NIA Launches ERA Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (US)
Section
The National Institute on Aging (NIA), under the NIH, has introduced the ERA Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (R25), a new initiative designed to expand and diversify the Alzheimer’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease–Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) research workforce.
This program aims to provide early-career researchers, particularly recent bachelor's graduates, with immersive, hands-on experiences in AD/ADRD research.
The goal of the ERA R25 program is to create educational opportunities that stand alongside formal training and encourage advancement in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical science careers. By offering structured research experiences, the program seeks to build a pipeline of skilled professionals ready to pursue advanced degrees or research roles focused on dementia-related disciplines.
To strengthen this effort, NIA intends to commit $2,000,000 in both FY 2027 and FY 2028 to fund up to five new awards each year. Direct costs of up to $400,000 per year may be requested, giving institutions the resources needed to build robust training and mentoring programs. Higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, local and state governments, tribal governments, and other eligible U.S.-based organizations are encouraged to apply. Foreign institutions and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations, however, are not eligible.
Applicants are expected to develop comprehensive educational programs that include administrative leadership, committed faculty mentors, and rigorous curriculum components such as instruction in reproducibility, responsible conduct of research, evaluation frameworks, and plans for broad dissemination of educational materials. Programs are encouraged to form advisory committees, describe participant selection strategies, and build a sense of scientific identity and self-efficacy among participants.
The sponsoring institution must demonstrate a strong commitment to the program, ensuring adequate staff, facilities, and resources are in place. Institutions with existing federally funded training programs may apply, provided the proposed education activities are distinct and add unique value. In many cases, the expectation is that these efforts will complement, rather than duplicate, ongoing research training opportunities at the applicant organization.
To be successful, proposals must outline measurable objectives such as participant completion rates or successful transition into AD/ADRD-focused career paths. Program design should promote critical thinking, professional development, and long-term tracking of career outcomes, while also creating inclusive opportunities for researchers at the earliest stages of their careers.
