Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 27 078
The Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required) is an NIH grant opportunity designed to fund smaller, focused research projects at institutions that historically receive relatively little NIH support. The program has two linked goals: moving forward biomedical research that fits the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers, and strengthening the research culture at eligible schools by giving students meaningful, hands-on research experiences. In practice, REAP is meant to help build or deepen research capacity at health professional schools and graduate programs by supporting investigator-initiated projects that can be realistically carried out with modest resources, while also serving as a training and mentoring platform for health professional, undergraduate, and graduate students.
A central eligibility rule is the institutional NIH funding cap. To apply, an institution must award baccalaureate degrees or advanced science degrees and must not have received more than 6 million dollars per year in total NIH support (this includes both direct costs and F and A/indirect costs) in at least 4 of the last 7 NIH fiscal years. For universities made up of multiple schools or colleges, the 6 million dollar limit is calculated using NIH funding across the entire institution, not just a single department or school. NIH provides guidance and tools to help applicants verify whether their organization meets this funding threshold, and applicants are expected to confirm their status before submitting.
This particular R15 Notice of Funding Opportunity focuses on research that includes a clinical trial component, but the scope is limited to mechanistic and/or minimal risk clinical trials. Mechanistic trials generally aim to understand biological or behavioral processes (how or why something works) rather than to definitively prove a clinical benefit. Minimal risk clinical trials, as defined in the opportunity, are those that do not require FDA oversight, are not designed to formally establish efficacy, and pose low risk of physical or psychological harm to participants. That definition matters because it signals the type of human-subjects research NIH expects under this NOFO: carefully designed, ethically sound studies that answer important mechanistic questions or test low-risk interventions without the complexity and regulatory burden typical of higher-risk or pivotal efficacy trials. Applicants still need to ensure their proposed trial aligns with the mission areas and research interests of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers and follow NIH clinical trial and human subjects requirements.
Who can apply is also clearly bounded by geography and organizational status. Eligible applicants include public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, provided they meet the REAP funding threshold and degree-awarding requirements. Non-U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible to apply. However, foreign components, as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed, which means certain well-justified international collaborations can be included in a project as components rather than as the applicant organization itself.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity is a discretionary NIH grant in the health funding activity category. The award ceiling listed is 375,000 dollars. The funding opportunity number is PAR-27-078, and the opportunity is open with an original closing date of 2027-10-25. The program is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now often referenced under Assistance Listings), reflecting participation across several NIH components. Overall, the key takeaway is that REAP R15 (Clinical Trial Required) is aimed at smaller institutions with limited NIH funding histories that want to conduct mission-relevant, investigator-driven research involving mechanistic or minimal risk clinical trials, while directly enhancing student research training and improving the institution's research environment.Apply for PAR 27 078
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (R15 Clinical Trial Required)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.172, 93.173, 93.233, 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.307, 93.361, 93.393, 93.394, 93.395, 93.399, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-05-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2027-10-25.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $375,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) R15 (Clinical Trial Required)?
The Research Enhancement Award Program (REAP) for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools is an NIH grant opportunity intended to support smaller, focused research projects at institutions that historically receive relatively little NIH funding. This specific version is an R15 funding opportunity that requires a clinical trial component, limited to mechanistic and/or minimal risk clinical trials.
What are the main goals of this REAP program?
The program has two linked goals: (1) to advance biomedical research that aligns with the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers, and (2) to strengthen the research culture at eligible schools by providing meaningful, hands-on research experiences for students. In practice, the award supports investigator-initiated projects that are feasible with modest resources while also functioning as a training and mentoring platform for health professional, undergraduate, and graduate students.
Who is this opportunity designed for?
This opportunity is designed for institutions of higher education that award baccalaureate degrees or advanced science degrees and that have relatively low levels of NIH support. It is particularly aimed at health professional schools and graduate programs seeking to build or deepen research capacity while engaging students directly in research.
What is the institutional NIH funding cap for eligibility?
