Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA NS 22 035
The Limited Competition: NIH Neuroscience Doctoral Readiness Program (DR Program) (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity (RFA-NS-22-035) designed to help U.S.-based institutions build structured postbaccalaureate research education programs in neuroscience that better prepare recent college graduates for rigorous, research-focused doctoral training. The central goal is to strengthen the pipeline into Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. programs by pairing strong mentoring with intensive, hands-on research experiences aligned with the mission of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), while also providing well-planned coursework and professional skill-building that reflects how quickly the biomedical research enterprise is changing.
At its core, the DR Program supports institutions in creating an organized set of experiences that help participants transition from being recent baccalaureates into competitive doctoral applicants and, ultimately, successful doctoral trainees. The FOA emphasizes two main elements: extensive research immersion and intentional skills development. On the research side, programs are expected to place participants into substantive research experiences within NINDS-relevant areas, under the guidance of experienced mentors (and, when helpful, co-mentors). On the educational side, programs are expected to offer carefully designed training in the kinds of competencies that directly affect doctoral success, such as quantitative and analytical skills, scientific communication, responsible conduct of research, career development, and other professional and technical skills that are increasingly necessary in modern neuroscience and biomedical science.
A defining feature of this announcement is that it is a limited competition tied to existing NIH institutional training infrastructure. Only applicants connected to specific active NINDS-supported T32 training grants can apply, and the R25 program must be affiliated with that T32. Eligibility is restricted to program director(s)/principal investigator(s) (PD(s)/PI(s)) or multi-PI teams that include at least one PD/PI who leads a T32 award made under one of these FOAs: PAR-20-076 (T32 Jointly Sponsored Institutional Predoctoral Training Program), PAR-21-149 (NINDS T32 Institutional Research Training Grant), or PAR-19-228 (NINDS T32 Institutional Translational Research Training Program). In practical terms, a PD/PI from one of those qualifying T32 awards must serve as the PD/PI or as a multi-PI on the R25 application, ensuring the postbaccalaureate program is integrated with an established neuroscience training environment.
The program is also explicitly oriented toward supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds, with the intent of improving readiness and successful progression into doctoral programs. While the FOA text does not enumerate every allowable activity in the excerpt provided, it clearly signals that applications should propose mentoring and educational approaches that are effective for preparing participants to enter and complete demanding research doctorates, and that programs should be built to keep pace with the evolving expectations of biomedical research careers.
From a clinical research standpoint, the announcement is clear about boundaries: appointed participants may not lead an independent clinical trial under this award mechanism. However, participants are allowed to gain experience in a clinical trial setting when the clinical trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. This is an important distinction for neuroscience programs that include clinical or translational components, because it permits experiential learning in clinical research without placing independent trial leadership responsibilities on trainees supported by this R25.
In terms of applicant organizations, the FOA is aimed at domestic (U.S.) institutions and allows a wide range of eligible applicant types across government, higher education, nonprofits, and certain businesses, so long as the limited-competition T32 leadership requirement is met. The eligibility list includes state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other Native American tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The FOA also highlights a number of institution types commonly associated with broadening participation, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations and eligible federal agencies. Despite listing some non-U.S. entity categories in the “other eligible applicants” section of the excerpt, the FOA’s restrictions are unambiguous: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them) are not allowed.
Administratively, this is an NIH discretionary grant in the education and health activity area, using the R25 research education mechanism. The CFDA numbers associated with the opportunity are 93.121, 93.279, and 93.853. The opportunity was created on February 10, 2022, and the original closing date listed is April 19, 2022. The excerpt does not provide a specific award ceiling or expected number of awards, indicating those fields were either not set in the provided source data or not included in the summary fields shown.
Overall, the DR Program FOA is best understood as a structured bridge program: it funds institutions to deliver a mentored, research-intensive, skill-building postbaccalaureate experience in neuroscience that is tightly connected to an existing NINDS-supported T32 training ecosystem, with the explicit aim of improving doctoral readiness and strengthening participation and success of individuals from diverse backgrounds in research-focused doctoral pathways.Apply for RFA NS 22 035
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Limited Competition: NIH Neuroscience Doctoral Readiness Program (DR. Program) (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.121, 93.279, 93.853.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-02-10.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-04-19. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.
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FAQs: Limited Competition - NIH Neuroscience Doctoral Readiness Program (DR Program) (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (RFA-NS-22-035)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) that uses the R25 Research Education mechanism to support institutions in building structured postbaccalaureate research education programs in neuroscience. The program is designed to better prepare recent college graduates for rigorous, research-focused doctoral training (Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D.).
What is the official program name and opportunity number?
The opportunity is titled "Limited Competition: NIH Neuroscience Doctoral Readiness Program (DR Program) (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is identified as RFA-NS-22-035.
What is the main goal of the DR Program?
