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

The Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has reissued the Support for Research Excellence – First Independent Research (SuRE-First) Award under announcement number PAR-25-415. This funding opportunity is led by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and includes collaboration from twenty NIH Institutes and Centers. The SuRE-First Award (R16 activity code) supports full-time faculty at eligible higher education institutions who have not previously held independent, peer-reviewed external research funding. Its purpose is to bolster research capacity, support student engagement in scientific research, and foster independent research careers in biomedical sciences. The SuRE-First initiative targets resource-limited institutions that grant undergraduate and/or graduate degrees in biomedical sciences and receive less than $6 million annually in NIH Research Project Grant (RPG) funding. Applicants must also demonstrate that at least 25% of their undergraduate students have received Pell Grants in the past two years. The program seeks to ensure equitable participation in the research enterprise across underserved regions and diverse student populations. Awards under this opportunity are meant to stimulate high-quality student-centered research in basic, clinical, behavioral, social, or translational biomedical science. Eligible projects must fall under NIH's mission areas. The grant provides up to $125,000 in direct costs per year for a maximum of four years. Clinical trials are not allowed. Funds must be used to support the PD/PI’s independent research and student participation. A minimum commitment of 6 person-months per year is required from the PD/PI. Applications may include the use of specialized facilities at other institutions, but the majority of work should occur at the applicant’s institution. Additionally, each applicant must identify a U.S.-based mentor with relevant expertise and a record of extramural funding. A signed letter from this mentor is required, outlining the mentoring plan and research guidance. Applications must include four mandatory attachments: (1) Institutional Strategic Plan letter, (2) Institutional Support for PD/PI letter, (3) PD/PI Research Enhancement Plan, and (4) Prior, Current, and Pending Support documentation. Missing any of these will result in disqualification without review. Applications must also include a “Student Involvement Plan” detailing how students will actively participate in the research process. The application process must follow the instructions outlined in the NIH Application Guide and must be submitted electronically through one of the approved systems: ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system (S2S) solutions. The application window opens on August 29, 2025, and the first due date is September 29, 2025. Recurring deadlines follow NIH’s standard cycles, with additional due dates in May and September through 2028. The opportunity expires on September 8, 2028. SuRE-First awards may not be renewed, and awardees may only hold one SuRE, SuRE-First, or SCORE award at a time. PDs/PIs with current or prior SCORE or external research grants are not eligible. Career development award holders may apply if the original grant conditions permit. Scientific/research contacts for each participating NIH Institute are provided for applicants to seek guidance on alignment with institute missions. Financial/grants management contacts are also available for administrative questions. The program is not subject to intergovernmental review under Executive Order 12372. Applications are reviewed by NIH peer review panels and scored on factors such as scientific significance, rigor, feasibility, and student involvement. Final award decisions consider review scores, program priorities, institutional diversity, and available funding.

Submit early; missing required attachments will result in disqualification.