funding opportunity
• January 28, 2026 - NIH Removing AIDS Application Due Dates from NOFOs. See Notice NOT-OD-26-029.
• March 31, 2025 - This funding opportunity was updated to align with agency priorities. Carefully reread the full funding opportunity and make any needed adjustments to your application prior to submission.
• April 04, 2024 - Overview of Grant Application and Review Changes for Due Dates on or after January 25, 2025. See Notice NOT-OD-24-084
• August 31, 2022 - Implementation Changes for Genomic Data Sharing Plans Included with Applications Due on or after January 25, 2023. See Notice NOT-OD-22-198.
• August 5, 2022 - Implementation Details for the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy. See Notice NOT-OD-22-189.
• July 22, 2019 - Requirement for ORCID iDs for Individuals Supported by Research Training, Fellowship, Research Education, and Career Development Awards Beginning in FY 2020. See Notice NOT-OD-19-109.

Funding Opportunity Number (FON) PAR-24-233

Companion Funding Opportunity

• PAR-23-263, R25 Education Projects
• PAR-23-265, R25 Education Projects
• PAR-23-266, R25 Education Projects

Number of Applications See Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.

Assistance Listing Number(s) 93.242

Funding Opportunity Purpose The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research education activities in the mission areas of the NIH. The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nation’s biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs.

To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this NOFO will support educational activities with a primary focus on:

• Research Experiences
• Mentoring Activities

Both research experiences and mentoring activities are required. These Research Education Mentoring Programs are expected to enhance the professional development of the mentees and foster career trajectories towards independent research to reduce the incidence of HIV worldwide and to decrease the burden of living with HIV. The terms participant and mentee are used throughout this NOFO to refer to individuals who are enrolled in the research education program.

Key Dates

• Posted Date: June 27, 2024
• Open Date (Earliest Submission Date): August 07, 2024
• Letter of Intent Due Date(s): 30 days before application due date

The following table includes NIH standard due dates marked with an asterisk.

All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of applicant organization. Applicants are encouraged to apply early to allow adequate time to make any corrections to errors found in the application during the submission process by the due date.

Expiration Date New Date: May 26, 2026 per issuance of NOT-OD-26-029. (Original Expiration Date: September 08, 2026)

Due Dates for E.O. 12372 Not Applicable

Required Application Instructions It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the Research (R) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide, except where instructed to do otherwise (in this NOFO or in a Notice from NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts).

Conformance to all requirements (both in the How to Apply - Application Guide and the NOFO) is required and strictly enforced. Applicants must read and follow all application instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide as well as any program-specific instructions noted in Section IV. When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the How to Apply - Application Guide, follow the program-specific instructions.

Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

There are several options available to submit your application through Grants.gov to NIH and Department of Health and Human Services partners. You must use one of these submission options to access the application forms for this opportunity.

• Use the NIH ASSIST system to prepare, submit and track your application online.
• Use an institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution to prepare and submit your application to Grants.gov and eRA Commons to track your application. Check with your institutional officials regarding availability.
• Use Grants.gov Workspace to prepare and submit your application and eRA Commons to track your application.

Table of Contents

• Part 1. Overview Information
• Part 2. Full Text of Announcement
  • Section I. Funding Opportunity Description
  • Section II. Award Information
    • Other Award Budget Information
  • Section III. Eligibility Information
  • Section IV. Application and Submission Information
  • Section V. Application Review Information
  • Section VI. Award Administration Information
  • Section VII. Agency Contacts
  • Section VIII. Other Information

Part 2. Full Text of Announcement

Section I. Funding Opportunity Description

The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research educational activities that complement other formal training programs in the mission areas of the NIH Institutes and Centers.

The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nation’s biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs.

Additionally, the program goal is to advance the priorities outlined in the Office of AIDS Research (OAR) Strategic Plan and the research program priorities of the NIMH Division of AIDS Research (DAR). Programs supported by this NOFO should advance the objectives and strategies of the Training, Infrastructure and Capacity Building Area of Emphasis from the Office of AIDS Research (OAR) Strategic Plan.

Specifically, the NIMH is interested in the development of research education programs that have a thematic concentration in behavioral and/or social science research priorities (e.g., HIV prevention and care continua; understanding and addressing HIV-related health disparities; dissemination and implementation science research), and/or HIV neuroscience research (e.g., HIV/CNS neuropathogenesis; genetics and therapeutics; HIV/CNS latency and cure strategies). To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this NOFO will support creative educational activities with a combined focus on:

Research Experiences:

For example, for undergraduate students: to provide hands-on exposure to research, to reinforce their intent to graduate with a science degree, and/or to prepare them for graduate school admissions and/or careers in research; for graduate and medical, dental, nursing and other health professional students: to provide research experiences and related training not available through formal NIH training mechanisms; for postdoctorates, medical residents and faculty: to extend their skills, experiences, and knowledge base.

Mentoring Activities:

For example, dedicated efforts at providing not only technical expertise, but advice, insight, and professional career skills to college students, graduate students, postdoctorates and/or early-career faculty.

An example of program structure might include but is not limited to: (1) short-term, intensive research education experiences in a laboratory and/or field setting designed for optimal mentee experience; and (2) generation/utilization of national mentoring networks comprised of a qualified pool of faculty serving as mentors across the nation. Proposed research education programs must include both activities noted above.

Program Considerations

This NOFO will support the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative research education mentoring programs encompassing HIV research topics; didactic content; and mentoring expertise that reflect the research priorities of the NIMH. Proposed activities should address the goal of developing a highly skilled biomedical HIV research workforce. HIV clinical trial networks and multi-site HIV cohort studies may provide a strong scientific environment in which mentoring programs can be embedded, taking advantage of existing resources, stable infrastructure, ongoing research projects, network longevity, rich databases, and accessibility of senior mentors. Such environments are especially primed to support research experiences and mentoring of individuals interested in behavioral and/or social science research related to HIV and/or neuroscience of HIV.

Participants may include undergraduate students, graduate/medical students, medical residents, postdoctoral fellows, and/or early-career faculty. Proposed programs may include individuals from a single career stage if it is targeting graduate/medical students, medical residents, postdoctoral fellows, and/or early-career faculty. Programs may also propose to bridge several career stages. If a program proposes to include undergraduate students, then the program is required to also include participants at another career stage. Depending on the target participants, the proposed programs may target individuals either with existing HIV research experience or those who are considering a career in an area relevant to HIV research. Research educational programs should provide intellectual, technical, theoretical and/or practical knowledge to promote the conduct of mentored HIV scientific inquiry and in turn advance the research career development of participants. Research Education Programs should be designed to develop a multidisciplinary mentoring team in an HIV thematic concentration consistent with current NIMH DAR research priorities. Programs are also encouraged to assist mentees and mentors in developing their own mentoring skills.

