In line with a key mission area of NIGMS—ensuring the vitality and continued productivity of the biomedical research enterprise—we support the Research on Interventions that Promote the Careers of Individuals in the Biomedical Research Enterprise funding opportunity (R01) (PAR-21-269). The program encourages studies on interventions for enhancing research-oriented individuals’ interest, motivation, persistence, and preparedness for careers in the biomedical research workforce.

Program proposals must test an intervention’s effectiveness to increase success in the biomedical research workforce by using robust experimental designs, such as randomized control trial approaches, case controls, or matched pair design. Potential intervention focus areas include, but are not limited to, networking and mentoring, institutional climate, persistence and success of individuals/groups underrepresented in the research enterprise, harassment, and structural racism and discrimination. 

UPDATE: The video for this webinar are now available.

I’m pleased to announce that the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase 2 funding opportunity announcement (FOA) (PAR-22-163) has been reissued. The COBRE program supports the establishment and development of innovative biomedical and behavioral research centers at Institutional Development Award (IDeA)-eligible institutions. The goal of this FOA is to strengthen successful Phase 1 centers through further research infrastructure improvements and continued development of investigators with shared scientific interests who can compete effectively for independent research funding.

UPDATE: The video for this webinar is now available.

We’re pleased to share that NIGMS has reissued two funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) for our technology development program. Both FOAs support the development of novel technologies with the potential for broad utility in biomedical research. They are:

Technology Development Research for Establishing Feasibility and Proof of Concept (R21)
PAR-22-126

Applications to this FOA should propose technology development at a conceptual stage, not yet supported by any proof-of-concept-data, in order to demonstrate feasibility of the proposed technology and/or establish the most likely path to successful development. When compared to current state-of-the-art technology, the proposed concept should lead to a technological breakthrough or a significant advance in current biomedical research or approaches.

First application receipt date: June 16

NIGMS is accepting diversity supplement applications to support master’s degree students who are planning to apply to Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. programs. This opportunity is part of our Diversity Supplements Program, which facilitates the recruitment and training of promising scientists from diverse backgrounds (including individuals from groups underrepresented in the biomedical research workforce). The broader goal of this program is to enhance the diversity of the biomedical research enterprise.

The duration of supplement support is normally 1 year but can be extended for up to 1 additional year, for a total of 24 months. Program directors (PDs)/principal investigators (PIs) with active NIGMS research grants, program project grants, center grants, or cooperative agreements are eligible to apply if there are at least 12 months remaining on the grant.

UPDATE: An informational webinar on these modules will be held on April 28 from 2-3:30 ET. For details see NOT-GM-22-035.

We’re pleased to announce a new notice of special Interest (NOSI) calling for applications to develop training modules on wellness and resiliency, and structural racism and discrimination in research training environments (NOT-GM-22-016). The proposed modules should impact individuals from a broad range of scientific disciplines and career stages and cover material not typically taught as part of current institutional coursework. The modules can take many different formats and approaches and should be timely, informative, engaging, easily accessible, and free to everyone. Applications must focus on one of the following topics:

Are you preparing a grant application for the Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) or the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) T34 training programs? If so, please join our webinar to learn about the programs and application components. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask us questions:

Wednesday, April 6, 1:30-3:00 p.m. ET

During the webinar, we’ll provide a broad overview of the programs, and share our expectations for applications and the required data tables for the upcoming May 26, 2022, receipt date. We’ll also reiterate compliance information to help you avoid issues that could lead to application withdrawal.

We want the research community to know about two funding opportunity announcements (FOAs) that NIGMS has joined as part of an NHLBI initiative to support the formation of a multisite study, the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Pneumonia, and Sepsis Phenotyping (APS) Consortium. The study seeks to better define the heterogeneity underlying critical illness syndromes and to identify the mechanisms of illness development and recovery, as well as relationships and overlap between these syndromes. The FOAs are:

UPDATE: The first bullet under the R01, R35, and R37 heading has been expanded to indicate the supplement can’t exceed the direct costs of the parent award.

We’re offering administrative supplements for equipment to select NIGMS-funded research projects, resources, centers, and core facilities. Funds are intended for the purchase of needed equipment that will enhance user access to the resource and/or the impact of the parent grant. The application deadline is March 1.

R01, R35, and R37 grantees:

• Funds are available for the purchase of single equipment systems with requested direct costs up to $250,000, as long as it doesn't exceed the direct costs of the parent award.

To continue our efforts to catalyze the modernization of biomedical research training and career development, we invite eligible institutions with NIGMS training (T32, T34), certain research education (R25), or institutional career development (K12) awards to apply for administrative supplements to develop and implement curricular, training, or administrative activities to enhance:

• Laboratory safety curriculum and a culture of safety in biomedical research training environments (NOT-GM-22-010)
• Safe and inclusive biomedical research training environments (NOT-GM-22-011)
• Undergraduate biomedical research training (NOT-GM-22-012) (T34 and R25 undergraduate programs only)
• Program evaluation capacity (NOT-GM-22-013)
• Mentoring in the research training environment (NOT-GM-22-014)
• Wellness and resilience (NOT-GM-22-015)

We’re offering another round of administrative supplements to provide summer research experiences for undergraduate students. These supplements are open to all NIGMS-funded investigators with active R01, R35, and R37 awards, including those in their final year of funding. We’ll accept requests under PA-20-272, Administrative Supplements to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements (Parent Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional). The research experiences can be conducted remotely or in person, depending on the institutional policies of each applicant.