NIMH Research Education Mentoring Programs for HIV/AIDS Researchers (R25) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the NIMH Research Education Mentoring Programs for HIV/AIDS Researchers (R25) opportunity (PAR-12-273)?

It was a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding announcement from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) that invited proposals to build, run, and evaluate structured research education and mentoring programs focused on HIV/AIDS, particularly HIV/AIDS-related mental health research priorities.

What was the main purpose of this funding announcement?

The central goal was workforce development: helping institutions create and strengthen pipelines that prepare and support a strong group of investigators with the skills needed to address HIV/AIDS-related mental health research priorities.

Is this grant intended to fund a standard hypothesis-driven research project?

No. This opportunity used the NIH Research Education Grant mechanism (R25), which is designed to support education and mentorship activities rather than a traditional, hypothesis-driven research project. Competitive applications would focus on the design and operation of the program itself.

What kinds of activities were applicants expected to propose?

Applicants were expected to propose creative, well-organized mentoring and education activities. Examples mentioned include targeted coursework, workshops, seminars, mentored research experiences, grant-writing support, career development guidance, and other skills-building activities.

What did NIMH emphasize beyond offering general training?

NIMH was looking for programs that go beyond general training by clearly connecting education and mentoring activities to HIV/AIDS-related mental health research priorities, including alignment with the Office of AIDS Research (OAR) Annual Strategic Plan and priorities within NIMH's Division of AIDS Research (DAR).

How important was program evaluation in this opportunity?

Evaluation was a major expectation. Applicants were encouraged to include clear plans to measure whether the program improves outcomes such as trainee research skills, engagement in HIV/AIDS mental health research, progress toward independent funding, publication productivity, and longer-term career trajectories in relevant scientific areas.

What outcomes were suggested for evaluating program effectiveness?

Suggested outcomes included improvements in trainee research skills, engagement in HIV/AIDS mental health research, progression toward independent funding, publication productivity, and longer-term career trajectories in the relevant scientific areas.

What funding mechanism was used for this opportunity?

The opportunity used the NIH Research Education Grant mechanism (R25).

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was associated with CFDA 93.242 (Mental Health Research Grants).

What category of funding was this listed under?

It was categorized as discretionary grant funding within the health area.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement specified there was no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of the award.

What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The listed award ceiling was $250,000, indicating an upper limit on the amount that could be requested or awarded under the program as described in the provided information.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broad and included many types of U.S.-based organizations and institutions, such as nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, small businesses, and governmental entities (including state, county, city/township, special districts, and certain housing authorities).

Did the announcement highlight eligibility for specific institution types?

Yes. It explicitly highlighted eligibility for institutions and organizations that often play major roles in training and serving communities affected by HIV, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, faith-based or community-based organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Were foreign institutions eligible to apply as the primary applicant?

No. Foreign institutions were not eligible to apply as primary applicants.

Can international or non-U.S. components participate in a project?

Yes. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations could participate, and foreign components were allowed as defined by NIH policy, which could support international collaborations or training experiences as long as the program remained anchored at a U.S. applicant institution.

When was this funding announcement posted?

It was posted and created on August 28, 2012.

What was the closing date for applications?

The original and current closing date listed was January 7, 2015.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. The archive date was February 7, 2015, which indicates it is no longer an active, open solicitation.

Where was the full announcement made available?

The full announcement was made available through the NIH Grants Guide (a link was provided in the source data).

Was contact information provided for administrative help?

Yes. NIH Office of Extramural Research contact points were listed for help accessing the announcement or troubleshooting links.

What would a competitive application focus on under this R25 program?

Based on the description provided, a competitive application would focus on program design and implementation details, including how trainees are recruited and selected, how mentorship is structured, what educational components are offered, and how effectiveness is assessed through evaluation.