Mentees should be actively engaged in the program for a period of no less than one year, maintaining regular contact with mentors and peers within the program during that time. Expected outcomes for those mentees participating in the mentoring program include subsequent involvement in research, subsequent employment in an HIV research field, authorship of scientific publications, and/or subsequent independent research grant support from NIH or other sources.

Mentoring programs may be national or regional, or designed to link two or more complementary organizations or institutions. An applicant organization may wish to partner with other organizations to develop a national mentoring program.

The scope of a mentoring program should be broad enough to accomplish a set of goals rather than a single goal. For example, the program could advance the broad career goals of mentees; facilitate scholarly writing and grants personship; provide access to a network of skilled mentors who are outstanding researchers but not available at the home institution of the mentee; promote successful transitions from one career stage to another; provide leadership development; help to identify potential collaborators; and help to establish interdisciplinary or translational collaborations. However, it is expected that an over-arching goal of any mentoring program is to facilitate the professional success of mentees as independent researchers and members of the research community.

Consistent with the NIH global health research mission, NIMH is committed to developing clinical research expertise and sustainable research infrastructure both outside and within the United States. Although this research education opportunity is primarily for domestic programs, NIMH also encourages U.S.-based applications with Low- and Middle-Income Country (LMIC) sites. Inter-institutional collaborations could be useful when domestic institutions with foreign sites are involved and should build upon the pairing of mentors from different locations for an integrated approach.

Proposed programs should provide new and complementary opportunities that are substantially different from existing mentoring, networking, or research education programs within academic institutions, or pre-existing networks or educational collaborations among institutions. There should be a clearly defined “value added” from the proposed program. Also, the proposed programs should have sufficient faculty mentors with varying scientific expertise to support a well-balanced program and research context for proposed program mentees.

Programs should include:

• A theoretical framework to guide the mentoring program and career development activities;
• Resources and/or existing infrastructure (e.g., research centers, training grants) including partnerships and collaborations that can be leveraged to support a strong program;
• Evidence of how the program will promote integration and links among program components, mentors, and mentees such that the goals of this funding opportunity announcement are realized;
• Coordination of logistical and administrative tasks (when there are multiple sites and/or collaborative partnerships) through a primary or lead site; and
• A plan for evaluating the mentoring activities and the metrics to be used.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the listed Scientific/Research Contact(s) for current information about priorities and policies before preparing an application.

Research education programs may complement ongoing research training and education occurring at the applicant institution, but the proposed educational experiences must be distinct from those training and education programs currently receiving Federal support. R25 programs may augment institutional research training programs (e.g., T32, T90) but cannot be used to replace or circumvent Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) programs.

See Section VIII. Other Information for award authorities and regulations.

Section II. Award Information

Funding Instrument Grant: A financial assistance mechanism providing money, property, or both to an eligible entity to carry out an approved project or activity.

Application Types Allowed

• New
• Renewal
• Resubmission

The OER Glossary and the How to Apply - Application Guide provide details on these application types. Only those application types listed here are allowed for this NOFO.

Clinical Trial? Not Allowed: Only accepting applications that do not propose clinical trial(s). Note: Appointed participants are permitted to obtain research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor.

Need help determining whether you are doing a clinical trial?

Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards The number of awards is contingent upon NIH appropriations and the submission of a sufficient number of meritorious applications.

Award Budget Application budgets may not exceed $200,000 in direct costs annually and are expected to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

Award Project Period The total project period for an application may not exceed five years.

Other Award Budget Information

Personnel Costs Individuals designing, directing, and implementing the research education program may request salary and fringe benefits appropriate for the person months devoted to the program. Salaries requested may not exceed the levels commensurate with the institution's policy for similar positions and may not exceed the congressionally mandated cap. (If mentoring interactions and other activities with participants are considered a regular part of an individual's academic duties, then any costs associated with the mentoring and other interactions with participants are not allowable costs from grant funds).

Personnel costs (administrative and clerical costs, as well as salaries of the PD/PI and other investigators/faculty) associated with directing, coordinating, administering, and implementing the program should be well-justified, reasonable, and may not exceed 35% of the total direct costs in any year.

Participant Costs Participants may be compensated for participation in activities specifically required by the proposed research education program, if sufficiently justified. Participant costs must be itemized in the proposed budget.

Allowable participant costs depend on the educational level/career status of the individuals to be selected to participate in the program.

While generally not an allowable cost, with strong justification, participants in the research education program may receive per diem unless such costs are furnished as part of the registration fee. Participants may also receive funds to defray partial tuition and other education-related expenses.

Expenses for foreign travel must be exceptionally well justified.

Individuals supported by NIH training and career development mechanisms (K, T, or F awards) may receive, and indeed are encouraged to receive, educational experiences supported by an R25 program, as participants, but may not receive salary or stipend supplementation from a research education program.

Because the R25 program is not intended as a substitute for an NRSA institutional training program (e.g., T32), costs to support full-time participants (supported for 40 hours/week for a continuous, 12-month period) are not allowable.

Other Program-Related Expenses Consultant costs, equipment, supplies, travel for key persons, and other program-related expenses may be included in the proposed budget. These expenses must be justified as specifically required by the proposed program and must not duplicate items generally available at the applicant institution.

Consultant costs may not be used to substitute for Personnel costs. Well-justified costs for supplies are allowable. Funds are allowable that can support an educational research activity that is part of a research study that is led by a mentor or co-mentor or an educational research activity that is IRB exempt. "Seed" or pilot funds to support independent research project activities are not allowable costs.

Indirect Costs Indirect Costs (also known as Facilities & Administrative [F&A] Costs) are reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs (exclusive of tuition and fees, expenditures for equipment and consortium costs in excess of $25,000), rather than on the basis of a negotiated rate agreement.

NIH grants policies as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement will apply to the applications submitted and awards made from this NOFO.

Section III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

Eligible Organizations

• Higher Education Institutions
  • Public/State Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
  • Private Institutions of Higher Education
• Nonprofits Other Than Institutions of Higher Education
  • Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
  • Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other than Institutions of Higher Education)
• For-Profit Organizations
  • Small Businesses
  • For-Profit Organizations (Other than Small Businesses)
• Local Governments
  • State Governments
  • County Governments
  • City or Township Governments
  • Special District Governments
• Indian/Native American Tribal Governments
  • Federally Recognized
  • Other than Federally Recognized
• Federal Governments
• U.S. Territory or Possession
• Other
  • Independent School Districts
  • Public Housing Authorities/Indian Housing Authorities
  • Native American Tribal Organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
  • Faith-based or Community-based Organizations
  • Regional Organizations

The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program. Appropriate institutional commitment to the program includes the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planned program.

Institutions with existing Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) institutional training grants (e.g., T32) or other Federally funded training programs may apply for a research education grant provided that the proposed educational experiences are distinct from those training programs receiving federal support. In many cases, it is anticipated that the proposed research education program will complement ongoing research training occurring at the applicant institution.

Foreign Organizations

• Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.
• Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are eligible to apply.
• Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.

