Grants8 | The most comprehensive grants search on the web

Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core objective: To support research education activities that enhance the training of a workforce in neurological disorders, specifically to prepare residents and fellows to successfully compete for individual research funding (NIH K or R01 equivalent awards).
Explicit identification of target recipient type and size: Accredited Medical Schools and/or Hospitals that oversee residency programs. No specific size is defined, but these are typically large institutions.
MUST state if grant is 'SECTOR-SPECIFIC' or 'SECTOR-AGNOSTIC': SECTOR-SPECIFIC (Neurological Disorders and Stroke research)
Geographic scope and any location requirements: United States only. Foreign organizations or non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Must be a U.S.-based accredited Medical School or Hospital that runs residency programs and can demonstrate a commitment to research education in neurological disorders for residents and fellows.
Grant frequency and program context: This is a reissue of a previous funding opportunity (PAR-20-311), indicating a recurring program to address the critical need for physician-scientists in neurological research.

Financial Structure

Budget range: Up to $850,000 direct cost annually.
Total maximum award per application: $4,250,000 over the maximum 5-year project period.
Eligible costs:
- Salary plus fringe for participants (residents/fellows) at the appropriate PGY level for 80% full-time professional effort (6-12 months/year).
- Program costs: $10,000 per participant supported annually (can cover PD/PI travel to workshop, PD/PI salary, support personnel, other allowable costs).
- Ph.D.-granting program expenses: Up to $12,800 per participant annually (prorated).
- Travel: Up to $4,000 per participant annually for the NINDS-sponsored workshop and other scientific conferences/educational opportunities.
Ineligible costs:
- Mentor salary (from the $10,000 program costs).
- Funds transferred to individuals not approved for participation.
Matching fund requirements: Not required; the NOFO explicitly states it does not require cost sharing.
Indirect cost policies: Reimbursed at 8% of modified total direct costs (excluding tuition, fees, equipment, and consortium costs exceeding $25,000).
Payment schedule: Funding is provided for a single year at a time, running from July 1 to June 30. Participant support requests are due October 15 for the July 1 start.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Eligibility

Eligible organization types: Accredited Medical Schools and/or Hospitals that oversee residency programs.
Only one UE5 application per institution will be accepted for review.
Sponsoring institution must assure support with adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources.
Proposed educational experiences must be distinct from those receiving other Federal support (e.g., NIH T32 training grants).
Foreign organizations or non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Required Registrations: Applicant organizations must complete and maintain active registrations in System for Award Management (SAM), Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), eRA Commons, and Grants.gov prior to application submission.

Individual Participant Eligibility

Must hold a clinical doctorate (e.g., M.D.) and be practicing clinically.
Must be employed by the applicant institution.
Typically in Neurology, Neurosurgery, Pediatric Neurology, Neuropathology, Neuroradiology, Anesthesiology, or Emergency Medicine, but can be from any clinical specialty doing research within the NINDS mission.
Must be dedicated to pursuing a career as a physician-scientist.
Must begin the research education program during clinical residency.
Must commit 80% effort for a minimum of 6 months during residency to be eligible for continued support.
Non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible but require a plan to transition to individual research career support equivalent to an NIH K08, K23, or R01 award.

Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) Eligibility

Must be an established investigator in the scientific area of the application.
Must hold a health professional degree (e.g., M.D. or equivalent).
Must have a full-time faculty appointment in a Neurology, Neurosurgery, or Pathology Department in a medical school.
If the sponsoring institution is a hospital affiliated with a medical school, the PD/PI must have an appointment in both the medical school and the sponsoring institution.
Must be capable of providing both administrative and scientific leadership.

