National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Enhancement Award (R15)

The R15 activity code is known as the "NIH Research Enhancement Award" and includes two programs:

• Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions
• Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools

About the R15 Grant Mechanism

• This mechanism supports small-scale research projects at educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees for research scientists but have not been major recipients of NIH support.
• Project period is limited to 3 years.
• Direct costs are limited to $300,000 over the entire project period.
• R15s are multiyear funded awards (all years are funded in the first year).
• The NIH Modular Budget policy applies. For more information about how to submit a modular budget, visit the PHS 398 Modular Budget Form website.

Visit the NIH R15 website for AREA and REAP FAQs, IC contacts, lists of research areas by institute, and a decision tree guide.

Eligibility

NIH has public tools that provide information on funding eligibility. RePORT provides access to information on NIH awards by awardee organization through its RePORTER and NIH Awards by Location subsites. Instructions for using RePORT can be found here: PDF Instructions on Using RePORT to Determine Organization Funding for R15 Eligibility.

Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions

For AREA, the $6 million funding limit includes collective funding for all the non-health professional components of the institution.

• The application must be submitted by the eligible undergraduate-focused organization with a unique entity identifier (SAM-issued UEI) and a unique NIH eRA Institutional Profile File (IPF) number. See NOT-OD-21-135.
• The applicant institution must be an accredited public or non-profit private school that grants baccalaureate degrees in biomedical sciences.
• At the time of application submission, all the non-health professional components of the institution together have not received support from the NIH totaling more than $6 million per year (in both direct and facilities and administrative [F&A]/indirect costs) in 4 of the last 7 fiscal years. Note that all activity codes are included in this calculation except the following: C06, S10, and all activity codes starting with a G.
• A signed letter is required from the provost or similar official with institution-wide responsibility verifying the eligibility of the applicant institution at the time of application submission.

Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools

• The application must be submitted by the eligible health professional or graduate school with a unique entity identifier (SAM-issued UEI) and a unique NIH eRA IPF number. See NOT-OD-21-135.
• The applicant organization must be an accredited public or non-profit private school that grants baccalaureate or advanced degrees in health professions or advanced degrees in biomedical and behavioral sciences.
• At the time of application submission, the applicant institution may not have received support from the NIH totaling more than $6 million per year (in both direct and F&A/indirect costs) in 4 of the last 7 fiscal years. Note that all activity codes are included in this calculation except the following: C06, S10, and all activity codes starting with a G.
• A signed letter is required from the provost or similar official with institution-wide responsibility verifying the eligibility of the applicant institution at the time of application submission.

R15 Principal Investigator (PI) Eligibility

• The PI must have a primary appointment at the R15-eligible institution.
• The PI may not be the PI of an active NIH research grant at the time of an R15 award, though he or she may be one of the key personnel for an active NIH grant held by another PD/PI.
  • Instrumentation awards (S10), conference grants (R13), and institutional training grants (T32) are examples of grants that are not considered research grants.
• The PI may not be awarded more than one R15 grant at a time.
• Eligibility applies only to the PI and Multiple PIs, not to collaborators, consultants, or sub awardees.

Active Funding Opportunities

• Active NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts - Active R15 Opportunities

Due Dates

The Key Dates section of funding opportunities lists specific due dates. Many opportunities indicate Standard Due Dates apply.

Resources

• Sample Provost Letters Certifying Eligibility
• Sample Biosketch Personal Statement
• Sample Facilities and Other Resources
• The NIH Regional Seminar Video on the AREA and REAP (R15) Programs