Required Registrations

Applicant Organizations Applicant organizations must complete and maintain the following registrations as described in the How to Apply - Application Guide to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. Registration can take 6 weeks or more, so applicants should begin the registration process as soon as possible. Failure to complete registrations in advance of a due date is not a valid reason for a late submission, please reference NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.9.2 Electronically Submitted Applications for additional information.

• System for Award Management (SAM) – Applicants must complete and maintain an active registration, which requires renewal at least annually. The renewal process may require as much time as the initial registration. SAM registration includes the assignment of a Commercial and Government Entity (CAGE) Code for domestic organizations which have not already been assigned a CAGE Code.
• NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code – Foreign organizations must obtain an NCAGE code (in lieu of a CAGE code) in order to register in SAM.
• Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) – A UEI is issued as part of the SAM.gov registration process. The same UEI must be used for all registrations, as well as on the grant application.
• eRA Commons - Once the unique organization identifier is established, organizations can register with eRA Commons in tandem with completing their Grants.gov registration; all registrations must be in place by time of submission. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application.
• Grants.gov – Applicants must have an active SAM registration in order to complete the Grants.gov registration.

Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD(s)/PI(s)) All PD(s)/PI(s) must have an eRA Commons account. PD(s)/PI(s) should work with their organizational officials to either create a new account or to affiliate their existing account with the applicant organization in eRA Commons. If the PD/PI is also the organizational Signing Official, they must have two distinct eRA Commons accounts, one for each role. Obtaining an eRA Commons account can take up to 2 weeks.

Eligible Individuals (Program Director/Principal Investigator)

Any individual(s) with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as the Program Director(s)/Principal Investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) is invited to work with their organization to develop an application for support.

For institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs, visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the How to Apply - Application Guide.

The PD/PI should be an established investigator in the scientific area in which the application is targeted and capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program. The PD/PI will be expected to monitor and assess the program and submit all documents and reports as required.

The PD/PI should have a strong track record as an educator and mentor in an area relevant to the scientific focus of the proposed mentoring program and have a history of NIH funding.

2. Cost Sharing

This NOFO does not require cost sharing as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 1.2 Definition of Terms.

3. Additional Information on Eligibility

Number of Applications Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.

NIH will not accept duplicate or highly overlapping applications under review at the same time per NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.7.4 Submission of Resubmission Application. This means that the NIH will not accept:

• A new (A0) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of an overlapping new (A0) or resubmission (A1) application.
• A resubmission (A1) application that is submitted before issuance of the summary statement from the review of the previous new (A0) application.
• An application that has substantial overlap with another application pending appeal of initial peer review. (see NIH Grants Policy Statement 2.3.9.4 Similar, Essentially Identical, or Identical Applications)

Program Faculty Mentors must be committed to continue their involvement throughout the total period of the mentee’s participation in this award.

Participants Participants (i.e., mentees) are limited to undergraduate students, graduate/medical students, medical residents, postdoctoral fellows, and/or early stage investigators. Proposed program participants may include individuals that bridge several career stages, or from a single career stage (except when including undergraduate students; if an application proposes to include undergraduate students, then the application must propose to include participants from another career stage as well). Depending on the target participants, the proposed programs may target individuals at different career stages, who have either existing HIV research experience or those who are considering a career in an area relevant to HIV research. Participants should be actively engaged in the mentoring and research experience, maintaining regular contact with mentors and peers within the program during that time.

Unless strongly justified on the basis of exceptional relevance to NIH, research education programs should be used primarily for the education of U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Section IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Requesting an Application Package

The application forms package specific to this opportunity must be accessed through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace or an institutional system-to-system solution. Links to apply using ASSIST or Grants.gov Workspace are available in Part 1 of this NOFO. See your administrative office for instructions if you plan to use an institutional system-to-system solution.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

It is critical that applicants follow the instructions in the Research (R) Instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide, except where instructed in this Notice of Funding Opportunity to do otherwise. Conformance to the requirements in the How to Apply - Application Guide is required and strictly enforced. Applications that are out of compliance with these instructions will not be reviewed.

Letter of Intent Although a letter of intent is not required, is not binding, and does not enter into the review of a subsequent application, the information that it contains allows IC staff to estimate the potential review workload and plan the review.

By the date listed in Part 1. Overview Information, prospective applicants are asked to submit a letter of intent that includes the following information:

• Descriptive title of proposed activity
• Name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s) of the PD(s)/PI(s)
• Names of other key personnel
• Participating institution(s)
• Number and title of this funding opportunity

The letter of intent should be sent to: Email: [email protected]

Page Limitations All page limitations described in the How to Apply - Application Guide and the Table of Page Limits must be followed.

Instructions for Application Submission The following section supplements the instructions found in the How to Apply - Application Guide and should be used for preparing an application to this NOFO.

• SF424(R&R) Cover Follow all instructions provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

• SF424(R&R) Project/Performance Site Locations Follow all instructions provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

• SF424(R&R) Other Project Information Component Follow all instructions provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide with the following additional modifications:

  • Facilities & Other Resources. Describe the educational environment, including the facilities, laboratories, participating departments, computer services, and any other resources to be used in the development and implementation of the proposed program. List all thematically related sources of support for research training and education following the format for Current and Pending Support. Appropriate institutional commitment should include the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planned research education program.
  • Other Attachments. An Advisory Committee is not a required component of a Research Education program. However, if an Advisory Committee is intended, provide a plan for the appointment of an Advisory Committee to monitor progress of the research education program. The composition, roles, responsibilities, and desired expertise of committee members, frequency of committee meetings, and other relevant information should be included. Describe how the Advisory Committee will evaluate the overall effectiveness of the program. Proposed Advisory Committee members should be named in the application if they have been invited to participate at the time the application is submitted. Renewal applications with Advisory Committees should include the names of all committee members during the past project period. Please name your file “Advisory_Committee.pdf”. The filename provided for each “Other Attachment” will be the name used for the bookmark in the electronic application in eRA Commons.

• SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile Expanded Follow all instructions provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

• R&R Budget Follow all instructions provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide with the following additional modifications:

  • Include all personnel other than the PD(s)/PI(s) in the Other Personnel section, including clerical and administrative staff.
  • Use the section on Participant/Trainee Support Costs to include all allowable categories of funds requested to support participants (i.e., mentees) in the program.
  • Personnel costs may not exceed 35% of the total direct costs in any year. Consultant costs may not be used to substitute for personnel costs.

• PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement Follow all instructions provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

• PHS 398 Research Plan All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed, with the following additional instructions: The Research Strategy section must be used to upload the Research Education Program Plan, which must include the following components described below:

  • Proposed Research Education Program
  • Program Director/Principal Investigator
  • Program Faculty
  • Program Participants
  • Institutional Environment and Commitment
  • Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research
  • Evaluation Plan
  • Dissemination Plan

  Research Education Program Plan

  • Proposed Research Education Program. While the proposed research education program may complement ongoing research training and education occurring at the applicant institution, the proposed educational experiences must be distinct from those research training and research education programs currently receiving federal support. When research training programs are on-going in the same department, the applicant organization should clearly distinguish between the activities in the proposed research education program and the research training supported by the training program. As a reminder, applicants may choose to address one or more of the activities listed in Section I. Funding Opportunity Description.

