Undergraduate Summer Research Education in Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DK 23 013

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 23 013

The Undergraduate Summer Research Education in Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases opportunity (RFA-DK-23-013) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Education Program (R25) grant run through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Its purpose is to build structured research education programs that actively bring undergraduates into the biomedical research pipeline, with an emphasis on encouraging students to pursue longer-term research careers in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical sciences connected to NIDDK priorities. The central idea is not simply classroom instruction, but hands-on research training that gives students real exposure to how research is designed, conducted, and communicated, so they can realistically envision themselves continuing in research-focused education and careers.

This particular funding announcement is focused on creating or supporting summer research institutes for qualified undergraduate students. The institutes are expected to provide summer research experiences aligned with the mission areas of NIDDKs Division of Kidney, Urologic and Hematologic Diseases (DKUH). In practice, that means programs should be organized around research themes and mentoring environments tied to kidney disease, urologic conditions, and hematologic diseases, and should immerse students in research experiences rather than offering only lecture-based enrichment. The announcement highlights "Research Experiences" as the primary activity, signaling that the program should revolve around mentored projects, exposure to research methods and responsible conduct, and other training elements that directly support participants development as future researchers.

The award is a discretionary NIH grant mechanism (R25), and it is labeled "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning applicants should not propose activities that involve running a clinical trial as part of the supported program. The expectation is educational and research training infrastructure and experiences, not the execution of clinical trial research under this award. Organizations applying should plan their activities accordingly, keeping the focus on research education and mentored research experiences that fit within NIH policy for an R25 and within the clinical trial restrictions stated in the announcement.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and government entities, including public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, special district governments, independent school districts, federally recognized tribal governments, and tribal organizations that are not federally recognized. It also includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, along with an "Other" category reflecting NIH-wide eligibility language. The announcement specifically calls out additional eligible applicant types that are often central to workforce development and broadening participation, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as NIH defines them in the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed under this opportunity. In plain terms, this program is meant to be proposed and carried out within eligible U.S. institutions and settings, without foreign organizational components supported by the grant.

Key logistics provided in the source details include an original closing date of August 30, 2023, an award ceiling listed as $130,000, and a CFDA number of 93.847. The funding activity category is listed under health (and also tagged with food and nutrition, health in the source data), consistent with NIDDKs biomedical mission. Overall, the opportunity is aimed at helping institutions build summer programs that can consistently recruit undergraduates, place them into meaningful DKUH-relevant research experiences, and strengthen the near-term and long-term pipeline of researchers working in kidney, urologic, and hematologic disease areas.

• The National Institutes of Health in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Undergraduate Summer Research Education in Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-05-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-08-30. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $130,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA DK 23 013

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