NINR Mentoring Resources and Activities Grant
Comprehensive Overview of the Grant Program
The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers the Mentoring Resources and Activities grant to support structured mentoring programs for nurse scientists. The initiative focuses on building research capacity, strengthening professional development pathways, and enabling early-stage investigators to access high-quality mentoring frameworks.
Posted: January 27, 2026
Due: April 27, 2026
Project Start: September 1, 2026
Historical Profile of Previous Grant Awardees
| Organization | Year Awarded | Program Purpose | Key Reasons They Received Funding | Funding Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schools of Nursing within major universities | Varies (Multiple Previous Cycles) | Develop structured mentoring programs for early-stage nurse scientists | Strong research capacity, established faculty mentors, proven mentoring outcomes | Annual NIH funding based on approved budget and scope |
| Research-intensive health systems with nursing research centers | Varies | Strengthen multidisciplinary mentorship networks and enhance research training | Robust research infrastructure, cross-disciplinary teams, and active clinical research programs | Multi-year support aligned with program objectives |
| National professional nursing organizations | Varies | Deliver national-level training, career development resources, and standardized mentorship | Existing national training frameworks, broad reach, demonstrated ability to run evidence-based mentoring programs | Funding aligned with training activities, curriculum delivery, and evaluation |
| Academic–clinical partnership programs | Varies | Support collaborative mentoring between universities and clinical sites | Strong collaboration model, access to diverse practice settings, integrated research-training approach | Structured multi-component funding tied to mentorship, evaluation, and training deliverables |
Detailed Breakdown of the Application Process
Applicants must follow the NIH application procedure through Grants.gov and eRA Commons.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Review the full Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
- Register or confirm registration on Grants.gov and SAM.gov.
- Prepare the application package, including:
- Project summary
- Mentoring plan structure
- Training activities
- Evaluation strategy
- Budget and justification
- Submit the completed application via Grants.gov before the deadline.
- Track submission and corrections through eRA Commons.
Application URL: Submit and view details via Grants.gov (search FOA number: FOR-NR-25-003 ).
Eligibility Requirements for Prospective Applicants
Eligible applicants generally include:
- Accredited schools of nursing
- Nonprofit academic institutions with nursing research programs
- Healthcare organizations that conduct nursing-related research
- Professional nursing associations with research training infrastructure
Applicants must demonstrate:
- Capacity to deliver structured mentoring and career development
- Evidence of qualified mentors
- Infrastructure supporting research training or early-stage investigator development
Grant Timeline
Applicants can expect the following schedule after submission:
- Application Review: Mid-2026
- Council Review: August 2026
- Earliest Start Date: September 1, 2026
- Award Notifications: Typically issued 6–8 weeks after council review
GridPolaris Solutions
GridPolaris supports mentoring and training-focused research programs by providing a unified digital infrastructure that strengthens proposal planning, program execution, and progress tracking.
Key capabilities relevant to grantees include:
- Structured Program Management : Centralized coordination of mentoring activities, training cohorts, milestones, and deliverables.
- Outcome Tracking : Quantitative and qualitative impact reporting aligned with NIH performance expectations.
- Document Governance : Controlled access to mentoring plans, curriculum materials, evaluation results, and compliance documents.
- Collaboration Hub : Secure internal collaboration for mentors, mentees, and administrative teams.
- Data Insights : Configurable dashboards to monitor participant progress, training efficiency, and program outcomes.
These features assist institutions in maintaining compliant documentation, strengthening program accountability, and producing accurate progress reports required by NIH.