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

The Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) Award is a grant initiative issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This funding opportunity is reissued under the identifier PAR-25-414 and managed by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), with participation from 20 NIH components, including institutes such as the National Eye Institute, National Institute on Aging, and National Cancer Institute. The goal of the SuRE program is to build and sustain research excellence in biomedical sciences at institutions that traditionally receive limited NIH Research Project Grant support. These institutions often serve rural and underserved communities and are essential for expanding diversity and innovation within the biomedical research landscape. The SuRE program provides funding for investigator-initiated biomedical research projects in basic, social, clinical, behavioral, or translational sciences. Eligible applicants are full-time faculty members at institutions that meet three criteria: they must offer undergraduate and/or graduate degrees in biomedical sciences, must not exceed $6 million per year in NIH RPG funding over the past two fiscal years, and must enroll at least 25% Pell Grant-supported undergraduates according to the IPEDS database. The applicant institution must also be based in the United States, and the program does not allow applications from foreign institutions or entities. Awards are structured to support up to $100,000 in direct costs per year, excluding F&A consortium costs, for a maximum duration of four years. The program does not allow applications that include clinical trials. Applications are accepted under new, renewal, resubmission, and revision formats. The research must be directed by the PD/PI at the applicant institution, and projects must include robust student participation through hands-on engagement in experimental work, data analysis, and reporting. The opportunity opens for submission on August 29, 2025, and follows a recurring schedule of due dates: September 29, 2025; May 27, 2026; and continuing biennially through May 29, 2028. Each deadline corresponds to a multi-month review cycle, culminating in award start dates in the subsequent year. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) expires on September 8, 2028. Applicants must use NIH ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system software to submit their proposals. Two institutional letters are required: one outlining strategic plans to build research capacity and another affirming institutional support for the PI’s research and time commitment. Review criteria prioritize the scientific importance of the proposed work, its rigor and feasibility, and the expertise and environment of the investigator and institution. Reviewers will assess innovation, student participation, and the impact on institutional research culture. Applications involving human or vertebrate animal research must adhere to appropriate protection and justification requirements. Contact points for scientific, peer review, and financial management queries are provided for each participating NIH institute, with general inquiries directed to Pauline Cupit, Ph.D., of NIGMS. The SuRE program is structured to renew, and its next expected cycle will open in May 2026 based on the established due date pattern. SuRE is evaluated on metrics such as follow-on funding success, publication volume, student involvement, and career outcomes, reflecting NIH’s commitment to long-term impact from capacity-building investments.

Applicants should start registration processes early. Missing attachments such as Institutional Letters will result in rejection. Student engagement is a key review factor.