Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required) | PAR 19 135

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 135

The Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required), funding opportunity number PAR-19-135, is an NIH grant mechanism designed to broaden participation in NIH-funded research by supporting smaller-scale projects at institutions that are not major recipients of NIH support. The program is meant to stimulate both basic and clinical research in health professional schools and graduate schools of arts and sciences that educate a meaningful share of future research scientists, yet historically receive relatively limited NIH funding. In practice, REAP is positioned as a way to help capable faculty at these institutions launch or expand NIH-relevant research programs, while also strengthening the overall research culture and infrastructure at the applicant institution.

A central goal of this FOA is educational and workforce-related: REAP awards are intended to meaningfully involve undergraduate and/or graduate students in high-quality research experiences tied to the NIH mission. The projects are faculty-led and investigator-initiated, but they are expected to create hands-on opportunities for students to participate in meritorious research, building skills, confidence, and exposure to biomedical and behavioral research careers. In addition to generating research findings, applicants should be prepared to show how the proposed work will enhance the institution’s research environment, such as by developing new research directions, building collaborations, improving access to research methods, and creating sustainable mentorship and training opportunities.

This particular REAP announcement is labeled “Clinical Trial Required,” which signals that applications may include mechanistic and/or minimal risk clinical trials that align with the missions and research interests of participating NIH Institutes and Centers. The FOA specifically emphasizes “minimal risk” clinical trials, describing them as trials that do not require FDA oversight, are not intended to formally establish efficacy, and present low risk of physical or psychological harm to participants. This framing is important because it clarifies the type of human-subject research NIH expects under this announcement: it supports clinical research activity, but generally in a limited-risk, mechanistic, exploratory, or feasibility-oriented space rather than large, definitive efficacy trials.

Eligibility is primarily institution-based and is targeted to domestic U.S. institutions of higher education that award NIH-relevant baccalaureate or advanced degrees and meet NIH’s threshold for limited prior NIH funding. To qualify, an institution must have received less than $6 million per year in total NIH support in at least 4 of the last 7 fiscal years, which is meant to ensure the program reaches schools with less extensive NIH funding histories. The eligible applicant categories include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The FOA also explicitly recognizes and includes several institution types that commonly fall under capacity-building and broadening-participation efforts, 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), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs).

Restrictions on non-U.S. applicants are straightforward: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, “foreign components,” as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, meaning a U.S. applicant institution can, under NIH rules and with appropriate justification and approvals, include certain international elements in the project (for example, specific collaborations or activities conducted abroad) as long as the primary applicant organization is eligible and U.S.-based.

From a funding standpoint, this is a discretionary grant program administered by the National Institutes of Health under a range of CFDA program numbers (including 93.173, 93.242, 93.279, 93.361, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.399, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866), reflecting the participation of multiple NIH components. The listed award ceiling is $300,000, consistent with REAP’s emphasis on supporting modest, focused projects rather than large research programs. The original closing date shown in the source information is January 7, 2022, and the FOA was created on December 21, 2018, which matters for applicants mainly as an administrative detail since NIH often reissues or updates FOAs over time; anyone considering applying would need to confirm the current active announcement and deadlines.

Overall, REAP (R15) under PAR-19-135 is best understood as a capacity-building research grant: it funds a tightly scoped research project that is scientifically solid and NIH-relevant, intentionally integrates student researchers into the work, and helps an eligible institution deepen its research footprint. It is particularly well-suited for faculty at teaching-centered or emerging research institutions who want to build a track record of NIH-funded research, generate publishable findings, and create sustained research opportunities for students, including in the context of mechanistic or minimal risk clinical trials.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.173, 93.242, 93.279, 93.361, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.399, 93.853, 93.865, 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-12-21.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-01-07. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for PAR 19 135

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: