Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions (R15 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-04-29. Official notice and agency instructions control.
If you run a teaching-focused college or small university with limited NIH funding history, this grant provides up to $375K to build your research program while training undergraduates.
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What this is
This is a targeted NIH grant for baccalaureate institutions that have received minimal NIH support historically (≤$6M/year in 4 of last 7 fiscal years). The program emphasizes building research capacity and engaging undergraduate students in hands-on biomedical research. It covers a broad range of NIH research areas spanning multiple CFDA codes (neuroscience, cancer, immunology, infectious disease, and more), but explicitly excludes clinical trials. Award amounts reach $375,000, making it accessible for small labs at teaching-focused institutions.
Who can apply
You must be a baccalaureate-granting institution (public, private, or state-controlled) in the U.S. that has received no more than $6 million per year in total NIH support (direct + indirect costs) in at least 4 of the last 7 fiscal years. Clinical trial research is not eligible.
Eligible applicant types
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
- Private institutions of higher education
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Full description — from the agency
The purpose of this Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutionsis 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. See Part II. Section 3.1 Eligible Organizations for more information.
Topics: nih area grant undergraduate research · biomedical research funding small institutions · nih r15 grant · undergraduate-focused universities · research enhancement award
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