The NIH R15 grant program mechanism supports small-scale research projects at educational institutions that provide baccalaureate or advanced degrees for a significant number of the Nation’s research scientists but that have not been major recipients of NIH support. The goals of the R15 program are to support meritorious research, expose students to research, and strengthen the research environment of the institution.
Effective September 25, 2019, UWM is eligible to submit applications for the Academic Research Enhancement Award for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions program (AREA). UWM is not eligible to submit applications for the Research Enhancement Award Program for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (REAP) program, as described below.
Program Description
Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for Undergraduate-Focused Institutions
AREA grants support small-scale research grants at institutions that do not receive substantial funding from the NIH, with an emphasis on providing biomedical research experiences primarily for undergraduate students and enhancing the research environment at these applicant institutions. AREA targets undergraduate-focused institutions that are not Health Professional or Graduate Schools.
“Undergraduate-Focused Institutions” are institutions or academic components within the institution that have a greater undergraduate student enrollment than its graduate student enrollment.
Although AREA is undergraduate-focused, that does not preclude Principal Investigators from including graduate students in the project (or budget).
UWM Institutional Eligibility for AREA
Institutional eligibility for the AREA program is based on the amount of NIH funding collectively received from the non-health professional components of the institution. For the purposes of this program, health professional schools and colleges are accredited institutions that provide education and training leading to a health professional degree.
Per current AREA program rules, all the non-health professional components of the institution together have not received support from the NIH totaling more than $6 million per year in 4 of the last 7 years. UWM currently meets this financial criterion, and thus is eligible to submit AREA applications. UWM must certify its institutional eligibility in every AREA application by including a signed letter from the Provost.
Principal Investigator Eligibility for AREA
Principal Investigators with a primary appointment in the following UWM Schools/Colleges may apply to the AREA program:
PI Primary School/College Appointment and Program Eligibility
| UWM School/College | AREA |
|---|---|
| Architecture and Urban Planning | X |
| Bader School of Welfare | X |
| Education | X |
| Engineering & Applied Science | X |
| Freshwater Sciences | |
| General Studies | X |
| Health Sciences | |
| Information Studies | X |
| Letters and Science | X |
| Lubar School of Business | X |
| Nursing | |
| Peck School of the Arts | X |
| Zilber Public Health |
A Principal Investigator (PI) for an AREA grant may not be the PI of an active NIH research grant, including another AREA grant, although he or she may be one of the Key Personnel for an active NIH grant held by another PI.
In addition, faculty who have a primary appointment in a REAP-eligible component may be a Co-Investigator on an AREA application; however, REAP-eligible faculty cannot participate on an AREA grant as part of a Multi-PI approach. The Multi-PI approach treats all the PIs equally as PIs; thus, REAP-eligible PIs are ineligible to participate in the Multiple PD/PI approach because they do not have a primary appointment in an AREA-eligible component of UWM.
AREA Application Information
- The required institutional letter is on file with the UWM Office of Sponsored Programs for use in applications submitted to AREA solicitations. Contact your Pre-Award Specialist.
- Fewer NIH institutes and centers are participating in the AREA program; review the current list before developing your application.
- An AREA grant is permitted to have a subcontract to a non-AREA-eligible institution. However, applicants should keep the goals of the AREA program in mind when preparing the application, which include strengthening the research environment of eligible institutions and exposing students from eligible institutions to research. The majority of the research must be directed by the PD(s)/PI(s) at the grantee institution.
- For assistance with developing your AREA application, contact Michelle Schoenecker in Research Development Services at schoene7@uwm.edu.
Research Enhancement Award Program for Health Professional Schools and Graduate Schools (REAP)
REAP grants specifically support eligible health professional schools and graduate schools to provide research experiences to undergraduate and/or graduate students pursuing biomedical or behavioral research. The REAP enables qualified scientists to receive support for small-scale research projects. For the purposes of this program, health professional schools and colleges are accredited institutions that provide education and training leading to a health professional degree.
UWM Institutional Eligibility for REAP
Institutional eligibility for the REAP program is based on the amount of NIH funding collectively received from ALL health professional schools, graduate schools, and colleges AND all the institution’s non-health professional schools and colleges that are part of the institution.
Per current REAP program rules, all the institutional components together must not have received support from the NIH totaling more than $6 million per year in 4 of the last 7 years. UWM has exceeded this financial threshold and thus is ineligible to submit REAP applications. The Office of Sponsored Programs will review UWM’s eligibility for the REAP program annually.
Questions? Contact Kate Mollen, Director of Sponsored Programs, at mollen@uwm.edu or 229-4853.