NIMH Research Education Mentoring Program for HIV Researchers (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued a reissuance of its Research Education Mentoring Program for HIV Researchers under the R25 funding mechanism. This initiative aims to support educational activities that enrich the training of professionals addressing the nation's biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs. Specifically, the program supports mentoring and research experiences designed to develop a skilled HIV research workforce and aligns with the strategic objectives of the NIH Office of AIDS Research (OAR) and the NIMH Division of AIDS Research (DAR). The program is not intended to support clinical trials directly, though participants may engage in research led by others involving trials. The program requires applicants to design and implement comprehensive mentoring networks and research education experiences in thematic areas such as HIV prevention, neuroscience of HIV, dissemination science, and health disparities. The mentorship component must include structured plans for individualized development, standardized milestones, mentor-mentee matching processes, and long-term engagement. The research experiences must be well-defined and outcome-focused, supporting publications, presentations, or grant submissions. Mentees are expected to be engaged for at least one year and can include undergraduate students, graduate/medical students, residents, postdocs, and early-career faculty. Programs involving undergraduates must also include participants from another career stage. Funding is provided through an R25 grant mechanism. Applications may request up to $200,000 in direct costs annually, for a maximum project period of five years. Indirect costs are reimbursed at a rate of 8% of modified total direct costs. The total number of awards will depend on the availability of NIH funds and the quality of submitted applications. The program allows for new, renewal, and resubmission applications. Applicants may include multiple institutions, especially if aiming to create national mentoring networks. Programs must demonstrate a "value added" distinct from existing training mechanisms such as T32 awards and provide mentoring opportunities that go beyond what is currently offered. Eligible applicants include a wide range of U.S.-based organizations such as higher education institutions, non-profits, state and local governments, tribal entities, and for-profit organizations including small businesses. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, but U.S.-based applicants may include non-U.S. components or collaborations. Participants must primarily be U.S. citizens or permanent residents unless there is a compelling justification otherwise. Applicant organizations must complete registrations in SAM, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov prior to submission. The funding opportunity opened on August 7, 2024, with AIDS-related applications due on September 7 annually. The current opportunity is recurring and expected to continue through a new expiration date of May 26, 2026. Letters of Intent are due 30 days prior to the application due date. Applications must be submitted through ASSIST, Grants.gov Workspace, or an institutional S2S system and must conform strictly to NIH application guides and instructions provided in this NOFO. Applications lacking required elements will not be reviewed. Evaluation of proposals will focus on their significance, innovation, approach, and overall potential to enhance mentee development and future HIV research capacity. Reviewers will also assess the strength of the mentorship plans, diversity of mentors, educational content, evaluation metrics, and dissemination strategies. Key contacts for this funding opportunity include Susannah Allison (scientific/research), Nicholas Gaiano (peer review), and Christine Clarkson (grants management). Queries should be directed to the appropriate contact listed in the NOFO. Successful applications are expected to begin as early as April 2025, with advisory council reviews and award notifications taking place in January 2025.

Ensure the proposed program is distinct from existing training mechanisms and clearly articulates its added value.