Education Grants for Schools & universities

National Institutes of Health · Up to $200K

An NIH/NCMRR Early Career Research Award (R03, clinical trial optional) supporting basic and clinical rehabilitation research from scientists establishing independent careers, intended to generate preliminary data for a later R01. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. The award is capped at about $200,000. This is an early-career research mechanism administered through a sponsoring institution.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

The NIH parent Research Project Grant (R01, clinical trial required) supports investigator-initiated research projects, with at least one clinical trial required, aligned with participating NIH institutes' missions. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. The clinical-trial requirement makes this best suited to research institutions with trial capacity.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $375K

The REAP program funds small-scale research at health professional and graduate schools that haven't been major recipients of NIH support, while giving students hands-on research experience. Eligibility is limited to institutions awarding NIH-relevant degrees that received under $6 million per year in NIH support in 4 of the last 7 years — a specific financial threshold worth checking before applying. Awards go up to $375,000.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $500K

An NIH/NCI research project grant (R01) funding projects that integrate medical imaging with fluid-based (liquid biopsy) tumor monitoring during cancer therapy. Eligible applicants are domestic institutions such as universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations; foreign organizations and foreign components are not eligible. The award is capped at about $500,000. This is an oncology research mechanism aimed at research institutions, not individuals or general nonprofits.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $150K

An NIH Small Research Grant (I/START, R03) designed to help investigators enter brain-imaging research with small proof-of-concept studies relevant to substance use and addiction. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. The award is capped at about $150,000. It supports newly independent and established investigators through their institutions, not individuals applying directly.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

An NIH/NCI exploratory/developmental bioengineering research grant (EBRG, R21, clinical trial optional) funding feasibility-stage projects that develop new capabilities or improvements for biomedical, pre-clinical, or clinical research and care. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. This is a bioengineering research mechanism aimed at research institutions.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

An NIH research project grant (R01, clinical trials optional) supporting multi-level intervention research to reduce disparities in liver diseases and liver cancer among U.S. populations experiencing health disparities. Eligible applicants are domestic institutions such as universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations; foreign organizations and foreign components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, though foreign components within the project are allowed. No specific award amount is stated. This suits research institutions focused on health-disparities intervention research.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $499K

An NIH/NCI research project grant (R01, clinical trial not allowed) funding academic-industrial partnerships to translate scientific and engineering advances into tools for disease risk assessment, detection, diagnosis, and treatment. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. The award is capped at about $499,000. The partnership focus suits research institutions collaborating with industry rather than individuals.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

An NIH/NCI research project grant (R01, clinical trial not allowed) funding basic, mechanistic research into the biological and genetic causes of cancer health disparities. A broad set of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. This is a basic-science oncology mechanism aimed at research institutions building expertise in cancer disparities.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH (R01) opportunity supports investigator-initiated research in cancer control and population sciences, including epidemiology, survivorship, behavioral interventions, and health-data science. It is intended for research and academic institutions rather than individuals or general nonprofits/small businesses. No specific award amount is given.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH (R01) opportunity funds collaborative research on chronic or delayed adverse effects of cancer therapies and mechanism-based interventions to prevent or reduce them. It is aimed at research and academic institutions, not individuals or typical nonprofits/small businesses. No specific award amount is stated.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH AREA (R15) award funds small-scale research at undergraduate-focused institutions that receive limited NIH funding, emphasizing undergraduate research experiences; a minimal-risk clinical trial is required. Eligible institutions must grant baccalaureate science degrees and have received no more than about $6 million per year of NIH support in 4 of the last 7 years; foreign organizations are not eligible. No specific award amount is stated.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

The NIH parent Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21, clinical trial not allowed) supports early-stage, higher-risk research projects that may lead to breakthroughs or novel methods. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. This is an exploratory research mechanism aimed at research institutions.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $375K

An NIH Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA/R15) for undergraduate-focused institutions that do not receive substantial NIH funding, supporting small-scale biomedical research with undergraduate involvement. Eligibility is narrow: institutions must award baccalaureate science degrees and have received no more than about $6 million per year of NIH support in 4 of the last 7 years; foreign organizations are not eligible. The award is capped at about $375,000. This is restricted to qualifying lower-NIH-funded undergraduate institutions.

National Institutes of Health · Up to $499K

An NIH/NCI research project grant (R01) funding academic-industrial partnerships to translate scientific and engineering advances into tools for disease risk assessment, detection, diagnosis, and treatment. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. The award is capped at about $499,000. The partnership focus suits research institutions collaborating with industry rather than individuals.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

The NIH parent Research Project Grant (R01, clinical trial not allowed) supports investigator-initiated research projects aligned with participating NIH institutes' missions, excluding clinical trials. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. This is a core NIH research mechanism aimed at research institutions.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

An NIH/NCI exploratory/developmental bioengineering research grant (EBRG, R21, clinical trial not allowed) funding feasibility-stage projects that develop new capabilities or improvements for biomedical, pre-clinical, or clinical research and care. A broad range of domestic and foreign institutions may apply, including universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations. No specific award amount is stated. This is a bioengineering research mechanism aimed at research institutions.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

An NIH research project grant (R01, clinical trial optional) funding multi-level health-care research to improve care for older adults from populations that experience health disparities. Eligible applicants are domestic institutions such as universities, tribal governments, and community-based organizations; foreign organizations and foreign components are not eligible. No specific award amount is stated. This suits research institutions focused on aging and health-disparities care research.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This NIH program (Blueprint MedTech Translator) funds translational research and clinical feasibility studies for therapeutic and diagnostic devices targeting nervous- or neuromuscular-system disorders, open to a broad range of institutions including HBCUs, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribal colleges, faith- and community-based organizations, and individuals or businesses developing their own devices. It is a milestone-driven cooperative agreement requiring NIH staff involvement in project planning and monitoring. No award amount is specified, and the deadline is not imminent.

Washington Headquarters Services · $100K–$10M

Open to industry, nonprofits, colleges and universities, and state or local educational agencies; foreign entities are not eligible. An ongoing 'open' announcement funding STEM education, outreach, and workforce-development programs for the Department of War's research enterprise, with specific topics released as amendments (often beginning with a white paper). Awards range widely, from about $100,000 to $10 million.