Academic
Research Enhancement Awards
 Some links will work for NIAID staff only.
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Standard Operating Procedure Table of Contents
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Purpose
To enable qualified scientists at institutions eligible for Academic
Research Enhancement Awards (AREA) to receive support for small-scale
research projects.
Procedure
Non-research intensive colleges and health professional schools are eligible for AREA (R15) grants if they have received less
than $3 million a year for at least four of the last seven years. For
those that do not qualify, see the List
of institutions ineligible to apply for AREA grants.
Investigators are ineligible for an AREA if they are the PI of an active NIH
research grant at the time the R15 would be awarded. However, they may
be one of the project personnel for an active NIH grant held by another
PI.
PIs may not receive more than one AREA at a time, though they may have successive AREAs.
NIAID approves awards for two to three years and up to $150,000 in direct
costs plus facilities
and administrative costs. Though the award may be for a multi-year
period, institutions receive the entire award amount at the start
of the award.
To allow a PI to
finish a project, institutions can extend the project period one time
for up to twelve months without prior approval from NIAID. However, they
must
notify NIAID
in writing of this no-cost
extension before the project period end date.
Investigators
Program Officers
- Evaluate applications for scientific and programmatic merit and determine
which best meet programmatic goals.
- Complete a program officer checklist for funding.
- Convene a review panel and provide guidance to reviewers on programmatic
matters.
- Provide written or telephone feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
- Conduct and document site visits with GMP staff
when necessary to monitor progress and compliance.
- Ensure and document that applicants have met programmatic
objectives.
- Provide pertinent information to grants management as needed.
- Ensure that PIs submit annual progress
reports.
- Email approved annual and final progress reports as PDF files to
the grants management specialist so he or she may upload them into the electronic grant file.
- If you find an annual report to be unacceptable, ask the PI to submit a revised report.
Grants Management Specialists
- Ensure that the applicant institution is eligible for an AREA award. Check the List
of institutions eligible and ineligible to apply for AREA grants.
- Receive and review fundable AREA applications to ensure that applicants
have provided all required assurances.
- Review budget narrative for required information
and justification.
- Prepare and sign grant awards, certifying that they comply with legal,
regulatory, and internal policy requirements. This involves preparing
a Notice of Award and obligating funds.
- Serve as contact person for the financial and business aspects of
the award.
- Pay close attention to the program announcement and the grantee's other support when reviewing an R15 for funding.
Contacts
Applicants with questions should Contact Staff for Help.
AITrainingHelpDesk@niaid.nih.gov
Contact
for NIAID Staff
If you have knowledge to share or want more information on this topic, email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.
Links
AREA
Program Contacts, NIH
NIAID's Grant Application portal
Grant Application Guide for your Grant Application Package
Modular
Grants SOP
NIAID Funding Policy and Process SOP
Paylines and Funding
NIH Academic
Research Enhancement Award, NIH Office of Extramural Research
NIH Award Data: Research Grants
Site Visits, Grantee SOP
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