Ensuring Research Integrity - Research on Research Integrity (RRI)

The Office of Research Integrity (ORI), housed within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced a forecasted funding opportunity titled “Ensuring Research Integrity - Research on Research Integrity (RRI)” for fiscal year 2025. ORI oversees activities related to promoting integrity in biomedical and behavioral research and training. The organization operates under the authority of 42 U.S.C. § 241, Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act, and maintains compliance with 42 C.F.R. Part 93, which governs research misconduct. This grant program supports empirical studies that explore the societal, organizational, behavioral, group, and individual factors that influence research integrity, both positively and negatively. The goal is to better understand and prevent research misconduct by identifying root causes and enabling effective institutional responses. The funding opportunity encourages research that informs education and outreach activities to cultivate a culture of ethical research conduct. Eligible topics might include institutional policies, environmental factors influencing misconduct, and empirical assessments of educational interventions. The total anticipated program funding is $500,000, with an award ceiling of $250,000 and a minimum award floor of $150,000. ORI expects to make two awards under this funding cycle. There are no cost sharing or matching requirements for applicants. The anticipated application submission deadline is July 30, 2025, with awards expected to be announced by September 15, 2025, and projects commencing by September 30, 2025. The opportunity is classified as discretionary and is intended for regional development-related research efforts. Eligibility for this grant is broad. Applicants may include universities, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private research institutions. Additional eligible entities include faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, state, county, and city governments, special district governments, independent school districts, public housing authorities, tribal governments and organizations (both federally recognized and non-recognized), nonprofit organizations with or without IRS 501(c)(3) status, private institutions of higher education, individuals, and for-profit entities, including small businesses. This wide eligibility spectrum reflects ORI’s commitment to diverse and inclusive research environments. Applications must be submitted through the official federal grant application system. Although specific questions in the application form are not listed in the forecast, applicants should be prepared to address how their research aligns with ORI’s mission and regulatory mandates. The funding opportunity does not provide any pre-application deadlines or LOI requirements. The estimated post date and forecast date are both July 17, 2025, confirming that the opportunity is not yet open but is in the early engagement stage for applicants to begin preparation. For additional information, applicants are encouraged to contact Armineh Ghazarian at the Office of Research Integrity. She can be reached via email at Armineh.Ghazarian@hhs.gov or by phone at 240-453-8822. Institutions planning to apply should begin preparing their proposals well in advance of the July 30, 2025 deadline and regularly monitor Grants.gov for the official opening of the application window.