Division for Research Capacity Building (DRCB)

DRCB administers the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program that supports research, research workforce development, and research infrastructure improvement in states where levels of NIH funding have historically been low. The division also oversees the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) program, the Support for Research Excellence (SuRE) program, and the Science Education Partnership Awards (SEPA) program.

IDeA

IDeA is a congressionally mandated program that builds research capacity in states with low levels of NIH funding. It supports competitive basic, clinical, and translational research, research workforce development, and infrastructure improvements. The program aims to strengthen institutions' ability to support biomedical research, enhance the competitiveness of investigators in securing research funding, and catalyze clinical and translational research that addresses the needs of IDeA state populations.

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NARCH

The NARCH program funds federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes and organizations for health research, research career enhancement, and research infrastructure enhancement activities.

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SuRE

The SuRE program supports research capacity building at eligible higher education institutions through funding investigator-initiated research in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences that falls in the mission areas of the NIH.

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SEPA

The SEPA program supports educational activities that encourage pre-college students (pre-kindergarten to grade 12) from diverse backgrounds to pursue further studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

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For DRCB staff contact information and their biographical sketches, please see the Division Staff Contacts page.​