Bridges to the Doctorate Program (R25)

The Bridges to the Doctorate Program provides support to institutions to help students make a critical transition in their development as scientists. The program is aimed at helping students make the transition from master's degree programs to Ph.D. programs. The purpose of the program is to increase the pool of master's degree students who go on to research careers in the biomedical sciences and will be available to participate in NIH-funded research.

The Bridges to the Doctorate Program promotes institutional partnerships between institutions granting a terminal master's degree and institutions that grant Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences. The partnership/consortium must involve at least two colleges or universities including the applicant institution. The Ph.D. degree-granting institution(s) in the consortium must be research institutions that have a significant number of mentors with NIH or other extramural research support and that award the doctoral degree in biomedical science fields. The master's degree-granting institutions in the consortium must offer a terminal master's degree in biomedical sciences as their highest degree. Institutions that have a Ph.D. degree in a biomedical science field are not eligible to apply as the master’s-granting institution.

Bridges to the Doctorate provides support for student, faculty and institutional development activities. Awards are made to domestic, private and public, educational institutions. State and local systems of higher education may also apply. The total project period may not exceed 5 years. The size of award will vary with the scope of the research education program proposed.

NIGMS encourages all applicants for Bridges to the Doctorate grants (new as well as renewal) to contact Dr. Patrick Brown at 301-594-3900. For more information about the Bridges to Doctorate program, please see the links below, and consult the Bridges to Doctorate program announcement (PAR-17-209).

NIH Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR)

Bridges to the Doctorate Participating Institutions

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About the Bridges to the Doctorate and Bridges to the Baccalaureate Programs

R25 Grants Receive Up to $3,000 for Evaluation Support per Project Period: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions and Slides [PDF, 500KB]

Guidance for Interim Funding

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