Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 178
The NIH Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25; Clinical Trial Not Allowed), funding opportunity number PAR-23-178, supports research education programs that strengthen the neuroscience pipeline by improving mentorship, professional development, and career advancement for individuals from diverse backgrounds, including groups that are nationally underrepresented in neuroscience research. Led through the mission areas of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and/or the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), this program is built to be flexible, which means applicants are encouraged to design creative, specialized activities that directly address persistent barriers to retention and progression in neuroscience training and careers.
A major emphasis of this initiative is retaining and advancing trainees and early-career researchers by focusing on factors that evidence shows matter most: high-quality mentorship, access to strong scientific networks, robust professional development, and improvements to the structural and institutional environments that shape inclusion and belonging. The opportunity specifically points applicants to NIH-relevant resources on “structure and belonging” and the science of effective mentorship in STEMM, signaling that proposals should go beyond generic career workshops and instead use informed, intentional approaches to mentoring and climate. In practice, competitive programs are likely to include mentor training and accountability, cohort-based support, networking and sponsorship structures, and skill-building that helps participants become more competitive and more connected in neuroscience research settings.
The FOA strongly encourages programs that support key transitions and/or cover more than one career stage, such as bridging graduate students to postdoctoral training, postdocs to independent research positions, or junior faculty to sustained research trajectories. The intent is not simply to expose participants to neuroscience, but to help them progress and successfully transition into more advanced research education and training opportunities. The initiative also highlights the value of collaborative research education partnerships, suggesting that multi-institution or cross-organization collaborations (for example, partnerships between research-intensive institutions and minority-serving institutions or community-based organizations) can be an effective way to broaden access, provide richer mentoring networks, and create clearer pathways into neuroscience research careers.
Another theme is that interventions should incorporate asset-based models and leadership opportunities. Rather than framing participants primarily through deficits or gaps, proposals are expected to recognize and build on participants strengths, experiences, and potential contributions, while also creating opportunities for leadership development, visibility, and influence within scientific communities. This can include structured leadership training, leadership roles within program activities, peer mentoring responsibilities, or supported opportunities to lead projects, present work, and engage with professional societies.
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; certain tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education where specified); for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The FOA also explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types 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, the program restricts foreign involvement: non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
This is a discretionary grant under NIH’s research education activity category, associated with CFDA numbers 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, and 93.853. The listed original closing date is 2025-09-26. Clinical trials are not allowed under this FOA, which generally means the supported activities should focus on research education, mentoring, skills development, networking, and career advancement programming rather than conducting clinical trial research as part of the award.
Overall, the grant is aimed at building stronger, more supportive neuroscience training and career ecosystems that measurably improve mentoring quality, professional development outcomes, technical and scientific preparedness, and the ability of trainees and early-career researchers from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to persist, advance, and thrive in neuroscience research careers.Apply for PAR 23 178
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIH Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (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): 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, 93.853.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-06-12.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-26. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this NIH funding opportunity?
This opportunity is titled Neuroscience Development for Advancing the Careers of a Diverse Research Workforce (R25; Clinical Trial Not Allowed).
What is the funding opportunity number (FOA number)?
The FOA number is PAR-23-178.
What type of NIH grant mechanism is this?
It is an R25 research education program (a research education activity category), designed to support structured education, mentoring, and career development programming rather than conducting a standalone research project.
Are clinical trials allowed under this FOA?
No. This FOA is labeled Clinical Trial Not Allowed, meaning supported activities should focus on research education (mentorship, training, professional development, networking, and career advancement programming) rather than conducting clinical trial research as part of the award.
Which NIH Institutes are connected to this initiative?
The initiative is led through the mission areas of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and/or the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
What is the overall goal of this program?
The program supports research education efforts that strengthen the neuroscience pipeline by improving mentorship, professional development, and career advancement for individuals from diverse backgrounds, including groups that are nationally underrepresented in neuroscience research.
Who is this program intended to support (participants/target population)?
It is intended to support trainees and early-career researchers in neuroscience, with an emphasis on individuals from diverse backgrounds, including groups that are nationally underrepresented in neuroscience research.
What does the FOA emphasize as the key factors for retention and career advancement?
The FOA emphasizes factors that evidence shows matter most for retaining and advancing people in neuroscience training and careers, including:
- High-quality mentorship
- Access to strong scientific networks
- Robust professional development
- Improvements to structural and institutional environments that shape inclusion and belonging
What kinds of program activities are likely to be competitive under this FOA?
Based on the FOA description, competitive programs are likely to include activities such as:
- Mentor training and mechanisms for mentor accountability
- Cohort-based participant support
- Structured networking and sponsorship opportunities
- Intentional skills development to help participants become more competitive and better connected in neuroscience research environments
- Approaches informed by NIH-relevant resources related to structure and belonging and the science of effective mentorship in STEMM
Does this FOA encourage programs that span multiple career stages?
Yes. The FOA strongly encourages programs that support key transitions and/or cover more than one career stage, such as:
- Bridging graduate students to postdoctoral training
- Bridging postdocs to independent research positions
- Supporting junior faculty toward sustained research trajectories
Is the goal simply to expose participants to neuroscience?
No. The FOA states that the intent is not merely exposure, but to help participants progress and successfully transition into more advanced research education and training opportunities in neuroscience.
Are partnerships and collaborations encouraged?
Yes. The FOA highlights the value of collaborative research education partnerships, including multi-institution or cross-organization collaborations that can broaden access and expand mentoring networks.
What are examples of collaborations mentioned in the FOA?
The FOA suggests collaborations such as partnerships between research-intensive institutions and minority-serving institutions or community-based organizations to broaden access, provide richer mentoring networks, and create clearer pathways into neuroscience research careers.
What does the FOA mean by using an "asset-based" model?
The FOA indicates that interventions should incorporate asset-based models, meaning proposals should recognize and build on participants strengths, experiences, and potential contributions, rather than framing participants primarily in terms of deficits or gaps.
How does leadership development fit into this program?
The FOA highlights leadership opportunities as a theme and indicates that programs may include:
- Structured leadership training
- Leadership roles within program activities
- Peer mentoring responsibilities
- Supported opportunities to lead projects, present work, and engage with professional societies
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations. Examples listed in the FOA include:
- State, county, and local governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and certain tribal organizations
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status; excluding institutions of higher education where specified)
- For-profit organizations (other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
Does the FOA specifically mention minority-serving institutions as eligible applicants?
Yes. The FOA explicitly calls out additional eligible applicant types, including:
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Hispanic-serving institutions
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The FOA lists faith-based and community-based organizations among eligible applicant types.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions among eligible applicant types.
Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
The FOA lists eligible federal agencies among eligible applicant types.
Can non-U.S. organizations apply?
No. The FOA restricts foreign involvement: non-U.S. entities are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-U.S. component?
No. The FOA states that non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are foreign components allowed under NIH policy for this award?
No. The FOA states that foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed.
What is the listed closing date?
The listed original closing date is 2025-09-26.
Is this considered a discretionary grant?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary grant under NIH's research education activity category.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The FOA is associated with CFDA numbers 93.242, 93.273, 93.279, and 93.853.
What outcomes is this initiative trying to improve?
Overall, the initiative aims to strengthen neuroscience training and career ecosystems and to measurably improve:
- Mentoring quality
- Professional development outcomes
- Technical and scientific preparedness
- Participants ability to persist, advance, and thrive in neuroscience research careers
How flexible is the program design?
The FOA describes the program as built to be flexible and encourages applicants to design creative, specialized activities that directly address persistent barriers to retention and progression in neuroscience training and careers.
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