Research Experiences and/or Mentoring Networks through Research Education to Enhance Clinician-Scientists' Participation in NIDCDs Research (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), has reissued funding opportunity PAR-25-020. This program, formally titled Research Experiences and/or Mentoring Networks through Research Education to Enhance Clinician-Scientists' Participation in NIDCD’s Research (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed), is designed to strengthen the clinician-scientist workforce in areas directly related to NIDCD’s mission, which includes hearing, balance, taste, smell, voice, speech, and language. It represents a continuation of PAR-21-187, updated in March 2025 to reflect evolving agency priorities. The R25 Research Education Program supports educational activities that supplement formal training, with a particular focus on research experiences and mentoring activities. Its overarching objective is to recruit individuals with clinical and disciplinary expertise into biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research careers. Research experiences funded under this program must provide hands-on, meaningful involvement in research that enhances professional skills such as scientific writing, presentations, and adherence to standards of rigor and reproducibility. These experiences are tailored for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-to-mid-career faculty. Participants are expected to work with mentors to develop individualized development plans that support career progression. Mentorship activities extend beyond technical guidance, emphasizing professional growth, networking, leadership development, and support for transitions across career stages. The program responds to a well-documented shortage of clinician-investigators across biomedical fields. The NIH recognizes that clinician-scientists bring a valuable perspective to research due to their clinical expertise, but current participation remains limited, particularly among early-career investigators. This initiative seeks to address workforce gaps by creating pathways that recruit, prepare, and retain clinicians in research careers. Proposals that target multiple career stages, foster collaborations across institutions, or engage underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged. Programs must be distinct from existing federally supported training programs, though they may complement them. Applicants are also required to provide evaluation and dissemination plans to assess program effectiveness and share results. The financial structure of the grant allows for direct costs up to $250,000 per year, with a maximum project period of five years. Awarded funds may cover personnel salaries consistent with institutional policy, participant support costs, consultants, supplies, travel, and evaluation services. Participant support may include partial tuition, per diem (with strong justification), and costs for education-related activities. Indirect costs are reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total direct costs. However, the program is not intended to support full-time participants at 40 hours per week for twelve months. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, though U.S. institutions may include foreign components when justified. Eligibility extends widely, encompassing higher education institutions (both public and private), nonprofits, for-profit organizations including small businesses, state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, independent school districts, public housing authorities, and community or faith-based organizations. Applicant organizations must demonstrate institutional commitment through adequate staffing, facilities, and resources. While the program primarily supports U.S. citizens and permanent residents, exceptions may be made when justified. Program Directors/Principal Investigators (PD/PIs) must be established investigators with the capacity to provide both administrative and scientific leadership. They must also commit to monitoring and reporting program outcomes. Applications must be submitted electronically through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution, in compliance with NIH application policies. The earliest submission date is December 29, 2024, with multiple deadlines established through September 2027. Upcoming due dates include January 29, 2025, September 29, 2025, January 29, 2026, and subsequent January and September cycles until the program expiration on September 30, 2027. Applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. There is no Letter of Intent requirement. Reviews follow the NIH peer review process, evaluating applications based on significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, approach, and institutional environment. Successful applicants may expect start dates beginning December 2025, depending on review cycles. Contacts for this opportunity include Dr. Alberto L. Rivera-Rentas (Scientific/Research Contact, riverara@nidcd.nih.gov, 301-496-1804), Dr. Melissa J. Stick (Peer Review Contact, stickm@nidcd.nih.gov, 301-496-8683), and Samantha Tempchin (Financial/Grants Management Contact, samantha.tempchin@nih.gov, 301-435-1404). General submission support is available via the eRA Service Desk, GrantsInfo, and Grants.gov. The program is authorized under Sections 301 and 405 of the Public Health Service Act (42 USC 241 and 284), with applicable regulations found at 42 CFR Part 52 and 45 CFR Part 75.