Weekly Research Updates & Guidance
Please check this page regularly for guidance and research updates.
Last updated: 5/27/25
NIH General Announcements and Notices of Special Interest
(NOT-AI-25-036)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
The purpose of this notice is to rescind NOT-AI-21-037 “Notice of Information: Submission of NIAID Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials to Appropriate FOAs”, effective May 24, 2025.
(NOT-HD-25-002)
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
On December 16, 2024, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development issued Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement (NOFO) PAR-25-311 Leveraging Network Infrastructure to Conduct Innovative Research for Women, Children, Pregnant and Lactating Women, and Persons with Disabilities (UG3/UH3 - Clinical Trial Optional).
This Notice provides information regarding an upcoming pre-application webinar for the above-referenced NOFO. The questions from this webinar will inform Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the above-referenced NOFO. These FAQs will be posted on the Pre-Application Process for NICHD Network Multisite Clinical Research website at the following link: https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/clinical-research/clinical-trial-preapplication-process shortly after the webinar.
(NOT-OD-25-119)
Office of the Director, NIH
The purpose of this notice is to rescind NOT-OD-25-023 "Showcase Opportunities for NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Awardees", effective immediately. Recipients who are interested in participating in the Company Showcase Program should visit the Small business Education and Entrepreneurial Development (SEED) site: https://seed.nih.gov/support-for-small-businesses/commercialization-enhancement-programs/partnering-investment-opportunities for more information.
Notice of Short-Term Extension to Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) Eligibility Period
(NOT-OD-25-114)
Office of the Director, NIH
By way of this Notice, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) hereby grants the automatic extension of Early-Stage Investigator (ESI) eligibility.This extension addresses delays impacting grant application submissions, peer review, or award processing timelines between January 1, 2025, and May 31, 2025, and seeks to mitigate their effects on the biomedical research community.
Updated NIH Processes for No-Cost Extensions
(NOT-OD-25-110)
National Institutes of Health
This notice alerts the extramural community that NIH has temporarily disabled the No-Cost Extension functionality in eRA Commons. The Director of NIH has directed NIH staff to review all existing grants and cooperative agreements to ensure that NIH awards do not fund off-mission activities or projects. Therefore, temporarily disabling the NCE functionality in eRA Commons will allow NIH staff to review and assess all NCE requests to confirm that the activities proposed during the extension align with the NIH mission and agency priorities.
(NOT-OD-25-116)
Office of the Director, NIH
This notice clarifies which applications will be reviewed under the simplified review framework for August and October 2025 Councils. NIH has announced and reiterated that all grant applications using specific activity codes (comprising most research project grant applications) with due dates on or after January 25, 2025, will be reviewed under the simplified review framework. However, certain NOFOs using these specific activity codes inadvertently list earlier review criteria in Section V Application Review Information. NIH will review all such applications using the simplified review framework.
Implementation Update: Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research
(NOT-OD-25-112)
National Institutes of Health
The purpose of this notice is to inform the biomedical research community of the following immediate actions NIH is taking in response to the May 5, 2025, Executive Order on Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research.
(NOT-TR-25-008)
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) intends to re-issue the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortia (RDCRC) for the Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN) (U54 Clinical Trial Optional) PAR-24-206 to solicit applications for research to advance the diagnosis, management, and treatment of rare diseases. Each Rare Diseases Clinical Research Consortium (RDCRC) will promote highly collaborative, multi-site, patient-centric, translational, and clinical research.
(NOT-AT-25-004)
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
The purpose of this Notice is to alert applicants of the rescinding of NCCIH's NOT-AT-20-017 "NCCIH Policy Change to Budget Limit and Grant Durations for SBIR/STTR Phase I and Phase II Applications" to revise the NCCIH policy regarding total funding support allowed for Phase I and Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant applications.
(NOT-OD-25-105)
Office of the Director, NIH
This Notice supersedes NOT-OD-24-104 and establishes stipend levels for fiscal year (FY) 2025 Kirschstein-NRSA awards for undergraduate, predoctoral, and postdoctoral trainees and fellows, as shown in the tables below which reflects the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4), signed into law on March 15, 2025. The Training Related Expenses and Institutional Allowances for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees and fellows remain unchanged from the prior budget year. The Tuition and Fees for all educational levels remain unchanged from the prior budget year. Guidance on Fiscal Operations for FY 2025 will be posted on the NIH Funding Strategies webpage.
(NOT-OD-25-113)
Office of the Director, NIH
On October 19, 2023, NIH announced a new framework for the peer review of most research project grant (RPG) applications. We have identified a number of Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) that were not expired or reissued as indicated in the implementation plan outlined in NOT-OD-24-085. Consequently, we will expire the listed NOFOs at the end of the current application cycle (May 24, 2025). We will accept R01, R21 and R34 continuous submission applications intended for the standard May 7, 2025 AIDS due date through June 1, 2025 (end of the standard continuous submission receipt period). No applications for due dates on or after May 25, 2025 will be accepted.
NSF – National Science Foundation General Announcements
Department of Defense (DOD)
Congress appropriated $650M in FY25 funding for CDMRP through the FY2025 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, signed into law on 15 MAR. Congress subsequently provided specific intent for FY25 CDMRP programs in project level adjustment tables.
CDMRP is releasing its FY25 research program funding opportunities and hosting our second webinar on this topic on 28 MAY 2025 from 1200-1300 ET.
This webinar will include details of new funding opportunity announcements from CDMRP’s Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Melanoma, Peer Reviewed Cancer, Peer Reviewed Medical, Prostate Cancer, and Toxic Exposures Research Programs. There will be additional time for Q&A following presentations.