Application Process

Submission options: Applications must be submitted electronically through NIH ASSIST, an institutional system-to-system (S2S) solution, or Grants.gov Workspace.
Required application instructions: Applicants must follow the Research (R) Instructions in the 'How to Apply - Application Guide', unless specifically instructed otherwise in this funding opportunity.
Letter of Intent (LOI): Not required, not binding, but strongly encouraged. Due 30 days before the application due date. Should include descriptive title, PD/PI info, key personnel, participating institutions, and the funding opportunity number.
Page limitations: All specified page limitations in the 'How to Apply - Application Guide' and 'Table of Page Limits' must be followed.
Submission deadline: The latest application due date for New/Renewal/Resubmission/Revision applications is January 28, 2026, by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization.
Early submission: Applicants are encouraged to submit early to allow time for corrections.
System checks: NIH and Grants.gov systems check applications for completeness and compliance; errors must be corrected and a changed/corrected application submitted by the due date.
Post-submission materials: Follow NIH policy for submission of post-submission materials.

Required Documentation/Materials

SF424(R&R) forms: Cover, Project/Performance Site Locations, Other Project Information Component (including Facilities & Other Resources description).
Other Attachments (PDF format, specific titles required):
- 'Mentor Training History.pdf': A table listing research trainees sponsored by proposed mentors (last 5-10 years) and their outcomes.
- 'R25/UE5 Research Education History.pdf': (For institutions with prior R25/UE5 support) Specific details on all previous participants supported by prior programs, including outcomes and aggregate success rates.
- 'Chair Letters of Commitment.pdf': Letters from department chairs committing to protected time for participants, sufficient time for PD/PIs, and financial/non-financial resources.
SF424(R&R) Senior/Key Person Profile Expanded.
R&R Budget: Detailed budget including all personnel (except PD/PIs) and participant/trainee support costs.
PHS 398 Cover Page Supplement.
PHS 398 Research Plan (uploaded as Research Education Program Plan), must include:
- Proposed Research Education Program (detailed description, participant selection, oversight, skills training, K/R01 submission timelines).
- Oversight of Mentoring and Participant Progression plans.
- Cohort Building approach.
- Plan for education in Experimental Design, Statistical Methodology, and Professional Skills.
- Initial Participant Details (for Year 1).
- Ethical and Successful Scientific Practices (ESSP) plan.
- Description of coexistence with NIH T32 programs (if applicable).
- Program Director/Principal Investigator and Program Faculty descriptions.
- Program Participants description (intended clinical specialties, track record of residency programs).
- Institutional Environment and Commitment.
- Plan for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR).
- Evaluation Plan (baseline metrics, success measures).
Letters of Support: A letter of institutional commitment must be included.
PHS Human Subjects and Clinical Trials Information (if applicable).
PHS Assignment Request Form.

Project Implementation Timeline

Grant duration: Maximum 5 years.
Participant support: Minimum 6 months during residency, up to 36 months total (or 72 months for Ph.D. students). Support increments run July 1 to June 30.
Participants are expected to apply for individual funding (NIH K or R01 equivalent) by the end of their involvement in the program (or within specific timeframes to be eligible for continuation).

Post-Award Requirements

Adherence to NIH Grants Policy Statement terms and conditions.
Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Independent Ethics Committee (IEC) approval for protocols involving human subjects.
Compliance with all applicable nondiscrimination laws.
Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) reporting for awards exceeding $10,000,000.
Annual Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR).
Federal Financial Report (FFR) for closeout.
Submission of a 'Statement of Appointment' (PHS Form 2271) for each participant.
Submission of a 'Participant Termination Notice' (PHS Form 416-7) within 30 days of the end of total support for each participant.

Evaluation Criteria

Overall Impact

Likelihood for the project to strongly advance research education by fulfilling the program's goal of preparing physician-scientists for individual research funding.

