Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DK 16 021
Apply for RFA DK 16 021
- The HHS-NIH11 in the food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NIDDK Short-Term Research Experience Program for Underrepresented Persons (STEP-UP) (R25)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.847,.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 19, 2016 and posted on Apr 19, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 09, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- 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 (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The NIDDK Short-Term Research Experience Program for Underrepresented Persons (STEP-UP) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Research Education Program award (R25) run by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Its central purpose is workforce development: it funds structured education and training activities that broaden participation and strengthen diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research pipeline. In practice, the program is designed to help students who are underrepresented in biomedical research gain early, meaningful exposure to real research environments and to receive mentoring that supports their continued progress toward research careers.
STEP-UP specifically supports research institutions in running a national summer research experience for high school students and undergraduate students. The summer experience is expected to last about eight to ten weeks, reflecting a short-term but immersive model where participants can spend concentrated time in a research setting. The intent is not simply to provide a one-time internship, but to create a well-organized educational experience that introduces students to research culture, research methods, and career possibilities connected to NIDDK mission areas, including diabetes, digestive diseases, nutrition-related research, and kidney and urologic diseases.
A defining feature of the opportunity is its focus on students from backgrounds that NIH identifies as underrepresented in biomedical research. The announcement highlights several groups, including individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and individuals with disabilities. The national scope matters here: STEP-UP is framed as a broad exposure and access mechanism, aiming to reach students who may not otherwise have direct pathways into research-intensive environments or sustained mentorship networks.
The funding announcement emphasizes two main types of supported activities. First are research experiences, meaning hands-on participation in research projects where students can learn how scientific questions are developed, how data are collected and analyzed, and how findings are communicated. Second are mentoring activities, which underscores that the program expects intentional guidance from experienced researchers and staff, not just placement in a lab. Mentoring in this context generally implies structured supervision, skill-building, professional socialization, and advising that can help students navigate academic choices and future training opportunities.
Administratively, this is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under NIH (Agency: HHS-NIH11). The funding opportunity number is RFA-DK-16-021, and it is associated with CFDA numbers 93.847. The opportunity was posted and created on April 19, 2016, with an application closing date of August 9, 2016. The expected number of awards listed is seven, indicating a competitive program with a limited set of funded institutional programs.
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations that could realistically run a coordinated summer research program. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, independent school districts, tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the announcement. This wide eligibility range reflects the program's emphasis on building structured, mentored research experiences wherever the capacity exists to provide high-quality training and support for students.
Overall, STEP-UP (R25) is best understood as an institutional award mechanism that funds the design and delivery of a national summer research and mentoring program. Its practical goal is to give high school and undergraduate participants from underrepresented backgrounds a strong early start in biomedical research through intensive short-term research immersion paired with deliberate mentorship, helping strengthen the long-term diversity and depth of the future NIDDK-relevant research workforce.
STEP-UP (NIDDK) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the STEP-UP program?
The NIDDK Short-Term Research Experience Program for Underrepresented Persons (STEP-UP) is an NIH Research Education Program award (R25) run by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). It supports structured education and training activities designed to broaden participation and strengthen diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research pipeline.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose is workforce development. The program funds organized research education and training activities that give students who are underrepresented in biomedical research early, meaningful exposure to real research environments and mentoring that supports continued progress toward research careers.
Who administers this grant opportunity?
This is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically through NIDDK (Agency: HHS-NIH11).
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number?
The funding opportunity number is RFA-DK-16-021. It is associated with CFDA number 93.847.
What type of grant mechanism is STEP-UP?
STEP-UP is a Research Education Program award (R25). It is best understood as an institutional award mechanism that funds the design and delivery of a structured, mentored summer research program.
What kinds of programs does STEP-UP fund?
STEP-UP funds research institutions to run a national summer research experience program for high school students and undergraduate students. The program is expected to be immersive and well-organized, combining hands-on research with structured mentoring.
How long is the summer research experience expected to last?
The summer experience is expected to last about eight to ten weeks, reflecting a short-term but concentrated research immersion.
Is the program limited to a one-time internship model?
No. The intent is not simply to provide a one-time internship, but to create a structured educational experience that introduces students to research culture, research methods, and research career possibilities.
What participants is STEP-UP designed to serve?
The program is designed to help high school and undergraduate students who are underrepresented in biomedical research gain early exposure to research environments and receive mentoring that supports their continued development toward research careers.
Which groups are highlighted as underrepresented in biomedical research?
The announcement highlights students from backgrounds NIH identifies as underrepresented in biomedical research, including individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and individuals with disabilities.
Why does the funding announcement emphasize a national program?
The national scope is presented as an access and exposure mechanism meant to reach students who may not otherwise have direct pathways into research-intensive environments or sustained mentorship networks.
