Research Experiences to Enhance Clinician-Scientists' Participation in NIDCDs Research (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 21 188

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 188

This funding opportunity, PAR-21-188, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Education Program (R25) grant run in the mission space of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Its core purpose is to strengthen the pipeline of clinician-scientists by giving them structured research education and, most importantly, hands-on research experiences that draw people with specific clinical specialty or disciplinary backgrounds into long-term biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research careers relevant to NIDCD. The program is designed around education and experiential training rather than supporting a stand-alone research project, and it emphasizes creative approaches that meaningfully increase clinicians participation in NIDCD-related research.

A key feature of this FOA is that it prioritizes "Research Experiences" as the main educational activity. In practical terms, that typically means mentored, immersive experiences that help clinicians build real research skills, professional networks, and a clear path toward becoming independent investigators. The intention is to reduce common barriers clinicians face when trying to engage in research, such as limited protected time, lack of sustained mentorship, and insufficient exposure to modern research methods, while also improving recruitment into research careers that align with NIDCD priorities (for example, topics involving hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language, depending on the specific program design and NIDCD mission needs).

The opportunity is offered as a discretionary grant under the NIH grant mechanism R25 and is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applications cannot propose independent clinical trials as part of the supported activities. The focus must remain on research education and training experiences rather than conducting a clinical trial. That said, the program can still involve clinical and translational research exposure, skills development, and mentored research activities, so long as the proposed work does not cross into proposing a clinical trial that the FOA prohibits.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations. Applicants may include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments (federally recognized); Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments); public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education in those categories); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities. The announcement also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), faith-based or community-based organizations, Hispanic-serving institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (other than federally recognized), regional organizations, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, the FOA makes clear limits on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components are allowed when they meet the NIH definition in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, meaning an otherwise eligible U.S. applicant may include certain well-justified foreign components within the overall program structure.

Administratively, the sponsoring agency is the NIH, the CFDA (now commonly referenced as Assistance Listing) number is 93.173, and the original closing date listed is 2024-10-01. The listed award ceiling is $250,000, which signals an upper bound on the amount that may be awarded under this opportunity (final awards and budgets generally depend on NIH policy, program scope, and peer review outcomes). The posting indicates the opportunity was created on 2021-04-05, reflecting that it is an established FOA rather than a one-time notice.

Overall, this R25 is best understood as a workforce and career development pipeline investment: it funds organized, experience-centered research education programs that help clinicians gain the exposure, mentorship, and practical research training needed to participate more fully in NIDCD-related research careers, without using the grant to run a clinical trial.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Experiences to Enhance Clinician-Scientists' Participation in NIDCDs Research (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): 93.173.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-04-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-10-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• 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.

Apply for PAR 21 188

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