    The description must include the educational and/or career level(s) of the planned participants. The career stage focus of the proposed program should be justified along with the need for/degree of prior HIV research experience required for participation.

    Applicants must propose a program that includes mentoring, resources, and interactive opportunities in a specific scientific content area as the framework for the proposed research experience and mentoring program. Describe the rationale for the mentoring model and the scientific content area chosen, as well as the relationship of the scientific content area to the priorities outlined in the Office of AIDS Research (OAR) Strategic Plan and the research program priorities of the NIMH Division of AIDS Research (DAR). The chosen content area should be of sufficient breadth to provide reasonable assurance of the ability to recruit a high-quality pool of potential participants annually and to ensure that a critical mass of mentors and mentees is involved in the program. The program should enhance the participants' professional development and foster their career trajectories towards independent HIV research.

    Describe the framework for, and the components of, the proposed research experience and mentoring program, e.g., their rationale, the grounding in experience and pedagogical theory, and the justification in terms of the long-term goals of the proposed research experience and mentoring program. Describe how state-of-the-art approaches to mentoring, research education, and scholarship will be employed in the program.

    Describe the scientific need for and timeliness of the program, how the program complements existing training or didactic opportunities (as appropriate), how educational goals and objectives relate to the mission and current research priorities of the NIMH, and the rationale for the career stage(s) of the participants in the proposed research experience and mentoring program. Provide programmatic detail on the specific activities proposed (e.g., curricula, seminars, involvement in hands-on research activities at the mentee’s home institution), and how the accomplishment of objectives will be measured. Describe expected processes for (a) planning and implementing the proposed educational activities, (b) selecting mentors for participants, and (c) if applicable, coordinating among existing training or research activities available at a site or across multiple sites. Note that there should be a clear “value added” from the proposed, R25-supported research experience and mentoring program. Describe how the research experience and mentoring program may be modified over time depending upon the outcome of initial progress, feedback from participants and mentors, and/or new developments in the field, in order to ensure that the research education continues to be at the cutting edge.

    Describe the proposed structure of the program. It is expected that a combination of didactic interactions (e.g., in the form of summer institutes of weekly to monthly duration and/or regularly occurring webinars), one-on-one, and small group discussions will be components of any proposed research experience and mentoring program. Both formal and informal interactions between mentors and participants are expected. Applicants are encouraged to take advantage of contemporary communication strategies (e.g., distance learning and social networking), as appropriate for the goals of their program.

    The application must describe how mentors will provide participants with an introduction to the principles underlying rigorous and reproducible research during the course of their research experience (see the NIMH page on rigorous study design and reporting). To the extent feasible in a research experience program, mentors are encouraged to foster participants' education in quantitative reasoning, experimental design, statistics, and analytic techniques.

    Since collaborative mentoring occurs at a group level to strengthen the practice of mentoring and share new resources, applications should include an integrated combination of research and academic interactions, defined to include but not be limited to summer institutes of weekly to monthly duration or regularly occurring webinars; individual and small group discussions; and formal and informal interactions between mentors and participants. Proposed programs are expected to incorporate research educational opportunities that will help individuals move a step forward towards productive careers as HIV research scientists.

    A plan for program leadership must be provided. The plan should describe leadership team responsibilities, frequency of meetings, and other relevant information. This plan must not overlap with the Multiple PD/PI plan, if applicable. The plan should describe the leadership team, including composition, roles and responsibilities, frequency of meetings, and other relevant information. Describe the process by which the leadership team will review and select participants, provide oversight for the program components, and evaluate the overall effectiveness of the program. Key leadership team members, including PD/PIs or leaders from each participating institution or organization, should be identified in the application; other leadership team members may be appointed at a later date. However, in renewal applications, leadership team members should be named.

    The proposed program must include each of the two types of activities: Mentoring Activities and Research Experiences. The emphasis on both activities does not need to be equal and the application should include a justification for the level of emphasis placed on each activity.

    • Mentoring Activities: The mentorship plan must include:

      • Description of the nature of the mentorship provided to participants within the mentoring "institute" or within the mentoring network;
      • Description of the development and use of Individual Development Plans (each Individual Development Plan should include a clear description of participant objectives, and a timeline for the mentee’s experience within the program, including how the program will help guide the transition of the mentee to the next career stage);
      • Detailed process for matching mentor with participant, with strategies to facilitate appropriate mentor-mentee interactions necessary to achieve the stated objectives and a plan for how to handle conflicts between mentors and participants;
      • A process to standardize mentoring activities to assure specific and stage-appropriate milestones, including plans for transition, taking into account typical barriers likely to be encountered by the participants; and
      • Plan to assess the effectiveness of the program for each participant. Some features might include meetings for research participant presentations and critiques, workshops/seminars for grantsmanship and the grants process, collaborative mentoring activities such as interactive webinars and webcasts.

    • Research Experience: The plan for research experiences must include:

      • Description of the phases of the research experience with special attention to outcomes (e.g., presentation/publication/grant submission);
      • Identification of qualified research mentoring faculty;
      • Detailed process for determining the best research experience for each participant;
      • Justification of the selected research areas relative to the mission of NIMH/DAR; and
      • Milestone plan for participant presentation, publication or grant submissions. For those participants who are not considered to be ready for their own research project, research shadow mentoring should be employed as a form of experiential learning.

    For Renewal Applications, the Progress Report must describe:

    • The previously supported research education program and its objectives;
    • Results of the outcomes measured;
    • The number and academic-stage or career-stage characteristics of participants in the past project period;
    • Materials disseminated; and
    • Any changes in administration, program design/objectives, or targeted participant groups during the prior funding period.

    The description of the proposed program for the next funding period must document a clear need for continued support, and should highlight how the program continues to offer quality scientific education as well as any changes in activities that are planned to maintain the currency of the research education offered. Renewal applications should describe the continuing need for the existing program to advance NIMH's goal of a well-trained pool of researchers with state-of-the-art knowledge and skills essential for achieving the Institute's research priorities. Please note that the race, ethnicity, or sex of prospective or past participants will not be considered in the application review process or when making funding decisions.

  • Program Director/Principal Investigator. Describe arrangements for administration of the program. Provide evidence that the Program Director/Principal Investigator is actively engaged in research and/or teaching in an area related to the mission of NIH, and can organize, administer, monitor, and evaluate the research education program. For programs proposing multiple PDs/PIs, describe the complementary and integrated expertise of the PDs/PIs, their leadership approach, and governance appropriate for the planned project.

