Research Education: Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) Program (R25) | PAR 17 040

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 040

The Research Education: Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) Program (R25) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity administered through the NIH Research Education Program mechanism (R25), with this specific announcement coming from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). It is designed to support research education activities that fall within NIH mission areas and, more specifically, to strengthen and broaden participation in biomedical research by enhancing the diversity of the biomedical workforce. In practical terms, the program invests in educational approaches that help develop a larger, better prepared, and more inclusive pipeline of students who are positioned to pursue biomedical research careers and advanced training.

The central purpose of this funding opportunity is educational rather than traditional hypothesis-driven research. The announcement emphasizes “creative educational activities,” with the main focus placed on providing substantive research experiences and structured courses aimed at skills development. That framing signals that successful programs are expected to do more than offer general advising or isolated workshops; they should provide coordinated, hands-on opportunities that build research readiness and professional competencies. Typical activities supported under this kind of program can include mentored research experiences, curricula or short courses that strengthen core research skills, and training components that help participants navigate the academic and professional expectations of biomedical science. The overarching workforce goal is clear: expand participation and success for individuals from groups historically underrepresented in biomedical research, thereby improving both equity and the overall strength of the scientific enterprise.

This opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant and falls under the health funding activity category, with CFDA number 93.859. The funding instrument is a grant, and the agency listed is the National Institutes of Health. While the source data provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, the announcement is structured as a formal FOA (Funding Opportunity Announcement) identified by the number PAR 17 040. The original closing date listed is November 10, 2016, and the creation date is October 31, 2016, which places this as a specific solicitation from that cycle; applicants looking to pursue similar support today would typically check NIH/NIGMS for the most current IMSD or related R25 announcements and dates.

Eligible applicants include a broad range of organizations connected to higher education and research education. The eligibility list includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status) that are not institutions of higher education. The announcement also calls out additional eligible institution types that are often central to diversity-focused workforce efforts, 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). By explicitly naming these categories, the FOA reinforces an intent to reach institutions that educate substantial numbers of students from underrepresented backgrounds and to support programmatic structures that can improve training, mentorship, and access to research opportunities.

Overall, the IMSD R25 opportunity supports institutions in building or strengthening organized research education programs that combine meaningful research exposure with targeted skills development. The expected outcome is a stronger, more diverse pool of students prepared to advance in biomedical research pathways, benefiting both trainees and the broader biomedical workforce.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Education: Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) Program (R25)" 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 2016-10-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-11-10. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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, Others.

Apply for PAR 17 040

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