NIDCD's Mentored Research Education Pathway for Otolaryngology Residents and Medical Students (R25 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health and its National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, is offering funding under the reissued program titled NIDCD's Mentored Research Education Pathway for Otolaryngology Residents and Medical Students (R25 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed). This initiative supports research education programs designed to recruit medical students and otolaryngology residents into biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research careers. The program complements formal training opportunities and aims to strengthen the pipeline of clinician-investigators capable of advancing research on communication disorders and related health conditions. The program emphasizes mentored research experiences and career development activities to prepare participants for further research training and eventual independent careers. Medical students may participate in short-term or academic-year research experiences lasting up to nine months, while residents can engage in mentored research for periods ranging from twelve to twenty-four months. The expectation is that these experiences will encourage early engagement with scientific inquiry, stimulate research curiosity, and provide the foundation for subsequent career development opportunities such as NIH training and career awards. Eligible applicants include U.S.-based higher education institutions, nonprofits, for-profit organizations, state, local, and tribal governments, as well as other specified entities. Foreign institutions and foreign components are not eligible. Each sponsoring institution must demonstrate commitment to providing the necessary resources, faculty support, and mentorship structure. Program directors must hold health professional degrees, have significant mentoring and research experience, and demonstrate a strong record of NIH support. Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and residents must hold a medical doctorate and commit at least 80 percent effort during their research period. Funding will cover salaries for participants, research-related costs, travel, and professional development. Medical students may receive stipends comparable to NIH predoctoral levels and up to $4,200 for training-related expenses. Resident-investigators may receive salary support equivalent to 80 percent of their postgraduate year salary and up to $20,000 annually in supplementary research funds. Institutions may request up to $20,000 annually for administrative support. Allowable costs include research supplies, registration for skill-building workshops, and travel to scientific meetings. Indirect costs are reimbursed at 8 percent of modified total direct costs. Tuition for medical school is not allowed. Applications are submitted electronically through NIH ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or institutional system-to-system solutions. Letters of support demonstrating institutional commitment are required, as are biosketches of participating faculty and preceptors. Programs must also include a responsible conduct of research plan, evaluation plan, and dissemination plan. Applicants are required to submit data tables describing faculty, participants, and program outcomes. Renewal applicants must report on progress and outcomes achieved during the prior funding period. The program operates on multiple deadlines, with upcoming due dates on January 29, 2025, September 29, 2025, January 29, 2026, and September 29, 2026. Letters of intent are due by May 14, 2024, for the first cycle. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. Scientific merit review, council review, and award dates follow the NIH review cycle, with earliest possible project starts ranging from April 2025 through December 2026. The funding opportunity will expire on September 30, 2026. Applications will be evaluated on significance, investigators, innovation, approach, and environment, as well as plans for responsible conduct of research and reproducibility training. Successful applications must demonstrate clear program goals, strong institutional support, appropriate mentorship, and a feasible plan to support participant development into clinician-investigators. Inquiries should be directed to Alberto L. Rivera-Rentas, Ph.D. ([email protected], 301-496-1804) for scientific questions, Melissa J. Stick, Ph.D., M.P.H. ([email protected], 301-496-8683) for peer review questions, or Samantha Tempchin ([email protected], 301-435-1404) for financial matters.