Ensuring Research Integrity - Research on Research Integrity (RRI) | IR ORI 25 001

Opportunity Information: Apply for IR ORI 25 001

The Ensuring Research Integrity - Research on Research Integrity (RRI) funding opportunity (Opportunity Number IR ORI 25 001; CFDA 93.085) is a discretionary grant program from the Office of Research Integrity (ORI), housed under the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. Its purpose is to strengthen the quality and integrity of biomedical and behavioral research by supporting social and behavioral research that digs into why research misconduct happens and what conditions reliably promote responsible, ethical research behavior. Rather than focusing on bench science, the program is aimed at research about the research enterprise itself, with an emphasis on identifying root causes of misconduct and practical drivers of integrity that can inform institutions, policies, training, and oversight.

ORI is looking for projects that study one or more of three broad areas. The first area centers on financial, cultural, institutional, and individual factors that shape research behavior. This includes examining how institutional culture influences everyday research practices and the likelihood of misconduct, and how routine policies and procedures (for example, record keeping expectations, experimental design norms, bias-reduction techniques, and data sharing practices) can either reduce risk or unintentionally create conditions where questionable practices and misconduct become more likely. This area also invites research into team dynamics, leadership styles, and mentor-mentee relationships, both in terms of what strengthens integrity and what contributes to harmful practices. Another topic ORI flags here is the role of pressure, including time constraints and funding needs, and how those pressures may affect decision-making and increase vulnerability to misconduct.

The second area focuses on whether existing policies and training approaches actually work. ORI specifically encourages rigorous evaluation methods, including randomized controlled trials that test the impact of training programs on researchers understanding and real-world application of ethical standards and social responsibility. In addition, the opportunity highlights longitudinal analysis as a way to assess the longer-term effects of policy changes on integrity outcomes, recognizing that some interventions may look promising in the short run but fade over time, or may have delayed benefits that only show up after sustained implementation.

The third area targets the systems people use to report concerns and how institutions respond when allegations arise. This includes studying psychological and social barriers that prevent reporting (such as fear of retaliation, uncertainty, loyalty to colleagues, or skepticism that reporting will matter) and developing strategies to reduce those barriers. It also includes research on how different institutional response models affect deterrence and future integrity outcomes, with the goal of identifying responses that are both fair and effective at preventing recurrence.

Awards are expected to be structured in 12-month budget periods, with a total project length of up to 24 months. After the first year, recipients must submit a non-competing continuation application for the next budget period. Continuation funding depends on several standard federal conditions: availability of funds, satisfactory project progress, responsible stewardship of federal dollars, and alignment with the governments interests. Funding for later periods is generally expected to be consistent with the initial award amount, although unused funds from the prior period may be offset.

The maximum award amount listed is 250,000, and ORI anticipates making about 2 awards under this opportunity. The application closing date is 2025-04-08, and the funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-31.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of applicants across government, academia, and the private and nonprofit sectors. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. ORI also notes eligibility for universities, hospitals, laboratories, and other public or private institutions, as well as individuals. Faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, and American Indian/Alaska Native/Native American organizations are explicitly included. Foreign organizations and foreign components of domestic organizations may apply or participate when the work provides a domestic benefit, such as improving research integrity among Public Health Service funded institutions in the United States and internationally.

• The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ensuring Research Integrity - Research on Research Integrity (RRI)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.085.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-31.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-04-08. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• 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.

Apply for IR ORI 25 001

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