Join Our MS Teams Live Event:
ARVO Special Interest Group (SIG) session: Modeling Military Vision Injury will be held at noon to 1:30pm Eastern Time on June 24, 2025. The meeting is virtual. Register at https://www.arvo.org/education/special-interest-group-meetings/. Registration is FREE for ARVO members and members-in-training and $25 for nonmembers.
The purpose of the Modeling Military Vision Injury SIG is to examine the evolving landscape of eye and adnexal injuries in modern warfare and the military-relevant models used to study visual trauma. Panelists will explore the epidemiology and range of war-related ocular injuries, including damage to the eyelid, ocular surface/cornea, ciliary body, retina, and optic nerve. They will assess the strengths and limitations of current injury models, identifying gaps and areas for improvement. Discussions will focus on the development of more effective models and the key features needed in future research to better address the complex challenges faced by war-injured patients.
Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) funding announcements for Department of Defense (DOD) programs managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).
FY25 Funding Opportunity Announcements released:
The Melanoma Research Program (MRP) released program announcements for the following funding opportunities:
Preproposals due June 30th; Requires Invitation to Submit Full Application:
- Idea Award
- Team Science Award
- Focused Program Award – Rare Melanomas
Letter of Intent (LOI) due September 10th; NO Invitation to Submit Full Application:
- Melanoma Academy Scholar Award
- Melanoma Academy Leadership Award
- Survivorship Research Award
To view the program announcements and submit a pre-application visit:
https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/ProgramFY.htm?programFYId=671103
Visit the MRP webpage for additional information about the FY25 funding opportunities: https://cdmrp.health.mil/mrp/default.aspx.
The Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) released program announcements for the following funding opportunities:
Letter of Intent (LOI) due August 8th; NO Invitation to Submit Full Application:
- Idea Development Award
- Clinical Consortium Award
To view the program announcements and submit a pre-application visit:
https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/ProgramFY.htm?programFYId=665102
Visit the PCRP webpage for additional information about the FY25 funding opportunities: https://cdmrp.health.mil/pcrp/default.aspx
**REMINDER** On Wednesday, 28 May 2025 at NOON EDT the CDMRP is hosting a virtual Lunch & Learn webinar on Teams to discuss the FY25 funding opportunities for the following programs: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Melanoma, Peer Reviewed Cancer, Peer Reviewed Medical, Prostate Cancer, and Toxic Exposures Research Programs. Click here to join
Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) funding announcements for Department of Defense (DOD) programs managed by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).
Funding announcements released:
The Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) released program announcements for the following funding opportunities:
- Technology/Therapeutic Development Award
- Clinical Trial Award
To view the program announcements and submit a pre-application visit: https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/ProgramFY.htm?programFYId=671101
Department of Defense
Defense Health Agency Research and Development –
Medical Research and Development Command
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP)
Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program
Funding Opportunities for Fiscal Year 2025
The Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2025 provides $650M in funding for the CDMRP.
BrightFocus Foundation
September 15, 2025 – Prague, Czech Republican
BrightFocus Foundation’s Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Fast Track workshop helps speed progress toward a cure for AMD by investing in promising young scientists in the field of vision research. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and other early-stage scientists focused on macular degeneration research, or those who want to enter the field can take advantage of this unique opportunity to accelerate their path towards becoming an expert in this exciting field by:
- immersing themselves in the background knowledge and latest discoveries in macular degeneration research and
- connecting with preeminent macular degeneration scientists and fellow early-stage researchers in the U.S. and around the world.
Contact researchgrants@brightfocus.org with questions.
October 8, 2025 – Atlanta, Georgia
BrightFocus Foundation’s Glaucoma Fast Track workshop helps speed progress toward a cure for glaucoma by investing in promising young scientists in the field of vision research. Graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, or other early-stage scientists focused on glaucoma research, or those who want to enter the field, took advantage of this unique opportunity to accelerate their path towards becoming an expert in this exciting field by:
- immersing themselves in the background knowledge and latest discoveries in glaucoma research,
- connecting with preeminent glaucoma experts and fellow early-stage researchers based in the U.S. and around the world, and
- engaging in scientific debates.
November 12th-14th, 2025 – San Diego, California
Learn from experts in the field of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias at the Alzheimer’s Fast Track workshop. Designed for graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and other early-career scientists focused on Alzheimer’s disease research, this immersive learning experience will accelerate your knowledge, expertise, and visibility in this exciting field.
American Heart Association
Proposal deadline: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Enhances the training of promising students in pre-doctoral or clinical health professional degree training programs and who intend careers as scientists, physician-scientists or other clinician-scientists, or related careers aimed at improving global health and wellbeing.
Proposal deadline: Thursday, September 4, 2025
Enhances the training of postdoctoral applicants who are not yet independent. The applicant must be embedded in an appropriate investigative group with the mentorship, support, and relevant scientific guidance of a research mentor.
Institutional Award for Undergraduate Student Training
Proposal deadline: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
This award is made to qualified institutions that can offer a meaningful research experience that supports the AHA mission that encourages undergraduate college students from all disciplines to consider research careers.
AHA Institutional Research Enhancement Award (AIREA)
Proposal deadline: Thursday, September 11, 2025
Stimulates research at educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees related to scientific research training. Eligible institutions may not have been major recipients of NIH support. Awards provide funding for small-scale research projects related to cardiovascular diseases and brain health, enhancing the research environment at eligible institutions, and exposing students to research opportunities.
Proposal deadline: Thursday, December 2, 2025
Supports highly promising healthcare and academic professionals in the early years of first professional appointment to assure the applicant’s future success as a research scientist in the field of cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular disease research.
PCORI – Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute
