National Institute of
Research Education Program - Courses, Curriculum & Methods (R25)
Program Goal and Structure
The overarching goal of this NIH-wide Research Education program is to support courses, curriculum and methods that complement and/or enhance training of a workforce to meet the nation's biomedical, behavioral and clinical research needs.
Proposed programs should have a primary focus on one of both of the following:
- Courses for Skills Development: Programs may vary in structure (for example, in-person, virtual, or hybrid) and duration and should be designed to meet the stated goals and objectives, and the needs of the intended participants. Proposed courses should develop the skills necessary for biomedical research workforce careers, for example, where participants develop:
- Technical skills: appropriate and safe research methods, new technologies, quantitative/computational approaches, pedagogy
- Operational skills: independent knowledge acquisition, rigorous experimental design, data interpretation
- Professional skills: management, leadership, communication, teamwork/collaboration, mentoring, career navigation.
- Curriculum or Methods Development: Programs should develop and disseminate innovative curricular or instructional approaches to improve biomedical research education at multiple secondary or postsecondary organizations. For example, proposed programs may enable participants to develop or enhance curriculum, methods, novel instructional approaches, or computer-based tools.
NIGMS will prioritize programs that include a range of disciplines relevant to its mission, and that have broad reach with national (or regional, when appropriate) recruitment. Programs that recruit participants from a single organization or focus on a single discipline – especially those in the mission of other ICs – will be low priority for funding.
Participants
NIGMS expects research education programs to be used for the education of U.S. citizens and permanent residents. The PI/PD will select the participants to be supported by the research education program. It is the responsibility of the applicant organization to establish the qualifications of the participants, consistent with applicable law, before they are supported by the program.
Programs may focus on individuals at a particular career stage or at a range of stages, from undergraduate to professional (for example faculty, staff scientists).
NIGMS will prioritize programs designed to recruit and support participants who will significantly benefit, including those:
- Without substantial previous research experience,
- From resource-limited institutions, or
- With circumstances that would otherwise prevent them from pursuing biomedical research. Such circumstances might include but are not necessarily limited to:
- Financial hardship
- Return from military service
- Career delay or change
- Family responsibilities
Information for Applicant Organizations
Applicant organizations may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.
Multiple organizations may partner to submit one application.
NIGMS encourages applications from IDeA-eligible states, HBCUs, and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), as defined under 25 U.S.C. 1603 (24).
Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the NOFO (including Related Notices in the Overview Section) and consult NIGMS staff to discuss eligibility and application requirements prior to submission at NIGMSR25courses@nih.gov. The interest areas, due dates, and contacts for all NIH ICOs, including NIGMS, can be found on the Research Education Funding Considerations and Contacts page.
NIGMS R25 Program Courses, Curriculum & Methods FAQs
I was the PI on a previous NIGMS R25. Can I apply as a renewal?
Renewals are technically allowed under the parent R25 research education NOFOs. Please note, however, that PAR-27-034 is not a reissuance of any of NIGMS’s previous R25 NOFOs, and has different program goals and considerations. For a brand new NOFO it is often helpful to submit a new application that reimagines an existing program, rather than extending it.
Applications for new programs do not include a Progress Report section. However, objectives, outcomes, and lessons learned from similar programs can still be described in the Research Education Program Plan.
What does it mean that NIGMS prioritizes funding Courses, Curriculum & Methods applications during January council? Which application due date should I target?
PAR-27-034 has three due dates, and you can submit to any (see “Key Dates” section in the NOFO for details). However, NIGMS may decide to make new Courses, Curriculum & Methods awards only once per year and will thus hold applications for consideration until January council, with the earliest possible start date in April. For your application to be considered for January council, you need to apply for the May due date or earlier.
For Fiscal Year 2027 only, NIGMS intends to pay applications submitted in September 2026 by July of 2027.
What is the allowed project period for R25 Courses, Curriculum & Methods applications?
NIGMS typically supports research education awards for up to 5 years. NIGMS also supports pilot curriculum and methods development projects for up to three years.
What is the allowed budget for R25 Courses, Curriculum & Methods applications?
NIGMS will consider up to $500,000 direct costs per year for these applications.
May I include mentoring activities in my program?
Programs focused on courses, curriculum, and methods may incorporate secondary elements such as research experiences and mentoring activities; however, those with a primary focus on one of these elements should be submitted to companion R25 NOFOs PA-27-036 or PA-27-035, that emphasize research experiences or mentoring activities respectively.