If you’re considering NIH’s R15 grant, there are some facts you should know before you apply — including what the grant is, who is eligible to receive it, and what reviewers look for in R15 applications. NIH designed the R15, or Academic Research Enhancement Award (AREA), to support biomedical and behavioral sciences research at small health professional schools. The grant aims to expose graduate and undergraduate students to scientific investigation and bolster the research environment at these smaller institutions.