Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT) (R25 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 24 252

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 24 252

The Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT) funding opportunity (PAR-24-252) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program administered through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). It uses the R25 education project mechanism and is explicitly designated as "Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed," meaning the proposed activities must not include running an independent clinical trial as part of the program. The overall purpose is to support creative, high-impact educational efforts that strengthen the biomedical research workforce by giving participants practical skills they need to succeed in research careers. Rather than focusing on traditional degree-granting training, the program is aimed at well-designed educational activities that build technical, operational, and professional capabilities that are directly relevant to modern biomedical research environments.

A central expectation of IPERT is that funded activities are accessible to the broader biomedical research community, not restricted to a small internal group or a single laboratory. Programs may target learners at one career stage or span multiple stages, ranging from undergraduate participants to established professionals such as faculty members and staff scientists. This flexibility allows applicants to propose programs that meet real workforce needs, whether that involves hands-on technical skill development, research operations and management training, or professional skill building (for example, competencies that help researchers work effectively in team science settings, manage research projects, or navigate the expectations of biomedical research careers). NIGMS is looking for innovation in how these educational activities are designed and delivered, with an emphasis on approaches that can be evaluated and shared so others can benefit.

The opportunity places strong emphasis on how the program will be led and sustained. Competitive applications are expected to present a robust leadership structure that clearly defines roles, responsibilities, and oversight for the educational program. In addition, applicants need a credible participant recruitment plan that explains who the program is for, how participants will be reached, and how selection will be handled in a fair and effective way. Just as important, the program must include evaluation and dissemination plans. Evaluation should show how the program will measure whether participants actually gained the intended skills and whether the program is meeting its goals. Dissemination should describe how lessons learned, materials, or outcomes will be shared beyond the host organization, supporting broader impact across the biomedical research community.

In terms of who can apply, eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S.-based organizations and governmental entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; Native American tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status; nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other categories included by NIH. The announcement also calls out additional eligible applicant types such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. These inclusions signal that NIGMS is open to a wide range of institutional settings and community-connected organizations, as long as the proposed educational activities serve the broader biomedical research community and align with the program goals.

At the same time, the opportunity has clear restrictions on foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations) are not eligible to apply. In addition, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not allowed. In practice, applicants should plan for the program to be fully domestic in terms of organizational components and supported activities, consistent with NIH policy and the explicit constraints in this announcement.

From a funding standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses the grant funding instrument. It falls under the health funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 93.859. The listed award ceiling is $500,000, which provides a sense of the upper limit for budget planning. The posted original closing date is October 14, 2026, giving prospective applicants a long runway to design partnerships, develop curriculum or training modules, build evaluation frameworks, and prepare a competitive application that demonstrates both innovation and feasibility.

Overall, IPERT is designed for organizations that can propose thoughtful, well-managed educational programs that fill real gaps in biomedical research training. Strong proposals will typically show a clear workforce need, an educational approach that is more than business-as-usual, a plan to recruit and serve participants beyond a narrow local audience, and a serious commitment to evaluating outcomes and sharing what works so the broader community benefits.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT) (R25 Independent 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): 93.859.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-14. (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 $500,000.00 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 PAR 24 252

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: