Advancing Research Careers (ARC) Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity (UE5 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 23 221

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 23 221

The Advancing Research Careers (ARC) Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity (UE5 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) cooperative agreement opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-23-221) designed to strengthen the training environment around ARC F99 fellows and K00 scholars. The central aim is practical and career-oriented: to make sure these trainees gain the professional skills, mentoring, and networks they need to successfully move into postdoctoral research and subsequent career development opportunities. In doing so, the program is meant to help participants progress into impactful roles across the biomedical research workforce where postdoctoral training is commonly expected, including academic research and teaching (at different institution types), industry research, and government research settings.

This opportunity focuses on institutionally run research education activities that are evidence-informed, meaning the proposed approaches should be grounded in what is known to work in training and career development. The NOFO emphasizes two main categories of supported activities. First are structured courses or curricular elements aimed at skills development, which can include the kinds of cross-cutting competencies that help early-career scientists thrive (for example, scientific communication, rigor and reproducibility practices, grantsmanship, career navigation, leadership, team science, mentoring skills, and other professional development topics). Second are mentoring activities that intentionally connect trainees to strong advising, sponsorship, and professional networks, with the explicit purpose of smoothing the transition into postdoctoral roles and positioning them for long-term advancement.

The award mechanism is a UE5 cooperative agreement, which generally indicates that NIH expects to have substantial programmatic involvement compared with a standard grant. While specific required structures are laid out in the full announcement, the cooperative agreement format typically means applicants should be prepared for active coordination with NIH program staff, shared expectations around milestones or evaluation, and clear reporting of progress and outcomes tied to the training goals.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and includes many types of governmental entities and education-focused institutions, as well as nonprofit and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses. Eligible applicants explicitly include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status. The NOFO also highlights a range of institutions and organizations often central to diversity-focused workforce development, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

At the same time, there are clear restrictions related to foreign involvement. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible, and foreign components as defined by the NIH Grants Policy Statement are not allowed. In plain terms, this program is intended to be proposed, led, and carried out within eligible U.S. organizational structures without foreign components.

From a sponsor and administrative standpoint, the opportunity sits within the NIH funding ecosystem and is categorized under Health, with CFDA numbers 93.213 and 93.859. It is listed as a discretionary funding opportunity using the cooperative agreement funding instrument. The original closing date provided is January 29, 2026. The public summary information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, which usually means applicants should rely on the full NOFO text for budget expectations, project period limits, and any NIH institute- or center-specific funding details.

A key compliance point is embedded directly in the title: clinical trials are not allowed under this UE5 opportunity. That typically means applicants must ensure the proposed education and mentoring activities do not include conducting NIH-defined clinical trials as part of the program. The project should remain focused on research education, professional development, mentoring structures, and networking supports that advance the readiness and success of ARC F99/K00 participants as they transition into postdoctoral and longer-term biomedical research careers.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Research Careers (ARC) Institutionally-Focused Research Education Award to Promote Diversity (UE5 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.213, 93.859.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-10-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-01-29. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 23 221

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