The overarching objective of this R25 funding opportunity is to prepare individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those from groups underrepresented in the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce, to pursue further studies or careers in neuroscience research. To achieve this goal, the initiative will support two-year neuroscience research education experiences comprised of year-round authentic neuroscience research projects, research and career development, and establishment of professional networks, implemented through collaborative partnerships integrated across different educational institution types. Proposed program interventions in response to this NOFO should focus on asset models and leadership opportunities, rather than solely deficit models and remediation.

Participating components of the collaborative research education partnerships must include:

• One or more institutions that either: 1) have a historical and current mission to educate students from any of the populations that have been identified as underrepresented in biomedical research as defined by the National Science Foundation (NSF) or 2) have a documented track record of recruiting, training and/or educating, and graduating underrepresented students as defined by NSF (see above), which has resulted in a historically documented contribution by the institution to the national pool of graduates from underrepresented backgrounds who pursue biomedical research careers;
• A research-intensive institution, defined as having an existing neuroscience or neuroscience-related program and a significant number of potential mentors with NIH R01 or equivalent extramural research support;
• Formal alliances with one or more institutions with neuroscience-focused graduate research training programs that can provide summer research experiences for participating ENDURE students. Such institutions should hold NIH T32 research training grants, including T32 programs supported by the NIH Jointly Sponsored Institutional Predoctoral Training Programs in the Neurosciences (https://researchtraining.nih.gov/JSPTPN) or other competitively funded Ph.D. degree granting programs. 

To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this NOFO will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on three areas:

• Research Experiences: The two-year program must include part-time authentic neuroscience research experiences in extramurally-funded laboratories during the academic year at the home institution or one of the partnering institutions.There must also be full-time summer neuroscience research experiences in laboratories that are part of a neuroscience-focused graduate research training program, such as an NIH Institutional Research Training predoctoral program (T32), and which may be located on or off-site of the partnering institutions. 
• Mentoring Activities: Programs must provide students with outstanding mentoring and education in other critical skills such as leadership, grant and manuscript writing, and time management (Science of Effective Mentoring in STEMM). There should be dedicated efforts at providing technical expertise, advice, insight, and professional career skills to students in the program.
• Courses for Skills Development: Courses should be integrated across the partnering institutions and uniquely designed to increase undergraduate students’ interest in and preparation to enter Ph.D. degree programs in the neurosciences. 

The proposed program needs to align with the neuroscience mission of the NIH Blueprint and/or BRAIN Initiative research areas and cannot have a general STEM focus. The NIH Blueprint and BRAIN Initiative will not support projects, regardless of the results of merit review, if they do not fulfill current programmatic priorities.

Letter of Intent Due: 01/10/2025
NSF Full Proposal Deadline: 02/10/2025

Link to FOA Here: NIH BP BRAIN-ENDURE

PI Eligibility:  Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as a Principal Investigator (PI) are invited to work with their organizations to develop an application. Individuals from underrepresented groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply.  

Institutional Limit: Only one (1) application per institution is allowed.

Application Information:  All UD limited submission white papers must use this template found on the Research Office limited submission webpage. Applications not adhering to this requirement will be returned without review.

Merit Review Criteria: Summaries will be reviewed based on the criteria detailed in the solicitation.