The Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools is a funding opportunity offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The primary goal of this program is to support small-scale research grants at institutions that do not receive substantial NIH funding, with a strong emphasis on providing biomedical research experiences for health professional, undergraduate, and graduate students. The program also seeks to enhance the research environment at eligible institutions. The REAP initiative is a continuation of NIH’s broader efforts to stimulate research at educational institutions that historically have not been major NIH grant recipients.

The program is open to accredited public or private nonprofit institutions that grant baccalaureate or advanced degrees in health professions or biomedical and behavioral sciences. To qualify, institutions must have received no more than $6 million per year in NIH funding in four of the last seven fiscal years. For institutions comprising multiple schools and colleges, the funding limit applies to the institution as a whole. The research projects supported by REAP grants must actively involve students, with research teams primarily composed of health professional, undergraduate, and/or graduate students.

The REAP program does not support research that meets NIH’s definition of a clinical trial. However, it does support both basic research and human subjects research. Eligible institutions must provide a research environment where students can engage in meaningful research activities, including designing experiments, collecting and analyzing data, and contributing to publications and presentations. This program is not a training or fellowship grant, and applications should not include non-research activities such as didactic training or professional development workshops.

Applications are due on a rolling basis with standard NIH due dates, including February 25, June 25, and October 25 each year. The earliest submission date is January 8, 2025, and the expiration date for this funding opportunity is January 8, 2028. The grant allows a maximum request of $375,000 in direct costs for a project period of up to three years. NIH anticipates funding a number of awards, contingent on available appropriations and the submission of meritorious applications.

Applicants must submit proposals through NIH’s ASSIST system, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional system-to-system solution. All applications must comply with NIH’s standardized submission requirements, including providing a signed letter from the institution's provost verifying eligibility. NIH encourages applicants to contact relevant NIH program officials before submission to ensure alignment with specific institute research priorities. The program is managed by multiple NIH components, including the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the National Eye Institute (NEI), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), among others.

Proposals will be reviewed based on scientific merit, institutional impact, and the extent to which they provide research opportunities to students. The evaluation process includes peer review by NIH’s Center for Scientific Review, advisory council review, and final funding decisions based on scientific merit, programmatic priorities, and availability of funds. Successful applicants will be notified through a Notice of Award and will be required to comply with NIH’s reporting and administrative policies.