The Office of Research Integrity (ORI), under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), seeks to advance the integrity and quality of biomedical and behavioral research through the Ensuring Research Integrity - Research on Research Integrity (RRI) funding opportunity. This program is designed to support social and behavioral research aimed at identifying the root causes of research misconduct and promoting ethical research practices. ORI aims to foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and trust within research environments through the funding of studies that explore various institutional, financial, cultural, and individual factors affecting research integrity.

This opportunity focuses on three key research areas. First, applicants are encouraged to investigate financial, cultural, institutional, and individual influences on research misconduct and integrity. This includes examining institutional policies, leadership dynamics, mentorship structures, and funding pressures that impact ethical decision-making in research. Second, applicants should assess the effectiveness of policies and training programs designed to instill ethical research practices, including randomized controlled trials and longitudinal analyses of policy changes. Third, the grant supports studies on reporting and response mechanisms, such as identifying psychological barriers to reporting misconduct and evaluating institutional responses to allegations.

The funding opportunity has an estimated total program funding of $500,000, with an award ceiling of $250,000 and a minimum award amount of $150,000. It is expected that two awards will be made under this program. The period of performance for funded projects will be up to 24 months, divided into 12-month budget periods. Recipients must submit a non-competing continuation (NCC) application for each subsequent budget period. Future funding is contingent upon satisfactory project progress, responsible federal fund stewardship, and continued funding availability.

Eligible applicants for this grant include a broad range of organizations and individuals, including city, county, and state governments, independent school districts, public and private higher education institutions, tribal governments and organizations, small businesses, nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), public housing authorities, special district governments, and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. Faith-based and community-based organizations, as well as foreign organizations that provide a domestic benefit, are also eligible to apply.

The estimated timeline for this funding opportunity is as follows: the opportunity is forecasted to be posted on April 7, 2025, with an application due date of June 16, 2025, by 6:00 PM Eastern Time. Awards are expected to be announced on September 15, 2025, with funded projects beginning on September 30, 2025. The grant does not require cost-sharing or matching contributions.

For further inquiries regarding this funding opportunity, applicants can contact Armineh Ghazarian at the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health via phone at 240-453-8200 or email at Armineh.Ghazarian@hhs.gov.