Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Required)
Apply on Grants.gov →Application closes January 7, 2027
- Posted
- May 8, 2024
- Closes
- January 7, 2027
- Award ceiling
- $375,000
- Cost sharing
- No
- Instrument
- Grant
- Assistance listing
- 93.396, 93.853, 93.173, 93.838, 93.394, 93.395, 93.840, 93.839, 93.865, 93.242, 93.393, 93.866, 93.361, 93.867, 93.233, 93.273, 93.837, 93.399, 93.279
- Archives
- February 6, 2027
Program funding history
Awards made under Assistance Listing 93.396 across FY2024–FY2026, from public federal spending records.
- FY2024 obligated
- $872.6M
- FY2025 obligated
- $914.3M
- FY2026 (to date) obligated
- $668.2M
- Awards in window
- 3,407
Top recipients: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, The Univeristy of Texas M.d. Anderson Cancer Center, Sloan-kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, the, Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Source: USAspending.gov · refreshed August 2026
Synopsis
The purpose of this Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions is to support small scale research grants at institutions that do not receive substantial funding from the NIH, with an emphasis on providing biomedical research experiences primarily for undergraduate students and enhancing the research environment at applicant institutions.Eligible institutions must award baccalaureate science degrees and have received no more than $6 million dollars per year of NIH support (in both direct and F and A/indirect costs) in 4 of the last 7 fiscal years. For institutions composed of multiple schools and colleges, the $6 million funding limit is based on the amount of NIH funding received by all the non-health professional schools and colleges within the institution as a whole.This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supports investigator-initiated mechanistic and/or minimal risk clinical trials addressing the mission and research interests of the participating NIH institutes. For the purpose of this NOFO, minimal risk clinical trials are defined as those that do not require FDA oversight, do not intend to formally establish efficacy, and have low risks to potentially cause physical or psychological harm.
Who can apply
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- Private institutions of higher education
Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply.Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply.Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
How to apply
Applications go through the official government listing. Grants Radar links you straight to the source — applying is free.
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