PAR-24-233
NIMH Research Education Mentoring Program for HIV Researchers (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Summary
NIMH Research Education Mentoring Program for HIV Researchers (R25)
Research Focus
This program supports research education and mentoring activities designed to develop a skilled biomedical HIV research workforce. NIMH prioritizes behavioral and social science research on HIV prevention and care continua, HIV-related health disparities, dissemination and implementation science, and HIV neuroscience (including HIV/CNS neuropathogenesis, genetics and therapeutics, and latency/cure strategies). Programs must combine hands-on research experiences with dedicated mentoring that provides technical expertise, professional development, and career guidance. Mentees should gain intellectual, technical, and practical knowledge to conduct mentored HIV scientific inquiry and advance toward independent research careers. Expected outcomes include subsequent research involvement, employment in HIV research fields, scientific publications, and independent grant support.
At a Glance
- Who can apply: Institutions (domestic focus; U.S.-based applications with Low- and Middle-Income Country sites encouraged). Programs may target undergraduate, graduate/medical students, residents, postdoctoral fellows, and/or early-career faculty.
- Funding & project length: Not stated; mentees must engage for at least one year with regular mentor/peer contact.
- Award mechanism: R25 (Education Projects); clinical trials not allowed.
- Key dates: Letter of Intent due 30 days before application deadline; application deadlines September 7, 2024 and September 7, 2025 (AIDS track); earliest start dates April 2025 and April 2026.
- Best fit for: HIV research educators designing multi-site or national mentoring networks combining research experiences with career development for trainees across career stages in behavioral science, implementation science, or HIV neuroscience.
Key Facts
Deadline
Mon, May 25, 2026
Posted
Thu, June 27, 2024
Award / Year (direct costs)
$250,000
Max Total
$1,250,000
Max Duration
5 years
Keywords
Research Areas
Gotchas (6)
The expiration date was changed from September 08, 2026 to May 26, 2026 via NOT-OD-26-029, which also removed AIDS application due dates. This is a significant change that could affect application pla
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“New Date: May 26, 2026 per issuance of NOT-OD-26-029. (Original Expiration Date: September 08, 2026)”
If a program includes undergraduate students, it is mandatory to also include participants at another career stage. This is a structural requirement that could disqualify an application proposing unde
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“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.”
The NOFO was updated on March 31, 2025 to align with agency priorities, and applicants are explicitly instructed to 'carefully reread the full funding opportunity.' This suggests significant changes f
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“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.”
Mentees must be actively engaged for a minimum of one year with regular contact with mentors and peers. This is a specific duration requirement that differs from some other R25 programs and could affe
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“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.”
Programs must be substantially different from existing mentoring/networking programs and demonstrate clear value added. This is a subjective requirement that could lead to desk rejection if not adequa
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“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.”
R25 programs cannot replace or circumvent NRSA (Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award) programs. This is a specific constraint on what the program can do relative to existing training me
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“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.”