  • Program Faculty. Faculty should have research expertise and experience relevant to the proposed program and demonstrate a history of, or the potential for, their intended roles. The application should include the anticipated number of mentors who will participate in the mentoring network and their desired qualifications. The application should document availability and access to qualified faculty mentors and to research resources. Describe the planned recruitment for mentors as well as eligibility, selection, evaluation, and removal criteria. Describe the responsibilities of mentors. Mentors should have research expertise and experience relevant to the proposed program, a track record of mentoring individuals at the career stage(s) proposed in the application, and a record of leadership related to training and career development programs or activities.

  • Program Participants. Applications must describe the intended participants, and the eligibility criteria and/or specific educational background characteristics that are essential for participation in the proposed research education program. Identify the career levels for which the proposed program is planned along with a rationale for the selected career level(s). Provide details about plans for recruiting and selecting participants. Describe the pool from which participants will be selected regionally and/or nationally (including the anticipated size of the pool, expected qualifications of the applicants, and source(s) of this pool). Describe plans for announcing and advertising the program nationally or regionally, application procedures, and criteria for evaluation and selection of participants including information about plans to recruit and select participants whose research interests intersect with the strategic objectives of the Division of AIDS Research. Describe how participants will be matched with mentors. Describe planned methods for reviewing the progress of participants and for identifying and addressing any problems.

  • Institutional Environment and Commitment. Describe any additional aspects of the Institutional Environment and Commitment not addressed under “Facilities & Other Resources” or the required “Institutional Commitment Letter of Support,” described below. Appropriate institutional commitment should include the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planned research education program. This section should not duplicate information provided elsewhere.

  • Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research. All applications must include a plan to fulfill NIH requirements for instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR). The plan must address the five, required instructional components outlined in the NIH policy: 1) Format - the required format of instruction, i.e., face-to-face lectures, coursework, and/or real-time discussion groups (a plan with only on-line instruction is not acceptable); 2) Subject Matter - the breadth of subject matter, e.g., conflict of interest, authorship, data management, human subjects and animal use, laboratory safety, research misconduct, research ethics; 3) Faculty Participation - the role of the program faculty in the instruction; 4) Duration of Instruction - the number of contact hours of instruction, taking into consideration the duration of the program; and 5) Frequency of Instruction – instruction must occur during each career stage and at least once every four years. See also NOT-OD-10-019. The plan should be appropriate and reasonable for the nature and duration of the proposed program. Renewal (Type 2) applications must, in addition, describe any changes in formal instruction over the past project period and plans to address any weaknesses in the current instruction plan. All participating faculty who served as course directors, speakers, lecturers, and/or discussion leaders during the past project period must be named in the application.

    Applications lacking a plan for instruction in responsible conduct of research will not be reviewed.

  • Evaluation Plan. Applications must include a plan for evaluating the activities supported by the award. The application must specify baseline metrics (e.g., numbers, educational levels, and demographic characteristics of participants), as well as measures to gauge the short or long-term success of the research education award in achieving its objectives. Wherever appropriate, applicants are encouraged to obtain feedback from participants and mentors to help identify weaknesses and to provide suggestions for improvements. Please note that the race, ethnicity, or sex of faculty or participants will not be considered in the application review process or when making funding decisions.

  • Dissemination Plan. A specific plan must be provided to disseminate nationally any findings resulting from or materials developed under the auspices of the research education program, e.g., sharing course curricula and related materials via web postings, presentations at scientific meetings, workshops.

Letters of Support A letter of institutional commitment must be attached as part of Letters of Support (see section above: ”Institutional Environment and Commitment.")

Resource Sharing Plan Individuals are required to comply with the instructions for the Resource Sharing Plans as provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide, with the following modification: When relevant, applications are expected to include a software dissemination plan if support for development, maintenance, or enhancement of software is requested in the application. There is no prescribed single license for software produced. However, the software dissemination plan should address, as appropriate, the following goals:

• Software source code should be freely available to biomedical researchers and educators in the non-profit sector, such as institutions of education, research institutions, and government laboratories. Users should be permitted to modify the code and share their modifications with others.
• The terms of software availability should permit the commercialization of enhanced or customized versions of the software, or incorporation of the software or pieces of it into other software packages.
• To preserve utility to the community, the software should be transferable such that another individual or team can continue development in the event that the original investigators are unwilling or unable to do so.

Appendix Only limited Appendix materials are allowed. Follow the instructions for the Appendix as described in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information When involving human subjects research, clinical research, and/or NIH-defined clinical trials (and when applicable, clinical trials research experience) follow all instructions for the PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form in the How to Apply - Application Guide, with the following additional instructions:

• If you answered “Yes” to the question “Are Human Subjects Involved?” on the R&R Other Project Information form, you must include at least one human subjects study record using the Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information form or Delayed Onset Study record.
  • Study Record: PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information All instructions in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide must be followed.
  • Delayed Onset Study Note: Delayed onset does NOT apply to a study that can be described but will not start immediately (i.e., delayed start). All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.

PHS Assignment Request Form All instructions in the How to Apply - Application Guide must be followed.

3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

See Part 2. Section III.1 for information regarding the requirement for obtaining a unique entity identifier and for completing and maintaining active registrations in System for Award Management (SAM), NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) Code (if applicable), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov.

4. Submission Dates and Times

Part I. contains information about Key Dates and times. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications before the due date to ensure they have time to make any application corrections that might be necessary for successful submission. When a submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.

Organizations must submit applications to Grants.gov (the online portal to find and apply for grants across all Federal agencies). Applicants must then complete the submission process by tracking the status of the application in the eRA Commons, NIH’s electronic system for grants administration. NIH and Grants.gov systems check the application against many of the application instructions upon submission. Errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application must be submitted to Grants.gov on or before the application due date and time. If a Changed/Corrected application is submitted after the deadline, the application will be considered late. Applications that miss the due date and time are subjected to the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.3.9.2 Electronically Submitted Applications.

Applicants are responsible for viewing their application before the due date in the eRA Commons to ensure accurate and successful submission.

Information on the submission process and a definition of on-time submission are provided in the How to Apply - Application Guide.

5. Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)

This initiative is not subject to intergovernmental review.

6. Funding Restrictions

All NIH awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Pre-award costs are allowable only as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 7.9.1 Selected Items of Cost.

7. Other Submission Requirements and Information

Applications must be submitted electronically following the instructions described in the How to Apply - Application Guide. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Applicants must complete all required registrations before the application due date. Section III. Eligibility Information contains information about registration.

For assistance with your electronic application or for more information on the electronic submission process, visit How to Apply – Application Guide. If you encounter a system issue beyond your control that threatens your ability to complete the submission process on-time, you must follow the Dealing with System Issues guidance. For assistance with application submission, contact the Application Submission Contacts in Section VII.

