decorative image
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
decorative image
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

n/a Warning! This browser is not supported - Some features might not work. Try using a different browser such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.

NIH Research Enhancement Award (R15)

Supports small-scale research projects at educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees for a significant number of the Nation’s research scientists but that have not been major recipients of NIH support.

The goals of the R15 are to:

  • support meritorious research,
  • expose students to research, and
  • strengthen the research environment of the institution.

Awards provide limited Direct Costs, plus applicable F&A costs, for periods not to exceed 36 months. This activity code uses multi-year funding authority.

 

The R15 Program

There are two programs under the R15:

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

The R15 Program: What You Need to Know Webinar

June 15 R15 Webinar Image
Video and transcript from the June 15, 2023 R15 program webinar including a Question & Answer session. Also see answers to common questions on the R15 FAQ page.

 

R15 Eligibility Decision Tree

Thumbnail image of R15 decision tree

R15 Eligibility Decision Tree (PDF - 168 KB)


Organization Eligibility

To assist in determining eligibility, organizations are encouraged to use the NIH RePORT website (see Need Help Determining Organization Funding Levels for R15 Eligibility?).

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

  • For the AREA R15 program:
    • An academic component is any school/college that is not a Health Professional School or College
    • A qualifying academic component (i.e., school/college) within an institution (e.g. School of Arts and Sciences) has greater undergraduate student enrollment than graduate student enrollment.
    • All types of Health Professional Schools and Colleges are not eligible to apply,
  • 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.
  • For institutions with multiple campuses, eligibility can be considered for each individual campus (e.g. main, satellite, etc.) only if separate UEIs and NIH IPF numbers are established for each campus. For institutions that use one UEI or NIH IPF number for all campuses, eligibility is determined for all campuses (e.g. main, satellite, etc.) combined.
  • 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 F&A/indirect costs) in 4 of the last 7 federal 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 Institutional Profile File (IPF) number. See NOT-OD-21-135.
  • For institutions with multiple campuses, eligibility can be considered for each individual campus (e.g. main, satellite, etc.) only if separate UEIs and NIH IPF numbers are established for each campus. For institutions that use one UEI or NIH IPF number for all campuses, eligibility is determined for all campuses (e.g. main, satellite, etc.) combined.
  • 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, all components of the applicant institution combined 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 federal 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.

 

Project Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Eligibility

  • The PD/PI must have a primary appointment at the R15-eligible institution. 
    Additionally, for:
    • AREA: Each PD(s)/PI(s) must have a primary appointment at a non-health professional school or college within the applicant institution. If proposing multiple PD(s)/PI(s), each PD/PI must be at an AREA-eligible institution.
    • REAP: Each PD(s)/PI(s) must have a primary appointment at a health professional or graduate school or college within the applicant institution, If proposing multiple PD(s)/PI(s), each PD/PI must be at a REAP-eligible institution.
  • The PI may not be the PI of an active NIH research grant at the time of a 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.

Carefully read the Eligibility section of the funding opportunity for opportunity-specific PD/PI eligibility requirements.

 

Award Information

  • Funding Instrument: Grant
  • Multi-year Funded: Yes
  • Project Period: Limited to 3 years
  • NIH's Modular Budget Policy apply
    • Applicants submitting an application with direct costs of $250,000 or less (total for all years, excluding consortium Facilities and Administrative [F&A] costs) must use the Modular Budget.
    • Applicants submitting an application with direct costs of $250,001-$300,000 (total for all years, excluding consortium Facilities and Administrative [F&A] costs) must use the Research and Related (R&R) Budget form.
  • Awards can be renewed by competing for an additional project period.

 

Application Characteristics

After identifying a funding opportunity, follow guidance in the How to Apply – Application Guide including any Research instruction call-outs except where instructed to do otherwise in the funding opportunity or related notices.

 

Due Dates

Each funding opportunity provides opportunity-specific due dates or identifies standard due dates based on activity code.

Standard Due Dates

Application Due DatesReview and Award Cycles
NewRenewal, Resubmission, Revision (As Allowed)AIDS - New, Renewal, Resubmission, Revision (As Allowed)Scientific Merit ReviewAdvisory Council ReviewEarliest Start Date
February 25February 25May 7June or JulyAugust or OctoberSeptember or December
June 25June 25September 7October or NovemberJanuaryApril
October 25October 25January 7February or MarchMayJuly

 

Award Data

The Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT) website provides information about research grants including the number of funded new and competing R01s, average award dollars and characteristics of research project grants.

 

Active Funding Opportunities

NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts search results for active AREA/R15 opportunities⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.