Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) Award (R16 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) Award is an initiative by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to promote research capacity building at resource-limited institutions. Administered under the R16 Research Excellence Award mechanism, this grant program is spearheaded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) with participation from numerous other NIH institutes. The primary goal is to enhance biomedical research capabilities at institutions that have received limited NIH Research Project Grant funding and serve diverse, often underserved, student populations. Updated on March 31, 2025, this funding opportunity aligns with revised agency priorities and emphasizes the importance of fostering inclusive scientific development across various geographic and institutional landscapes. The SuRE program supports investigator-initiated research across basic, social, clinical, behavioral, and translational sciences, provided it aligns with NIH's mission areas. Its purpose is twofold: to bolster the research culture of participating institutions and to ensure students engage meaningfully in scientific inquiry. Eligible institutions must confer undergraduate and/or graduate biomedical science degrees, enroll at least 25% of their undergraduate population through Pell Grants, and receive less than $6 million annually in NIH RPG funding over the past two years. The program supports both new and renewal applications from faculty investigators who are not current recipients of NIH RPGs, with the exception of SuRE or SuRE-First grants. Applications can be submitted via NIH ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions. The program mandates two institutional support letters—one outlining strategic plans to build research capacity and another supporting the principal investigator’s career development. Additional submission requirements include a Student Involvement Plan within the research strategy, adherence to NIH data sharing policies, and detailed documentation of facilities and institutional support. Applications must also comply with strict NIH formatting and procedural instructions, with non-compliance resulting in rejection. The maximum funding is $100,000 per year in direct costs, for a project period of up to four years. Although the exact number of awards is contingent on appropriations and application quality, NIH emphasizes the importance of scientific merit, alignment with program priorities, and institutional diversity in funding decisions. The SuRE award does not permit clinical trials and focuses strictly on non-clinical biomedical research. Notably, cost sharing is not required, and the grant does not support foreign institutions or entities. Review criteria include scientific significance, investigator qualifications, innovation, research approach, and institutional environment. Applications are evaluated by NIH Scientific Review Groups, and those aligned with NIAID's mission are reviewed by NIAID directly. Key dates for submissions occur biannually, with cycles in May and September until 2026, and applicants are encouraged to submit early to address potential errors. The earliest submission date for the current round was April 29, 2024, and the application closes on May 24, 2025. Contact information is provided for multiple NIH institutes, with specific scientific and financial contacts assigned. Applicants are encouraged to reach out to the institute most closely aligned with their research for guidance. Overall, the SuRE program reflects NIH’s commitment to broadening participation in biomedical research, supporting faculty development, and enriching the student research experience.