Funding Opportunity Description
The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research educational activities that complement other formal training programs in the mission areas of the NIH Institutes and Centers.

The overarching goal of this R25 program is to support educational activities that encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to pursue further studies or careers in research.

Background

A major goal of the National Plan to address Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Alzheimer’s Disease-related Dementias (ADRD) is to reduce the burden of AD/ADRD by accelerating research toward treatments, improving care and support for people facing these conditions now, and reducing the risk of AD/ADRD by promoting brain health. Despite this, there is a shortage of scientists conducting the wide variety of necessary innovative and interdisciplinary research projects, including basic biomedical, clinical, translational, prevention, and treatment research on AD/ADRD. This Funding Opportunity Annoucnment (FOA) aims to address goal G-4 of the National Institute on Aging's Strategic Directions for Research (2020-2025): "Attract and train more researchers from diverse scientific and cultural backgrounds." This will include supporting the recruitment of a variety of early-stage investigators from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences, to the NIH AD/ADRD portfolio. This FOA also aims to address the lack of early exposure to high-quality, hands-on research education experiences in the AD/ADRD field, another major barrier to increasing the AD/ADRD capable workforce.

To further expand the AD/ADRD training pipeline, NIA will support one-to-two-year intensive research experiences for recent baccalaureates, with a focus on receipt of mentorship for pursuing future research careers. The expectation is that such a program would help to transition the next generation of early-stage investigators into research careers representative of NIA mission critical areas, namely AD/ADRD research. Proposed programs should involve participants in independent research projects in AD/ADRD as it relates to aging. Participants will be required to work as research postbaccalaureates at nine person-months (75% full-time) effort, with the other three person-months (25% full-time effort) devoted to further academic and professional development. Academic development opportunities may include courses, seminars, or supplemental instruction that will enhance the technical, operational, and professional skills of the participants. Training in rigor and reproducibility is required. Professional development opportunities may include entrance exam preparation and conference and workshop participation. Program training objectives and mentoring activities should be grounded in literature and enable trainees to pursue advanced degrees and other research-related science career opportunities.

Focus on Postbaccalaureates: Postbaccalaureate programs consist of studies pursued after the completion of one's bachelor’s degree, but before entering an advanced degree program, such as a master s, doctoral, or clinical degree program. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) reports an increased number of prospective medical students taking time off between the completion of their undergraduate education and enrollment in medical school. While students may take these gap years for a variety of reasons and be involved in a range of activities, almost half of such students report being involved in research during this time. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted students decisions to take gap years in a way that has been leading to a rise in the number of students taking this path. Literature shows that postbaccalaureate programs enable recent graduates to pursue advanced degrees and other research-related science career opportunities.

For the purpose of this announcement, institutions should explain how this program will be developed in a way that will foster diversity and inclusion at their organization. As indicated below, applicants must include a Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity which describes the program’s proposed recruitment efforts and how the proposed plan reflects past experiences in recruiting individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences (see NOT-OD-20-031 for additional information on NIH's Notice of Interest in Diversity). All programs are expected to be inclusive, supportive, and safe, and to provide opportunities for participants to interact with investigators who could contribute to their growth. Applications from a variety of institutions, including those from minority serving institutions (MSIs), are encouraged.

Applicants should consider how the developed programs can optimize participation and potentially include additional participants from outside the applicant institution, especially those in local and/or affiliated institutions. Applicants must demonstrate how this program will add significant value over existing programs at the applicant institution.

Each institution must have a unique program structure that maximizes resources, departments, and faculty at the applicant institution. Applicants are encouraged to propose collaborations with affiliated and/or local institutions, as appropriate. Applicants are also encouraged to partner with existing NIH-funded or other federally funded resources and programs and leverage training activities from both federal and private-sector partners including, but not limited to, the following:

Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ARDCs)
Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging
Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC)
Edward R. Roybal Centers for Translation Research in the Behavioral and Social Sciences of Aging
Nathan Shock Centers
Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research (RCMAR)
NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA)
Research Centers in Minority Institutions Program (RCMI)
Non-Responsiveness Criteria

Applications that propose programs primarily outside of AD/ADRD research, or have a general STEM focus, will be considered non-responsive to this FOA and will be withdrawn prior to review.

Research education programs may complement ongoing research training and education occurring at the applicant institution, but the proposed educational experiences must be distinct from those training and education programs currently receiving Federal support. R25 programs may augment institutional research training programs (e.g., T32, T90), but cannot be used to replace or circumvent Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) programs.