Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 173
The Support for Research Excellence - First Independent Research (SuRE-First) Award (R16, Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is an NIH grant opportunity created to strengthen research capacity at U.S. colleges and universities that historically receive limited NIH funding and that educate significant numbers of students from groups underrepresented in biomedical research. The program is designed not only to fund a research project, but also to improve the local research environment and expand hands-on research opportunities for students, aligning with NIH goals around broadening participation in biomedical research (referenced in NOT-OD-20-031). In practical terms, SuRE-First is meant to help institutions build sustainable research excellence by supporting projects that can involve and train students, develop mentoring and research infrastructure, and make research more embedded in the institution's culture.
A key feature of SuRE-First is its focus on early-stage independence for faculty investigators. The award specifically supports faculty at eligible institutions who have not previously held independent external research grants. That makes it a "first independent grant" style opportunity: it is intended to help a researcher establish an externally funded research trajectory, generate publishable results, and become more competitive for future NIH or other funding. Because the funding mechanism is R16 and the notice specifies "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," proposed work must be non-clinical-trial research under NIH definitions, meaning applicants need to avoid designing studies that meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial.
Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based institutions. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain other organizations that fit the program's target profile. The opportunity explicitly highlights institution types that commonly serve underrepresented populations in biomedical research, including 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), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). At the same time, the solicitation clearly excludes non-U.S. participation: foreign institutions cannot apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not permitted.
From the funding opportunity data, this is an NIH discretionary grant program (FundingOpportunityNumber PAR 21 173) first created on March 18, 2021. The original closing date listed is January 7, 2024. The listed award ceiling is $125,000, indicating the maximum amount expected per award under the stated terms. The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now commonly referred to under the broader Assistance Listings framework), reflecting that NIH institutes and centers across many mission areas may participate or that applications may align with a range of NIH programmatic categories, spanning areas such as general biomedical research and public health-related domains.
Overall, SuRE-First is best understood as a capacity-building research grant that helps eligible, underfunded institutions support a faculty member's first externally funded independent research project while simultaneously strengthening student research engagement and the campus research ecosystem. The constraints around foreign involvement and clinical trials are strict, so proposals need to be structured as U.S.-based, non-clinical-trial research that also clearly advances the program's broader goal of cultivating sustainable research excellence and expanding meaningful research opportunities for students.Apply for PAR 21 173
- The National Institutes of Health in the education, environment, food and nutrition, health, income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Support for Research Excellence First Independent Research (SuRE-First) Award (R16 - 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): 93.113, 93.121, 93.172, 93.173, 93.273, 93.279, 93.286, 93.361, 93.398, 93.847, 93.853, 93.855, 93.859, 93.865, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2021-03-18.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-07. (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 $125,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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SuRE-First (R16) Award FAQs
What is the SuRE-First Award?
The Support for Research Excellence - First Independent Research (SuRE-First) Award is an NIH discretionary grant opportunity that uses the R16 mechanism. It is designed to strengthen research capacity at U.S. colleges and universities that historically receive limited NIH funding and that educate significant numbers of students from groups underrepresented in biomedical research.
What is the main purpose of SuRE-First?
SuRE-First is intended to support a research project while also improving the local research environment and expanding hands-on research opportunities for students. In practice, it aims to help institutions build sustainable research excellence by making research more embedded in campus culture, supporting mentoring and research infrastructure, and increasing meaningful student involvement in research.
Who is this program designed to benefit?
The program targets eligible U.S. institutions with limited historical NIH funding and significant enrollment of students from groups underrepresented in biomedical research. It also specifically supports early-stage independence for faculty investigators at those institutions.
What does "First Independent Research" mean in this opportunity?
SuRE-First is intended to function like a "first independent grant" opportunity. It specifically supports faculty investigators who have not previously held independent external research grants, helping them launch an externally funded research trajectory and become more competitive for future NIH or other funding.
What kinds of institutions are highlighted as a good fit for SuRE-First?
The opportunity explicitly highlights institution types that commonly serve underrepresented populations in biomedical research, including:
- 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)
It also includes other eligible U.S.-based institutions that match the program's target profile (such as public/state-controlled and private institutions of higher education).
Are only certain types of organizations eligible to apply?
Based on the provided information, eligible applicants include U.S.-based public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and certain other eligible organizations that fit the program's target profile. Foreign institutions are not eligible.
Can foreign institutions apply or participate?
No. The opportunity excludes non-U.S. participation. Foreign institutions cannot apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement) are not permitted.
What does "Clinical Trial Not Allowed" mean for applicants?
The notice specifies "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," which means the proposed work must be non-clinical-trial research under NIH definitions. Applicants need to avoid designing studies that meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial.
What types of activities does SuRE-First aim to strengthen beyond a single research project?
In addition to funding a research project, SuRE-First is designed to strengthen the broader campus research ecosystem. This includes improving the local research environment, expanding hands-on research opportunities for students, supporting mentoring, and helping develop research infrastructure so research capacity is more sustainable over time.
How does SuRE-First relate to NIH goals on broadening participation?
The program aligns with NIH goals around broadening participation in biomedical research and references NIH guidance on this topic (NOT-OD-20-031). A key emphasis is expanding meaningful research engagement and training opportunities for students, especially at institutions serving underrepresented groups.
Is SuRE-First meant to help investigators publish and compete for future funding?
Yes. One of the stated practical aims is to help the investigator generate publishable results and become more competitive for future NIH or other external funding, using the award as a foundation for an ongoing research trajectory.
What is the funding opportunity number for this program?
The funding opportunity number provided is PAR 21 173.
When was this funding opportunity first created?
Based on the information provided, it was first created on March 18, 2021.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed is January 7, 2024.
What is the maximum award amount listed (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $125,000, indicating the maximum amount expected per award under the stated terms.
Is this an NIH discretionary grant?
Yes. The opportunity is described as an NIH discretionary grant program.
Do multiple NIH mission areas apply to this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (now commonly aligned with the Assistance Listings framework). This indicates that participating NIH institutes/centers or application alignments may span a range of biomedical and public health-related domains.
What should an applicant be especially careful about when designing a proposal?
Two constraints are emphasized as strict: (1) proposals must be U.S.-based with no foreign components or non-domestic components, and (2) the research must be structured so it does not meet the NIH definition of a clinical trial.
How should a strong SuRE-First proposal generally position its impact?
A strong proposal should fit the program's dual focus: advancing a faculty member's first independent, externally funded research project while also contributing to sustainable research excellence at the institution by strengthening student research engagement and improving the local research environment.
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