The Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is offering the Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA) for institutions that primarily grant undergraduate degrees and have received minimal NIH funding (up to $6 million per year in four of the last seven years). The purpose of this funding opportunity (FON PAR-25-134) is to foster small-scale biomedical research, enhance research environments at these institutions, and provide undergraduate students with meaningful research experiences. Applications, which can be submitted starting January 25, 2025, must involve significant undergraduate participation, focusing on research rather than training, with a project period of up to three years and budgets not exceeding $375,000 in direct costs. Eligible institutions include public and private colleges that meet specific educational criteria but exclude health professional schools. NIH encourages diverse teams and aims to strengthen research capabilities in lesser-funded institutions, ultimately enhancing the workforce in biomedical sciences.