The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research educational activities that complement other formal training programs in the mission areas of the NIH Institutes and Centers. 

The overarching goal of this R25 program is to encourage individuals who have not had substantial biomedical research experience, or who have the potential to significantly benefit from additional biomedical research experience to pursue further studies or careers in research.

Purpose

The NIH Research Education Program (R25) supports research educational activities that complement other formal training programs in the mission areas of the NIH Institutes and Centers.
To accomplish the stated over-arching goal, this NOFO will support creative educational activities with a primary focus on:

•  Research Experiences: The NCI Youth Enjoy Science (YES) Program supports efforts to create and maintain programs to engage grades 6-12 and/or undergraduate students in cancer research experiences. Grades 9-12 and undergraduate students, teachers, and faculty members are expected to gain research experience in individually mentored cancer research environments. In addition to participating in individual research projects, students are expected to enhance relevant research and career skills and participate in peer networking and interactions.
• Curriculum or Methods Development: For programs that support grades 6-12 teachers and undergraduate faculty, these participants are expected to use their Research Experiences to develop and take back to their classrooms novel instructional approaches that improve science teaching. For programs that support students only, applicants are expected to develop educational tools to enhance their research experiences and academic and career advancement.
• Outreach: Proposed programs are expected to include activities that enhance general science/health education or disseminate biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research findings to particular population groups, health practitioners, or the public, not necessarily in preparation for careers in science. Outreach activities should help the participants better understand the significance and impact of the Research Experiences and the YES program. Grade 6-8 students are expected to be exposed to various aspects of cancer research in an organized manner that will inspire continued interest and motivation to progress academically and scientifically. Programs that support grades 6-12 students are expected to include activities that meaningfully engage and help educate their families and communities on the importance of science education so that the students may carry out the Research Experiences in supportive environments.

A multifaceted approach is needed to engage students at the earliest levels of schooling to overcome persistent barriers to retention in the biomedical sciences.