Important reminders:

• All PD(s)/PI(s) must include their eRA Commons ID in the Credential field of the Senior/Key Person Profile form.
• Failure to register in the Commons and to include a valid PD/PI Commons ID in the credential field will prevent the successful submission of an electronic application to NIH.
• The applicant organization must ensure that the unique entity identifier provided on the application is the same identifier used in the organization’s profile in the eRA Commons and for the System for Award Management. Additional information may be found in the How to Apply - Application Guide.
• See more tips for avoiding common errors.

Upon receipt, applications will be evaluated for completeness and compliance with application instructions by the Center for Scientific Review, NIH. Applications that are incomplete or non-compliant will not be reviewed.

Post Submission Materials Applicants are required to follow the instructions for post-submission materials, as described in the policy.

Section V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

Only the review criteria described below will be considered in the review process. Applications submitted to the NIH in support of the NIH mission are evaluated for scientific and technical merit through the NIH peer review system.

For this particular announcement, note the following: The goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that will enhance the mentees’ professional development and foster their career trajectories towards independent HIV research. Applications should be characterized by state-of-the-art approaches to mentoring and research education, scholarship, and documentation of a strong need in the research community for the proposed mentored research education program. Renewal applications should also demonstrate a continuing need for the existing program to advance NIMH's goal of a well-trained pool of researchers with state-of-the-art knowledge and skills essential for achieving the Institute's research priorities.

Overall Impact

Reviewers will provide an overall impact score to reflect their assessment of the likelihood for the project to strongly advance research education by fulfilling the goal of this research education program, in consideration of the following review criteria and additional review criteria, as applicable for the project proposed.

Scored Review Criteria

Reviewers will consider each of the review criteria below in the determination of scientific merit and give a separate score for each. An application does not need to be strong in all categories to be judged likely to have major scientific impact.

• Significance Does the proposed program address a key audience and an important aspect or important need in research education? Is there convincing evidence in the application that the proposed program will significantly advance the stated goal of the program?

  • Specific to this NOFO: To what extent will implementation of the proposed program enhance the professional development of the mentees and foster their career trajectories towards HIV research independence?

• Investigator(s) Is the PD/PI capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership to the development and implementation of the proposed program? Is there evidence that an appropriate level of effort will be devoted by the program leadership to ensure the program's intended goal is accomplished? If applicable, is there evidence that the participating faculty have experience in mentoring students and teaching science? If applicable, are the faculty good role models for the participants by nature of their scientific accomplishments? If the project is collaborative or multi-PD/PI, do the investigators have complementary and integrated expertise; are their leadership approach, governance, and organizational structure appropriate for the project?

  • Specific to this NOFO: How appropriate is the program leadership and participating faculty, in terms of their research interests, expertise, mentoring records and research education leadership in the area of the proposed program?

• Innovation Taking into consideration the nature of the proposed research education program, does the applicant make a strong case for this program effectively reaching an audience in need of the program’s offerings? Where appropriate, is the proposed program developing or utilizing innovative approaches and latest best practices to improve the knowledge and/or skills of the intended audience?

  • Specific to this NOFO: How well described is the proposed program’s unique "value added" beyond other career development opportunities at the applicant institution?

• Approach Does the proposed program clearly state its goals and objectives, including the educational level of the audience to be reached, the content to be conveyed, and the intended outcome? Is there evidence that the program is based on a sound rationale, as well as sound educational concepts and principles? Is the plan for evaluation sound and likely to provide information on the effectiveness of the program? If the proposed program will recruit participants, are the planned recruitment, retention, and follow-up (if applicable) activities adequate to ensure a highly qualified participant pool?

  • Specific to this NOFO:
    • How feasible and appropriate is the approach to achieve the stated research education goals?
    • How well described is the balance between the mentoring activities and research experiences?
    • How sufficient is the interaction planned between faculty/mentors and mentees to achieve the goals of the program?
    • How well described is the description of the sources of the pool of expected mentees and their qualifications?
    • How well described are the stated plans for announcing and advertising the program, recruiting mentees regionally or nationally, application procedures, and criteria for evaluation and selection of mentees appropriate to achieve a highly qualified cohort of mentees?
    • How adequate is the evaluation plan in describing how outcomes will be determined and evaluated?
    • How well are potential problems and alternate strategies discussed?

• Environment Will the scientific and educational environment of the proposed program contribute to its intended goals? Is there a plan to take advantage of this environment to enhance the educational value of the program? Is there tangible evidence of institutional commitment? Is there evidence that the faculty have sufficient institutional support to create a sound educational environment for the participants? Where appropriate, is there evidence of collaboration and buy-in among participating programs, departments, and institutions?

  • Specific to this NOFO:
    • If multiple sites are participating, to what extent is this adequately justified in terms of the research education experiences provided?
    • How adequate are the plans for coordination and communication between multiple sites (if appropriate) as well as coordination among other training or career development programs (if applicable)?

Additional Review Criteria

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will evaluate the following additional items while determining scientific and technical merit, and in providing an overall impact score, but will not give separate scores for these items.

• Protections for Human Subjects For research that involves human subjects but does not involve one of the categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate the justification for involvement of human subjects and the proposed protections from research risk relating to their participation according to the following five review criteria: (1) risk to subjects, (2) adequacy of protection against risks, (3) potential benefits to the subjects and others, (4) importance of the knowledge to be gained, and (5) data and safety monitoring for clinical trials. For research that involves human subjects and meets the criteria for one or more of the categories of research that are exempt under 45 CFR Part 46, the committee will evaluate: (1) the justification for the exemption, (2) human subjects involvement and characteristics, and (3) sources of materials. For additional information on review of the Human Subjects section, please refer to the Guidelines for the Review of Human Subjects.

• Inclusion of Women, Minorities, and Individuals Across the Lifespan When the proposed project involves human subjects and/or NIH-defined clinical research, the committee will evaluate the proposed plans for the inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals on the basis of sex, race, and ethnicity, as well as the inclusion (or exclusion) of individuals of all ages (including children and older adults), as required by statute, to determine if it is justified in terms of the scientific goals and research strategy proposed. For additional information on review of the Inclusion section, please refer to the Guidelines for the Review of Inclusion in Clinical Research.

• Vertebrate Animals The committee will evaluate the involvement of live vertebrate animals as part of the scientific assessment according to the following three points: (1) a complete description of all proposed procedures including the species, strains, ages, sex, and total numbers of animals to be used; (2) justifications that the species is appropriate for the proposed research and why the research goals cannot be accomplished using an alternative non-animal model; and (3) interventions including analgesia, anesthesia, sedation, palliative care, and humane endpoints that will be used to limit any unavoidable discomfort, distress, pain and injury in the conduct of scientifically valuable research. Methods of euthanasia and justification for selected methods, if NOT consistent with the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals, is also required but is found in a separate section of the application. For additional information on review of the Vertebrate Animals section, please refer to the Worksheet for Review of the Vertebrate Animals Section.

• Biohazards Reviewers will assess whether materials or procedures proposed are potentially hazardous to research personnel and/or the environment, and if needed, determine whether adequate protection is proposed.

