FY25 Ensuring Research Integrity - Research on Research Integrity (RRI)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), has announced a funding opportunity for Fiscal Year 2025 titled “Ensuring Research Integrity - Research on Research Integrity (RRI).” This grant initiative is administered by the Grants and Acquisitions Management Division (GAM) under the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). The funding opportunity is officially listed under opportunity number IR-ORI-25-001 and is authorized by Section 301 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 241). It aims to fund projects that conduct empirical research to better understand the factors that impact research integrity within Public Health Service (PHS)-funded biomedical and behavioral research. The primary goal of this opportunity is to support studies that investigate societal, organizational, behavioral, group, and individual elements that influence research integrity. In particular, it focuses on identifying the root causes of research misconduct and enhancing factors that support ethical research practices in compliance with 42 C.F.R. Part 93. Projects must address at least one of the following three focus areas: exploring financial, cultural, institutional, and individual factors affecting research practices; assessing the effectiveness of institutional policies and training on research integrity; and examining mechanisms for reporting and responding to research misconduct. A total of $500,000 is available for this opportunity, with the anticipated number of awards set at two. Each award will range between $150,000 to $250,000 for the first 12-month budget period. A second 12-month budget period, for a total duration of up to 24 months, is contingent upon the submission and approval of a non-competing continuation (NCC) application, available funding, satisfactory progress, and stewardship of funds. Notably, the grant does not support projects primarily designed to host conferences, workshops, or meetings; a separate opportunity (IR-ORI-25-002) exists for those purposes. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as state, county, city, and tribal governments, public and private institutions of higher education, public housing authorities, for-profit and non-profit organizations, independent school districts, and individuals. Faith-based organizations and community-based organizations are also eligible. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by 6:00 PM Eastern on July 30, 2025. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, though voluntary cost sharing is allowed. A technical assistance webinar will be held on July 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Prospective applicants are encouraged to review the full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and ensure that all formatting, eligibility, and content requirements are strictly followed to avoid disqualification. Applications will undergo a multi-step review process that includes eligibility screening, responsiveness review, and a merit-based evaluation. Proposals must present a strong rationale, clearly identify targeted outcomes, and include detailed plans for project execution, evaluation, and dissemination. Reviewers will assess how well the project addresses the required focus areas and the potential for the research to generate practical tools or knowledge that can be applied by stakeholders in the research ecosystem. Specific guidance on formatting, required attachments, and allowable costs is provided in the NOFO, along with a checklist to help applicants prepare complete and compliant submissions. Contact for administrative and budgetary inquiries is Jessica Shields at Jessica.Shields@hhs.gov. For programmatic questions, applicants should reach out to Armineh Ghazarian at Armineh.Ghazarian@hhs.gov. All application materials, including project narratives, appendices, and budget documents, must be prepared and submitted according to the outlined specifications. The anticipated award date is September 15, 2025, with projects expected to begin by September 30, 2025.

Read full instructions carefully, confirm formatting and page limits, and attend the July 15, 2025, TA webinar.