Education Activities for Responsible Analyses of Complex, Large-Scale Data (R25- Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | RFA DA 25 039

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 25 039

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through an opportunity tied to NIDA priorities, is soliciting applications under the R25 education grant mechanism for a program titled "Education Activities for Responsible Analyses of Complex, Large-Scale Data (R25 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" (Funding Opportunity Number RFA-DA-25-039; CFDA 93.279). The core aim is to strengthen methodological rigor in NIDA-relevant research by supporting education and training activities focused on responsible, high-quality analysis of complex, large-scale datasets. These datasets may combine or intersect brain-related measures, behavioral data, genomic information, and socioenvironmental variables, reflecting the reality that modern substance use and addiction research increasingly relies on large, multifaceted data sources that are difficult to analyze correctly without specialized preparation. The emphasis on "responsible analyses" signals attention to sound methods, transparency, and best practices that reduce avoidable errors, overfitting, biased inference, and misinterpretation when working with high-dimensional and heterogeneous data.

The grant is structured around two broad categories of supported educational activities. First, it supports Courses for Skills Development, meaning organized instructional offerings that build practical competencies for trainees, researchers, and other relevant audiences who need to analyze large-scale, complex data in a responsible and reproducible way. Second, it supports Curriculum or Methods Development, which covers the creation, refinement, or dissemination of educational curricula and training materials or methodological teaching resources that can be used to improve analytic practice across the field. In practical terms, applicants might propose activities such as short courses, workshops, summer institutes, modular training programs, or the development of standardized teaching units and materials that help participants learn appropriate analytic workflows for complex datasets, including the kinds of multi-modal data common in neuroscience, genetics, behavioral science, and social/environmental research.

This is an education-focused grant (activity category: Education, Health) rather than a traditional research project grant, and it explicitly indicates "Clinical Trial Not Allowed," which generally means the proposed activities should not include conducting clinical trials as part of the project. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant, with an award ceiling listed as $300,000. The opportunity was created on 2024-04-09, and the original closing date is 2024-12-18. While the source text lists "ExpectedAwards:" without a number, the main takeaway is that the program anticipates making awards but does not specify a count in the provided extract.

A wide range of organizations are eligible to apply, reflecting an intention to reach diverse institutions and communities and to broaden access to advanced analytic training. Eligible applicants include various levels of government (state, county, city or township, and special district governments), independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education. Tribal entities are eligible as well, including federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations. Housing authorities (including public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities) are included. Nonprofit organizations are eligible whether or not they have 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education, per the listing), and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses) and small businesses are also eligible, along with an "Others" category that typically captures additional entity types permitted under NIH policy.

In addition to the general eligibility list, the opportunity highlights several specific institution types and organizational categories as other eligible applicants, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible agencies of the federal government; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations). It also specifically notes Indian/Native American Tribal Governments other than federally recognized, underscoring that a broad set of tribal governance structures may participate depending on the applicable rules. Taken together, these eligibility statements indicate that NIH is interested in supporting training capacity in many settings, including minority-serving institutions, community-rooted organizations, and potentially international partners, as long as applications align with NIDA-relevant needs and the R25 education framework.

Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a capacity-building initiative: it is meant to improve how researchers and trainees learn to handle the analytic challenges that come with modern, large-scale, multi-domain data. A competitive application would typically be expected to propose coherent educational activities with clear learning objectives, an appropriate target audience, credible instructional expertise, and a plan for developing or delivering training that measurably improves analytic rigor and responsible practice in NIDA-relevant research areas.

• The National Institutes of Health in the education, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Education Activities for Responsible Analyses of Complex, Large-Scale Data (R25- 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): 93.279.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-12-18. (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: 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 RFA DA 25 039

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