• Training in Methods for Enhancing Reproducibility Does the Instruction in Methods for Enhancing Reproducibility plan describe how participants will be instructed in principles important for enhancing research reproducibility including, at a minimum, evaluation of foundational research underlying a project (i.e., scientific premise), rigorous experimental design, consideration of relevant biological variables such as sex, authentication of key biological and/or chemical resources, data and material sharing, record keeping, and transparency in reporting? Are the rigor and transparency components sufficiently well integrated into the overall curriculum? Are they taught at multiple stages of participant development and in a variety of formats and contexts? Does the teaching synergize with elements of the curriculum designed to enhance participants' abilities to conduct responsible research? Is there evidence that all program faculty reiterate and augment key elements of methods for enhancing reproducibility when participants are performing mentored research in their laboratories?

• Resubmissions For Resubmissions, the committee will evaluate the application as now presented, taking into consideration the responses to comments from the previous scientific review group and changes made to the project.

• Renewals For Renewals, the committee will consider the progress made in the last funding period, and the success of the program in accomplishing program goals.

• Revisions Not Applicable

Additional Review Considerations

As applicable for the project proposed, reviewers will consider each of the following items, but will not give scores for these items, and should not consider them in providing an overall impact score.

• Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research Taking into account the specific characteristics of the proposed research education program, the level of participant experience, the reviewers will evaluate the adequacy of the proposed RCR training in relation to the following five required components: 1) Format - the required format of instruction, i.e., face-to-face lectures, coursework, and/or real-time discussion groups (a plan with only on-line instruction is not acceptable); 2) Subject Matter - the breadth of subject matter, e.g., conflict of interest, authorship, data management, human subjects and animal use, laboratory safety, research misconduct, research ethics; 3) Faculty Participation - the role of the program faculty in the instruction; 4) Duration of Instruction - the number of contact hours of instruction, taking into consideration the duration of the program; and 5) Frequency of Instruction – instruction must occur during each career stage and at least once every four years. See also: NOT-OD-10-019 and NOT-OD-22-055. The review panel’s evaluation will be included in the summary statement. Plans will be rated as acceptable or unacceptable, and the summary statement will provide the consensus of the review committee.

• Applications from Foreign Organizations Not Applicable

• Select Agent Research Generally not applicable. Reviewers should bring any concerns to the attention of the Scientific Review Officer.

• Resource Sharing Plans Reviewers will comment on whether the Resource Sharing Plan(s) (e.g., Sharing Model Organisms) or the rationale for not sharing the resources, is reasonable. If support for development, maintenance, or enhancement of software is requested in the application, the reviewers will comment on the proposed software dissemination plan.

• Budget and Period of Support Reviewers will consider whether the budget and the requested period of support are fully justified and reasonable in relation to the proposed research.

2. Review and Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated for scientific and technical merit by (an) appropriate Scientific Review Group(s), convened by the NIMH, in accordance with NIH peer review policy and procedures, using the stated review criteria. Assignment to a Scientific Review Group will be shown in the eRA Commons.

As part of the scientific peer review, all applications will receive a written critique.

Applications may undergo a selection process in which only those applications deemed to have the highest scientific and technical merit (generally the top half of applications under review) will be discussed and assigned an overall impact score.

Applications will be assigned on the basis of established PHS referral guidelines to the appropriate NIH Institute or Center. Applications will compete for available funds with all other recommended applications. Following initial peer review, recommended applications will receive a second level of review by the National Advisory Mental Health Council. The following will be considered in making funding decisions:

• Scientific and technical merit of the proposed project as determined by scientific peer review.
• Availability of funds.
• Relevance of the proposed project to program priorities.

3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates

After the peer review of the application is completed, the PD/PI will be able to access his or her Summary Statement (written critique) via the eRA Commons. Refer to Part 1 for dates for peer review, advisory council review, and earliest start date.

Information regarding the disposition of applications is available in the NIH Grants Policy Statement Section 2.4.4 Disposition of Applications.

Section VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

If the application is under consideration for funding, NIH will request "just-in-time" information from the applicant as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. This request is not a Notice of Award nor should it be construed to be an indicator of possible funding.

A formal notification in the form of a Notice of Award (NoA) will be provided to the applicant organization for successful applications. The NoA signed by the grants management officer is the authorizing document and will be sent via email to the recipient’s business official.

Recipients must comply with any funding restrictions described in Section IV.6. Funding Restrictions. Selection of an application for award is not an authorization to begin performance. Any costs incurred before receipt of the NoA are at the recipient's risk. These costs may be reimbursed only to the extent considered allowable pre-award costs.

Any application awarded in response to this NOFO will be subject to terms and conditions found on the Award Conditions and Information for NIH Grants website. This includes any recent legislation and policy applicable to awards that is highlighted on this website.

Institutional Review Board or Independent Ethics Committee Approval: Recipient institutions must ensure that protocols are reviewed by their IRB or IEC. To help ensure the safety of participants enrolled in NIH-funded studies, the recipient must provide NIH copies of documents related to all major changes in the status of ongoing protocols.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

All NIH grant and cooperative agreement awards include the NIH Grants Policy Statement as part of the NoA. For these terms of award, see the NIH Grants Policy Statement Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart A: General and Part II: Terms and Conditions of NIH Grant Awards, Subpart B: Terms and Conditions for Specific Types of Grants, Recipients, and Activities, including of note, but not limited to:

• Federalwide Standard Terms and Conditions for Research Grants
• Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment
• Acknowledgment of Federal Funding

If a recipient is successful and receives a Notice of Award, in accepting the award, the recipient agrees that any activities under the award are subject to all provisions currently in effect or implemented during the period of the award, other Department regulations and policies in effect at the time of the award, and applicable statutory provisions.

If a recipient receives an award, the recipient must follow all applicable nondiscrimination laws. The recipient agrees to this when registering in SAM.gov. The recipient must also submit an Assurance of Compliance (HHS-690). To learn more, see the Laws and Regulations Enforced by the HHS Office for Civil Rights website.

HHS recognizes that NIH research projects are often limited in scope for many reasons that are nondiscriminatory, such as the principal investigator’s scientific interest, funding limitations, recruitment requirements, and other considerations. Thus, criteria in research protocols that target or exclude certain populations are warranted where nondiscriminatory justifications establish that such criteria are appropriate with respect to the health or safety of the subjects, the scientific study design, or the purpose of the research. For additional guidance regarding how the provisions apply to NIH grant programs, please contact the Scientific/Research Contact that is identified in Section VII under Agency Contacts of this NOFO.