What are the two main types of supported activities?
The funding announcement emphasizes (1) research experiences and (2) mentoring activities. Together, these are intended to provide hands-on research participation paired with intentional guidance from experienced researchers and staff.
What does a "research experience" mean in this program?
Research experiences refer to hands-on participation in research projects where students learn how scientific questions are developed, how data are collected and analyzed, and how research findings are communicated.
What does "mentoring" mean in the STEP-UP context?
Mentoring is emphasized as more than simple lab placement. It generally implies structured supervision, skill-building, professional socialization, and advising that can help students navigate academic choices and future training opportunities.
What research areas are considered relevant to STEP-UP?
The program is connected to NIDDK mission areas, including diabetes, digestive diseases, nutrition-related research, and kidney and urologic diseases.
Who can apply for this grant?
Eligibility includes a wide range of organizations that can run a coordinated summer research program, including public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, independent school districts, tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses (with additional eligibility clarification referenced in the announcement).
Is eligibility limited only to universities?
No. While institutions of higher education are eligible, the eligibility list is broad and includes multiple types of governmental, nonprofit, tribal, and for-profit entities, reflecting an emphasis on program capacity rather than a single organization type.
How competitive is this opportunity?
The expected number of awards listed is seven, indicating a competitive program with a limited number of funded institutional programs.
When was this funding opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted and created on April 19, 2016. The application closing date was August 9, 2016.
What does it mean that this is an institutional award mechanism?
It means the grant supports an organization to design and deliver the summer research and mentoring program, rather than directly awarding funds to individual student participants.
What is the practical goal of STEP-UP for participants?
The practical goal is to give high school and undergraduate participants from underrepresented backgrounds a strong early start in biomedical research through intensive short-term research immersion paired with deliberate mentorship, supporting long-term progress toward research careers aligned with NIDDK mission areas.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (RFA DK 16 021) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NIDDK Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01) Apply for PAR 16 211 Funding Number: PAR 16 211 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORCs) (P30) Apply for RFA DK 16 006 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 006 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Standardization of C-peptide and HbA1c Measurements Program (UC4) Apply for RFA DK 16 011 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 011 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Diabetes Research Centers (P30) Apply for RFA DK 16 020 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 020 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ancillary Studies to Identify Behavioral and/or Psychological Phenotypes Contributing to Obesity (R01) Apply for PAR 16 304 Funding Number: PAR 16 304 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Limited Competition for the Continuation of the Collaborative Islet Transplantation Registry (UC4) Apply for RFA DK 16 503 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 503 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Neurocognitive Effects of Glycemic Dysregulation in Type 1 Diabetes (DP3) Apply for RFA DK 16 007 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 007 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Metabolic Contributions to the Neurocognitive Complications of Diabetes: Ancillary Studies (R01) Apply for PAR 16 333 Funding Number: PAR 16 333 Agency: HHS-NIH11 Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Pediatric Centers of Excellence in Nephrology (P50) Apply for RFA DK 16 032 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 032 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| George M. O'Brien Kidney Research Core Centers (P30) Apply for RFA DK 16 031 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 031 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Promoting Organ and Tissue Donation Among Diverse Populations (R01) Apply for RFA DK 16 022 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 022 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Limited Competition for Data Coordinating Center (DCC) for NIDDK Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium (IBDGC) (U24) Apply for RFA DK 16 510 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 510 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $1,062,000 |
| NIDDK Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium (IBDGC) Genetic Research Centers (GRCs) (U01) Apply for RFA DK 16 029 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 029 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $293,000 |
| Coordinating Unit for the Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Centers (U24) Apply for RFA DK 16 034 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 034 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $1,212,563 |
| Coordinating Unit for Diabetic Complications Consortium (U24) Apply for RFA DK 16 036 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 036 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $3,122,000 |
| APOL1 Long-term Kidney Transplantation Outcomes Network Scientific and Data Research Center (APOLLO SDRC) (Collaborative U01) Apply for RFA DK 16 024 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 024 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Limited Competition: Data Coordinating Center for Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet (UC4) Apply for RFA DK 16 505 Funding Number: RFA DK 16 505 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $45,000,000 |
| Limited Competition: Revision Application for the Human Islet Research Network Coordinating Center (U01) Apply for RFA DK 17 501 Funding Number: RFA DK 17 501 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $4,737,500 |
| Developmental Centers for Interdisciplinary Research in Benign Urology (P20) Apply for RFA DK 17 002 Funding Number: RFA DK 17 002 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| George M. O'Brien Kidney Research Core Centers (P30) Apply for RFA DK 17 005 Funding Number: RFA DK 17 005 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health Category: Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: $750,000 |
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