To be eligible, an institution must not have received more than 6 million dollars per year in total NIH support (including both direct costs and F and A/indirect costs) in at least 4 of the last 7 NIH fiscal years. Applicants are expected to confirm their eligibility status before submitting an application.
How is the 6 million dollar NIH funding limit calculated for universities with multiple schools or colleges?
For universities made up of multiple schools or colleges, the 6 million dollar limit is calculated using NIH funding across the entire institution, not just a single department, program, school, or college.
Does the institution have to award specific degrees to be eligible?
Yes. The institution must award baccalaureate degrees or advanced science degrees to meet the degree-awarding requirement described for this program.
What type of research does this R15 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) support?
This NOFO supports investigator-initiated biomedical research projects that fit the missions and research interests of participating NIH Institutes and Centers, and that can realistically be carried out with modest resources. A clinical trial component is required, but the allowable scope is limited to mechanistic and/or minimal risk clinical trials.
What does "Clinical Trial Required" mean in this opportunity?
It means the proposed project must include a clinical trial component. However, the NOFO limits the clinical trial scope to mechanistic clinical trials and/or minimal risk clinical trials as defined in the opportunity description.
What is a mechanistic clinical trial in the context of this opportunity?
Mechanistic clinical trials generally aim to understand biological or behavioral processes (how or why something works) rather than to definitively prove a clinical benefit. The emphasis is on answering mechanistic questions instead of running a pivotal study designed to establish clinical efficacy.
What is a minimal risk clinical trial under this NOFO?
Minimal risk clinical trials, as described here, are those that do not require FDA oversight, are not designed to formally establish efficacy, and pose low risk of physical or psychological harm to participants. This definition signals NIH expectations for carefully designed, ethically sound, low-risk human-subjects studies within this program.
Are higher-risk or FDA-regulated clinical trials within scope for this opportunity?
Based on the information provided, the NOFO scope is limited to mechanistic and/or minimal risk clinical trials, with minimal risk trials specifically described as not requiring FDA oversight and not designed to formally establish efficacy. Projects that require FDA oversight or are designed as formal efficacy trials would not fit the minimal risk definition described.
Do applicants still need to follow NIH clinical trial and human subjects requirements?
Yes. Even though the clinical trials are limited to mechanistic and/or minimal risk types, applicants must follow NIH clinical trial and human subjects requirements and ensure that studies are ethically sound.
What organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, as long as they meet the REAP funding threshold and the degree-awarding requirements described for this program.
Are non-U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply under this opportunity.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component?
Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply. However, foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are allowed, meaning certain well-justified international collaborations may be included as components of a project rather than as the applicant organization.
What is meant by "foreign components are allowed"?
It means that while the applicant organization itself must be U.S.-based and eligible, the project may include certain international elements or collaborations if they qualify as "foreign components" under NIH policy and are appropriately justified.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is 375,000 dollars.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is PAR-27-078.
When is the opportunity closing date?
The opportunity is open with an original closing date of 2027-10-25.
What type of grant is this from an administrative standpoint?
This is described as a discretionary NIH grant in the health funding activity category.
How does this program support student involvement and training?
A core feature of REAP is strengthening the research environment at eligible schools by providing students with meaningful, hands-on research experiences. The projects are intended to serve as a training and mentoring platform for health professional, undergraduate, and graduate students, while also building institutional research capacity.
Is this program only about training, or is research advancement also required?
Both are central. The program is intended to move biomedical research forward in areas aligned with participating NIH Institutes and Centers while also strengthening the research culture and training environment at eligible institutions.
Do projects need to align with specific NIH mission areas?
Yes. Applicants must ensure their proposed research, including the clinical trial component, aligns with the mission areas and research interests of the participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Are there tools or guidance to confirm whether an institution meets the NIH funding threshold?
Yes. NIH provides guidance and tools to help applicants verify whether their organization meets the 6 million dollars per year funding threshold, and applicants are expected to confirm their status before submitting.
Why is REAP described as supporting projects that can be done with "modest resources"?
The program is designed for smaller, focused projects at institutions with limited NIH funding histories, emphasizing feasibility and realistic project scope. It aims to support research that can be successfully carried out without the scale and infrastructure typically associated with larger awards.
