National Institute of
Research Education Program – Mentoring Activities & Networks (R25/UE5)
Program Goal and Structure
The overarching goal of this NIH-wide Research Education program is to support educational activities with a primary focus on Mentoring Activities. These may include initiatives that strengthen professional development skills through mentoring and programs aimed at improving the quality of mentorship. Such efforts will focus not only on providing technical expertise, but also on offering advice, insight, and professional career guidance to participants.
NIGMS will consider two types of applications:
- R25 applications that address critical biomedical research workforce needs as part of a formal mentoring structure. For example, activities where:
- Participants are trained as mentors
- Participants receive advice, insight, and professional career skills training appropriate to their career stage as part of a mentoring network or similar formal mentoring structure.
- UE5 applications that equip cohorts of NIGMS-supported career awardees with the networks and professional skills to successfully transition to independent research careers. These applications should propose mentoring networks that focus on supporting a single career transition:
- Predoctoral-to-postdoctoral (F99/K00 awardees)
- Postdoctoral-to-faculty (K99/R00 awardees)
- Postdoctoral/early career clinician scientists to research independence (K08 or K23 awardees)
Participants
For R25 applications:
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
For UE5 applications:
NIGMS will assign career awardees to programs as part of the UE5 cooperative agreement.
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 NIGMSR25mentoring@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 Mentoring Activities & Networks 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-27-035 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 Mentoring Activities & Networks applications during January council? Which application due date should I target?
PAR-27-035 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 Mentoring Activities & Networks awards only once per year and will thus hold applications for consideration until May council, with the earliest possible start date in July. For your application to be considered for May council, you need to apply for the September due date or earlier.
What is the allowed project period for R25 Mentoring Activities & Networks applications?
NIGMS typically supports research education awards for up to 5 years.
What is the allowed budget for R25 Mentoring Activities & Networks applications?
NIGMS will consider up to $500,000 direct costs per year for these applications.