Minority Research Grant Program

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The CMS Office of Minority Health administers the Minority Research Grant Program (MRGP). The purpose of the grant program is to support researchers at minority-serving institutions through funding to explore and address health care disparities affecting people from all minority populations, including racial and ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, individuals with limited English proficiency, individuals residing in rural areas, and individuals adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

Apply to the 2025 MRGP funding opportunity on grants.gov 

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is now open. Researchers at eligible minority serving institutions (MSIs) examining and addressing critical public health disparities in minority populations can apply for and receive up to $212,500 to fund their research. Learn more about the program by reviewing the FAQs (PDF) and informational flyer (PDF). Apply on grants.gov CMS-1W1-25-001

Minority Research Grant Program

Funding Opportunity Number: CMS-1W1-25-001
Letter of Intent Deadline: March 6, 2025
Application Deadline: April 1, 2025
Agency/Office: CMS Office of Minority Health
Status: Open 

Who can apply: Health equity researchers at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions (NASNTIs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNHSIs), and Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). 


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Ready to Apply?

Before beginning your application it’s important to understand the grant application process. The four resources listed below provide the foundational knowledge for government grant writing and will help you as you prepare your application. 

  • Fundamentals of Grant Writing – This course reviews the basic steps in drafting a grant proposal for funding, including planning, researching, and writing a grant as well as best practices for following up with potential funders.
  • Grants 101 – Provides a brief overview of the grant lifecycle, pre-award phase, award phase, post-award phase, and getting started checklist.
  • Tips for Preparing Grant Proposals – Provides helpful tips on writing grant proposals.
  • Write a Strong Application – This page provides an overview of the application process including tips for writing a strong application and the submission process on Grants.gov.

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CMS OMH Research Grant Program Video

Are you a health equity researcher at a minority-serving institution who is looking for funding? View this video to learn about the MRGP’s benefits.


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Program Summary Report (PDF)

This report provides a snapshot of the MRGP from 2005-2022, in addition to the health disparities research projects of 54 MRGP grantees active during this time period. It includes an overview of the geographic distribution of their projects, their target populations and conditions, and key intervention outcomes. The research findings of MRGP-funded projects on African Americans and Hispanics have been cited in more than 190 publications.

For More Information

Download the MRGP Flyer (PDF)

Download the MRGP FAQs (PDF)

Subscribe to the MRGP Listserv

Page Last Modified:
01/17/2025 01:41 PM