In accordance with the statutory provisions contained in Section 872 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2009 (Public Law 110-417), NIH awards will be subject to System for Award Management (SAM.gov) requirements. SAM.gov requires Federal agencies to review and consider information about an applicant in the designated integrity and performance system (currently SAM.gov) prior to making an award. An applicant can review and comment on any information in the responsibility/qualification records available in SAM.gov. NIH will consider any comments by the applicant, in addition to the information available in the responsibility/qualification records in SAM.gov, in making a judgement about the applicant’s integrity, business ethics, and record of performance under Federal awards when completing the review of risk posed by applicants as described in 2 CFR Part 200.206 “Federal awarding agency review of risk posed by applicants.” This provision will apply to all NIH grants and cooperative agreements except fellowships.

Cooperative Agreement Terms and Conditions of Award Not Applicable

3. Data Management and Sharing

Consistent with the 2023 NIH Policy for Data Management and Sharing, when data management and sharing is applicable to the award, recipients will be required to adhere to the Data Management and Sharing requirements as outlined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement. Upon the approval of a Data Management and Sharing Plan, it is required for recipients to implement the plan as described.

Not applicable for R25 research education program awards.

4. Reporting

When multiple years are involved, recipients will be required to submit the Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) annually. Continuation support will not be provided until the required forms are submitted and accepted. Programs that involve participants should report on education in the responsible conduct of research, in accordance with the RPPR Instruction Guide.

NIH NOFOs outline intended research goals and objectives. Post award, NIH will review and measure performance based on the details and outcomes that are shared within the RPPR, as described at 2 CFR 200.301.

The Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 as amended (FFATA), includes a requirement for recipients of Federal grants to report information about first-tier subawards and executive compensation under Federal assistance awards issued in FY2011 or later. All recipients of applicable NIH grants and cooperative agreements are required to report to the Federal Subaward Reporting System (FSRS) available at www.fsrs.gov on all subawards over the threshold. See the NIH Grants Policy Statement for additional information on this reporting requirement.

Failure by the recipient institution to submit required forms in a timely, complete, and accurate manner may result in an expenditure disallowance or a delay in any continuation funding for the award.

In accordance with the regulatory requirements provided at 2 CFR Part 200.113 and Appendix XII to 2 CFR Part 200, recipients that have currently active Federal grants, cooperative agreements, and procurement contracts from all Federal awarding agencies with a cumulative total value greater than $10,000,000 for any period of time during the period of performance of a Federal award, must report and maintain the currency of information reported in the System for Award Management (SAM) about civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings in connection with the award or performance of a Federal award that reached final disposition within the most recent five-year period. The recipient must also make semiannual disclosures regarding such proceedings. Proceedings information will be made publicly available in the designated integrity and performance system (Responsibility /Qualification in SAM.gov, formerly FAPIIS). This is a statutory requirement under section 872 of Public Law 110-417, as amended (41 U.S.C. 2313). As required by section 3010 of Public Law 111-212, all information posted in the designated integrity and performance system on or after April 15, 2011, except past performance reviews required for Federal procurement contracts, will be publicly available. Full reporting requirements and procedures are found in Appendix XII to 2 CFR Part 200 – Award Term and Condition for Recipient Integrity and Performance Matters.

Other Reporting Requirements The institution must submit a completed Statement of Appointment (PHS Form 2271) for each participant appointed full time for eight weeks or more or the equivalent. Recipients must submit the PHS 2271 data electronically using the xTrain system. More information on xTrain is available at xTrain (eRA Commons). An appointment or reappointment may begin any time during the budget period, but not before the budget period start date of the grant year.

Participant Termination Notice: Within 30 days of the end of the total support period for each participant, the institution must submit a Termination Notice (PHS Form 416-7) via xTrain for each participant appointed full time for eight weeks or more, or the equivalent.

A final RPPR and the expenditure data portion of the Federal Financial Report are required for closeout of an award as described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

5. Evaluation

In carrying out its stewardship of human resource-related programs, the NIH or its Institutes and Centers will periodically evaluate their R25 research education programs, employing the measures identified below. In assessing the effectiveness of its research education investments, NIH may request information from databases, PD/PIs, and from participants themselves. Where necessary, PD/PIs and participants may be contacted after the completion of a research education experience for periodic updates on participants’ subsequent educational or employment history and professional activities.

Upon the completion of a program evaluation, NIH and its ICs will determine whether to (a) continue a program as currently configured, (b) continue a program with modifications, or (c) discontinue a program.

In evaluating this research education program, NIMH expects to use the following evaluation measures:

For Research Experience and Mentoring Programs Involving the Following Groups:

• Undergraduate Students:

  • Aggregate number and demographic characteristics of mentees
  • Subsequent educational/career progress, including:
    • Successful completion of an undergraduate degree in a STEM field
    • Enrollment in an advanced degree program in an HIV-related field

• Graduate Students:

  • Aggregate number and demographic characteristics of mentees
  • Subsequent educational/career progress of participants, including:
    • Successful completion of a STEM graduate program
    • Subsequent participation in a formal research training or career development program in an HIV-related field
    • Subsequent participation in research
    • Subsequent employment in a research or research-related field
    • Subsequent authorship of scientific publications in an HIV-related field
    • Subsequent independent research grant support from NIH or another source

• Postdoctorates and Early Career Investigators:

  • Aggregate number and demographic characteristics of mentees
  • Subsequent educational/career progress of participants, including:
    • Subsequent participation in research
    • Subsequent employment in a research or research-related field
    • Subsequent authorship of scientific publications in an HIV-related field
    • Subsequent independent research grant support from NIH or another source

Section VII. Agency Contacts

We encourage inquiries concerning this funding opportunity and welcome the opportunity to answer questions from potential applicants.

Application Submission Contacts

• eRA Service Desk (Questions regarding ASSIST, eRA Commons, application errors and warnings, documenting system problems that threaten submission by the due date, and post-submission issues)
  • Finding Help Online: https://www.era.nih.gov/need-help (preferred method of contact)
  • Telephone: 301-402-7469 or 866-504-9552 (Toll Free)
• General Grants Information (Questions regarding application instructions, application processes, and NIH grant resources)
  • Email: [email protected] (preferred method of contact)
  • Telephone: 301-637-3015
• Grants.gov Customer Support (Questions regarding Grants.gov registration and Workspace)
  • Contact Center Telephone: 800-518-4726
  • Email: [email protected]
• SBA Company Registry (Questions regarding required registration at the SBA Company Registry and for technical questions or issues)
  • Website to Email: http://sbir.gov/feedback?type=reg

Scientific/Research Contact(s)

• Susannah Allison, PhD National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Telephone: 240-627-3861 Email: [email protected]

Peer Review Contact(s)

• Nicholas Gaiano, Ph.D. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Telephone: 301-827-3420 Email: [email protected]

Financial/Grants Management Contact(s)

• Christine Clarkson National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Telephone: 301-402-5765 Email: [email protected]

Section VIII. Other Information

Recently issued trans-NIH policy notices may affect your application submission. A full list of policy notices published by NIH is provided in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. All awards are subject to the terms and conditions, cost principles, and other considerations described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.

Authority and Regulations Awards are made under the authorization of Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act as amended (42 USC 241 and 284) and under Federal Regulations 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 75.

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