The central goal is to strengthen the pipeline into research-focused doctoral programs (Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D.) by funding institutions to provide strong mentoring, intensive hands-on research experiences aligned with the NINDS mission, and well-planned coursework and professional skill-building that reflects the changing biomedical research enterprise.
Who is the program intended to serve?
The program is intended to serve recent baccalaureate (postbaccalaureate) participants by providing an organized set of experiences that helps them transition into competitive doctoral applicants and, ultimately, successful doctoral trainees.
What types of doctoral pathways does this program aim to support?
The program is explicitly aimed at strengthening readiness for and progression into Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. programs.
What are the two core elements emphasized by the FOA?
The FOA emphasizes (1) extensive research immersion and (2) intentional skills development, combining substantive research experiences with structured educational and professional development activities.
What does "research immersion" mean in the context of this program?
Programs are expected to place participants into substantive research experiences within areas relevant to NINDS, supported by experienced mentors (and co-mentors when helpful). The intent is hands-on research engagement that builds the capabilities needed for research-focused doctoral training.
What kinds of skills development does the FOA expect programs to provide?
The FOA expects carefully designed training in competencies that directly affect doctoral success, including quantitative and analytical skills, scientific communication, responsible conduct of research, career development, and other professional and technical skills increasingly required in modern neuroscience and biomedical science.
Is this a limited competition? What makes it limited?
Yes. This is a limited competition tied to existing NIH institutional training infrastructure. Only applicants connected to specific active NINDS-supported T32 training grants may apply, and the R25 program must be affiliated with that T32.
Which T32 awards qualify an institution to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to applicants associated with an active NINDS-supported T32 award made under one of these FOAs: PAR-20-076 (T32 Jointly Sponsored Institutional Predoctoral Training Program), PAR-21-149 (NINDS T32 Institutional Research Training Grant), or PAR-19-228 (NINDS T32 Institutional Translational Research Training Program).
Who must be listed as PD/PI on the R25 application to meet the limited-competition requirement?
A PD/PI from one of the qualifying T32 awards must serve as the PD/PI or be included as a multi-PI on the R25 application. In other words, the R25 application must include at least one PD/PI who leads a qualifying NINDS-supported T32 award.
Why does the FOA require affiliation with an existing T32 program?
The stated purpose is to ensure the postbaccalaureate R25 program is integrated with an established neuroscience training environment supported by NINDS, strengthening mentoring and training infrastructure.
How does the FOA address diversity and broadening participation?
The program is explicitly oriented toward supporting individuals from diverse backgrounds, with the intent of improving readiness and successful progression into doctoral programs.
Are clinical trials allowed under this award?
The FOA is "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" for independent trial leadership by appointed participants. Appointed participants may not lead an independent clinical trial under this award mechanism.
Can participants gain clinical trial experience at all?
Yes. Participants may gain experience in a clinical trial setting as long as the clinical trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. This allows experiential learning without assigning independent clinical trial leadership responsibilities to R25-supported participants.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
The FOA is aimed at domestic (U.S.) institutions and allows a wide range of applicant types across government, higher education, nonprofits, and certain businesses, provided the limited-competition T32 leadership requirement is met.
Which government entities are listed as eligible applicants?
Eligible government entities listed include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and eligible federal agencies.
Which higher education organizations are listed as eligible applicants?
Eligible higher education organizations listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (outside institutions of higher education), as long as the limited-competition T32 leadership requirement is met.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses as well as small businesses, provided the limited-competition T32 leadership requirement is met.
Are organizations associated with broadening participation specifically mentioned?
Yes. The FOA highlights institution types commonly associated with broadening participation, including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations.
Are foreign institutions or non-U.S. entities eligible to apply?
No. The FOA states that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.
Are non-domestic components of U.S. organizations allowed?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are foreign components allowed under this opportunity?
No. Foreign components (as NIH defines them) are not allowed.
What NIH activity code/mechanism is used for this program?
This opportunity uses the NIH R25 Research Education grant mechanism.
What is the activity area for this grant?
The opportunity is described as an NIH discretionary grant in the education and health activity area.
What are the CFDA numbers associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed are 93.121, 93.279, and 93.853.
When was this opportunity created and when was it originally due?
The opportunity was created on February 10, 2022, and the original closing date listed is April 19, 2022.
Does the excerpt state an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The excerpt does not provide a specific award ceiling or an expected number of awards, indicating those fields were not set in the provided source data or were not included in the summary fields shown.
How should this FOA be understood in plain terms?
It is best understood as a structured bridge program: funding institutions to deliver a mentored, research-intensive, skill-building postbaccalaureate experience in neuroscience that is tightly connected to an existing NINDS-supported T32 training ecosystem, with the aim of improving doctoral readiness and strengthening participation and success of individuals from diverse backgrounds in research-focused doctoral pathways.
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