Are CFDA/Assistance Listing numbers associated with this opportunity?
Yes. The program is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now often referenced as Assistance Listings), reflecting participation across several NIH components.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Health
Next opportunity: Fiscal Year 2026 Nonprofit Security Grant Program
Previous opportunity: Alzheimer's Disease Programs Initiative - Dementia Capability in Indian Country
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for PAR 27 078
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (PAR 27 078) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NIH Small Business Technology Transfer Grant (Parent STTR [R41/R42] Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 27 102 Funding Number: PA 27 102 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award (Parent [R44] Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for PA 27 101 Funding Number: PA 27 101 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Sustained Support for Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 27 021 Funding Number: RFA CA 27 021 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Advanced Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U24 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 27 020 Funding Number: RFA CA 27 020 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| NIAID Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement (U01 Clinical Trial Required) Apply for PAR 27 064 Funding Number: PAR 27 064 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Early-Stage Development of Informatics Technologies for Cancer Research and Management (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA CA 27 019 Funding Number: RFA CA 27 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Novel Experiential Technologies Assisting Individual Learning (NExT AI) Hubs (P20 Clinical Trial Optional) Apply for RFA HD 27 006 Funding Number: RFA HD 27 006 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Using Archived Data and Specimen Collections to Advance Maternal and Pediatric HIV/AIDS Research (R21 CT Not Allowed) Apply for RFA HD 27 007 Funding Number: RFA HD 27 007 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| NIDCR Prospective Observational or Biomarker Validation Study Cooperative Agreement (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 27 058 Funding Number: PAR 27 058 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Causal Hypotheses on the Oral-Systemic Health Impacts of Human Behaviors among People with Chronic Conditions (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for PAR 27 057 Funding Number: PAR 27 057 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Influenza Modeling and Forecasting Apply for CDC RFA IP 26 0102 Funding Number: CDC RFA IP 26 0102 Agency: Centers for Disease Control - NCIRD Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Research Grants for Preventing Interpersonal Violence and Suicide Among Youth and Young Adults (R01) Apply for RFA CE 26 020 Funding Number: RFA CE 26 020 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA Category: Health Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Eliminating Parasitic and Neglected Tropical Disease Threats to the United States - Program Support and Research to Reduce Threats to Americans at Home and Abroad Apply for RFA CK 26 104 Funding Number: RFA CK 26 104 Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - ERA Category: Health Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Addressing Dementia in Tribal and Urban Indian Communities: CAReS Program Apply for HHS 2026 IHS ALZ 0001 Funding Number: HHS 2026 IHS ALZ 0001 Agency: Indian Health Service Category: Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Tribal Self-Governance Planning Cooperative Agreement Program Apply for HHS 2026 IHS TSGP 0001 Funding Number: HHS 2026 IHS TSGP 0001 Agency: Indian Health Service Category: Health Funding Amount: $180,000 |
| A Tribal Self-Governance Negotiation Cooperative Agreement Program Apply for HHS 2026 IHS TSGN 0001 Funding Number: HHS 2026 IHS TSGN 0001 Agency: Indian Health Service Category: Health Funding Amount: $84,000 |
| Tribal Management Grant (TMG) Program Apply for HHS 2026 IHS TMD 0001 Funding Number: HHS 2026 IHS TMD 0001 Agency: Indian Health Service Category: Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Strengthening public health efforts to protect and improve health in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Apply for CDC RFA JG 26 0044 Funding Number: CDC RFA JG 26 0044 Agency: Centers for Disease Control-GHC Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Sustaining Global Health Security to protect and improve public health in Kenya Apply for CDC RFA JG 26 0055 Funding Number: CDC RFA JG 26 0055 Agency: Centers for Disease Control-GHC Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Enhancing global laboratory systems to safely manage biological risks, deploy diagnostics, and sequence pathogens to improve capacities for global health threat response and detection Apply for CDC RFA JG 26 0058 Funding Number: CDC RFA JG 26 0058 Agency: Centers for Disease Control-GHC Category: Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "PAR 27 078", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.