Instrumentation Grant Program for Resource-Limited Institutions (S10 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The Instrumentation Grant Program for Resource-Limited Institutions (PAR-23-138) is administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through its participating components, including major Institutes such as the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), the National Eye Institute (NEI), and several others. This funding opportunity supports the acquisition of state-of-the-art scientific instruments to bolster biomedical research and education at under-resourced institutions. The program is designed to address disparities in access to scientific tools that hinder research and educational growth, especially in institutions educating students from diverse and underserved backgrounds. This grant aims to strengthen research infrastructure and promote biomedical science education by funding the purchase of a single high-value scientific instrument or an integrated instrumentation system. Eligible instruments include specialized tools such as confocal microscopes, mass spectrometers, and high-throughput readers. These instruments must be dedicated to research and/or education and must be commercially available. The program excludes requests for multiple instruments, instructional-only equipment, or items used for clinical care. Applicant institutions must be U.S.-based and meet strict eligibility criteria, including having received less than $6 million annually from NIH Research Project Grants over the last three fiscal years, awarding biomedical science degrees, and either enrolling at least 35% Pell Grant-supported undergraduates or being designated as an HBCU or TCU. Each application must involve a full-time Program Director/Principal Investigator and at least three Major Users, each demonstrating a critical need for the instrument in their research or educational activities. Applications are reviewed on multiple criteria including justification of need, technical expertise, research and education projects, administrative planning, and institutional commitment. Key dates for upcoming submissions include a deadline of July 3, 2025, with a projected award start date of April 2026. Applications are not accepted for clinical trials, and funds must be used exclusively for the instrument and its support contracts, with no indirect costs or funding for personnel or supplies allowed. Applications must be submitted through the NIH ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution. Required documents include a detailed Instrumentation Plan with sections on research and education capacity building, technical expertise, and organizational management, as well as letters of institutional support. Successful applicants must submit a Final Research Performance Progress Report and Annual Instrument Usage Reports for two years post-award. Scientific and financial contacts are provided for each participating NIH institute, including Dorothy Beckett (NIGMS) and Tiffany Walker (NIGMS). Applications undergo peer review and advisory council evaluation, with decisions based on scientific merit, program relevance, and funding availability. The program reflects NIH’s broader mission to foster a diverse, well-equipped biomedical research workforce capable of addressing complex scientific challenges across the nation.