Scored Review Criteria

Significance: Addresses a key audience and important need in research education. Evidence of significant advancement towards the stated goal.
Investigator(s): PD/PIs are highly qualified, have sufficient effort, and possess a strong record in training, education, and mentoring clinician-researchers. Mentors have strong funding and successful training/mentorship records, or there are adequate plans for those who don't. Plan for guidance for participants working with non-clinician mentors is clear.
Innovation: Effectively reaches an audience in need. Utilizes innovative approaches and best practices. Clear distinction from T32 training programs if applicable.
Approach: Clear goals/objectives. Program is based on sound rationale and educational concepts. Evaluation plan is sound. Recruitment, retention, and follow-up activities are adequate. Plans leverage existing institutional strengths. Well-designed plans for regular meetings and cohort building. Well-conceived plan for Ethical and Successful Scientific Practices (ESSP) discussions. Strong oversight plan for program, participant progress, and mentorship. Thorough education plan for experimental design, statistics, data analysis, grant writing, and presentation skills. Named participant for Year 1 is appropriate, project suitable for K award transition, and mentor statement is strong.
Environment: Scientific and educational environment supports goals. Plan to leverage environment. Tangible institutional commitment evident. Faculty have sufficient institutional support. Collaboration and buy-in among programs, departments, and institutions is present. Plan to encourage participation from all interested residents regardless of specialty. Primary residencies/departments have a history of research activity and success in transitioning individuals to research careers. Chairs of other relevant subspecialties demonstrate awareness and commitment. Coordination and communication plans between multiple residencies/departments are well-conceived. Approach to supporting participants during funding gaps is effective.

Additional Review Criteria (no separate scores)

Protections for Human Subjects (if applicable).
Inclusion of Women, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, and Individuals Across the Lifespan (if applicable).
Vertebrate Animals (if applicable).
Biohazards (if applicable).
Training in Methods for Enhancing Reproducibility: Describes how trainees will be instructed in principles for enhancing research reproducibility (e.g., scientific premise, rigorous experimental design, biological variables, data/material sharing, record keeping, transparency). Integration into curriculum, taught at multiple stages, and synergizes with RCR. Program faculty reinforce principles.

Additional Review Considerations (no scores, no impact on overall score)

Training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR): Adequacy of plan regarding format (face-to-face, not online only), subject matter, faculty participation, duration, and frequency (at least once every four years). Will be rated as acceptable or unacceptable.
Resource Sharing Plans: Reasonableness of sharing plan or rationale for not sharing.
Budget and Period of Support: Justification and reasonableness of the budget in relation to the proposed research education program.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Adherence to all terms and conditions described in the NIH Grants Policy Statement.
Compliance with Federalwide Standard Terms and Conditions for Research Grants.
Compliance with prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment.
Acknowledgment of Federal Funding.
Recipients must comply with all applicable nondiscrimination laws and submit an Assurance of Compliance (HHS-690).
For awards over $10,000,000, recipients must report and maintain current information in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS) regarding civil, criminal, and administrative proceedings.

Data and Information

Data Management and Sharing Plan: Required if applicable (for due dates on or after January 25, 2023).
Recipients retain custody and primary rights to data and software developed under the award, subject to Government rights of access.

Ethical Standards

Formal training in the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) is required, addressing format, subject matter, faculty participation, duration, and frequency (at least once every four years).
Regular discussions about Ethical and Successful Scientific Practices (ESSP) are expected among participants and faculty, covering topics like experimental design, data analysis, ethical conduct, collaboration, authorship, and funding interactions.

Special Terms of Award (Cooperative Agreement)

This is a cooperative agreement, meaning substantial NIH programmatic involvement is anticipated. NIH aims to support and stimulate recipients' activities through partnership, not to assume primary responsibility.
Primary responsibility for project resides with the recipient institution and PD/PIs.
NIH staff (Project Coordinator, Program Officer) provide guidance, coordination, facilitate partnership, organize internal review, and promote communication.
Joint responsibility includes meeting with NIH staff at the annual UE5 workshop to review progress.
A specific Dispute Resolution process is established for disagreements on scientific or programmatic matters.

Other Requirements

Participants are required to attend the annual NINDS UE5 workshop for each increment of funding received; this is a mandatory component.
PD/PIs or a program representative are also expected to attend the annual workshop.
The primary success indicator for the program is the ability of participants to successfully compete for individual NIH career development awards (K, R01 or equivalent) and to continue their research careers.
Institutions may not have both UE5 and T32 programs that support an overlapping pool of potential candidates, requiring clear distinction between the two if both exist.
Participants may transfer their support to other institutions that have a UE5 program supported by this NOFO, if approved by the new institution and NINDS.

Grant Details