NINDS Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25) | PAR 17 312

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 312

The NINDS Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research education grant designed to fund structured educational and career-development activities that strengthen the neuroscience research pipeline and, in particular, improve diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce. It sits under the NIH Research Education Program (R25) mechanism, which is specifically intended to support organized education-focused programs (rather than funding stand-alone research projects) in areas aligned with an NIH Institute or Center's mission. In this case, the sponsoring institute is the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), and the focus is neuroscience.

The central purpose of this opportunity is twofold. First, it aims to increase the number of current and future PhD-level research scientists in biomedical neuroscience who come from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the field. Second, it is meant to help participants move forward in their career trajectories by supporting their transition to the next professional stage in neuroscience. In practical terms, the program is intended to support training and educational experiences that are intentionally designed to build research readiness, expand access to mentorship and professional networks, and remove common barriers that can prevent talented trainees and early-career scientists from advancing.

Because it is an education-focused award, a competitive application would typically propose a coherent set of activities that plausibly lead to measurable outcomes, such as stronger preparation for graduate-level research, improved persistence and retention in neuroscience training pathways, increased competitiveness for subsequent fellowships or training slots, or successful transitions into the next career step (for example, from undergraduate to graduate training, from graduate training to postdoctoral positions, or from postdoctoral roles toward independent research careers). The announcement language emphasizes the idea of both "building the pool" and "facilitating advancement," which signals that NINDS expects programs to address entry and progression points in the neuroscience workforce pipeline, not just provide general exposure.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations that can administer NIH grants and run formal education or training programs. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both those with IRS 501(c)(3) status and those without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they otherwise qualify). The opportunity also explicitly highlights certain institution types as "other eligible applicants," reflecting the program's diversity and workforce-development mission. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). This emphasis indicates that NINDS is actively encouraging applications from institutions that serve populations historically underrepresented in biomedical research and that are positioned to create strong, supportive pathways into neuroscience careers.

There are also clear restrictions related to foreign participation. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. In addition, foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are not allowed. Taken together, these limits mean the program must be administered by an eligible U.S.-based applicant organization and cannot include foreign subcomponents as part of the proposed activities in the way NIH defines foreign components.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by NIH, with the funding activity category listed as health and the CFDA number 93.853 (which corresponds to NINDS). The funding instrument type is a grant, and the opportunity number is PAR-17-312. The source information lists an award ceiling of $250,000. The opportunity record shows an original closing date of 2019-09-25 and a creation date of 2017-06-12, which suggests this specific listing refers to a particular publication window of the program announcement; applicants typically should confirm whether there is an active reissue, reannouncement, or related current funding opportunity on NIH/Grants.gov if they are seeking to apply now.

In summary, this R25 opportunity is aimed at building and strengthening neuroscience research career pathways for participants from underrepresented backgrounds by funding organized, outcome-driven educational and professional development programs. The intent is not only to broaden participation in neuroscience research at the PhD level and beyond, but also to help people successfully navigate key transitions that often determine whether they remain in the field and progress toward advanced research careers.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NINDS Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.853.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-06-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-09-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for PAR 17 312

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