Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program (R25) | PAR 17 210

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 17 210

The Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program (R25) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) research education grant opportunity administered through the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). It sits under the NIH Research Education Program (R25) mechanism, which is designed to fund structured educational efforts that strengthen the biomedical research pipeline. The central purpose of this particular program is to increase and enhance diversity in the biomedical research workforce by supporting educational experiences that help students progress successfully toward a four-year (baccalaureate) degree and continued research training.

This funding opportunity calls for a comprehensive, intentionally integrated education program rather than a single stand-alone activity. Applicants are required to propose and include three core components: (1) Courses for Skills Development, (2) Research Experiences, and (3) Curriculum or Methods Development. A competitive application must explain not only what each component will do, but also how the components will reinforce one another as a coordinated set of activities. In practical terms, that means reviewers will expect a clear rationale and plan showing how skills-based coursework prepares participants for hands-on research placements, how the research experiences feed back into training needs and student readiness, and how curriculum or teaching-method improvements make the overall program more effective and sustainable.

The program is offered as a discretionary grant under the health funding activity category (CFDA 93.859). The eligible applicant pool includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, along with other eligible organizations as allowed by the announcement. The opportunity explicitly highlights eligibility for several types of institutions that commonly serve students from groups historically underrepresented in biomedical research, 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). This emphasis aligns with the program goal of building a broader and more inclusive biomedical research workforce by strengthening pathways and training environments where these students are educated and mentored.

There are also clear restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are not eligible to apply, non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components (as defined by NIH policy) are not allowed. In other words, the program is intended to be designed, implemented, and carried out entirely within eligible U.S.-based institutions and settings.

Key identifying details for this opportunity include the funding opportunity title "Bridges to the Baccalaureate Program (R25)" and funding opportunity number PAR 17 210. The agency is the National Institutes of Health, the original closing date listed is September 25, 2018, and the maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $300,000. The announcement was created on March 8, 2017. Overall, the grant is aimed at institutions that can design a cohesive, multi-part education and training approach that measurably improves student preparation, research engagement, and progression toward a baccalaureate degree in biomedical fields, with a strong focus on advancing workforce diversity.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bridges to the Baccalaureate 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 2017-03-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-09-25. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for PAR 17 210

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