We would like to remind the training community about and encourage applications to the Trans-Departmental Basic Biomedical Sciences (TBB) predoctoral training program. TBB is one of 12 basic biomedical sciences areas NIGMS supports through PAR-23-228. The goals are to broaden the scope and the institutional and geographic distribution of NIGMS basic biomedical research training programs, as well as to enhance research training capacity. In contrast to other programs focused on specific scientific areas, the TBB program provides students with research training opportunities from the breadth of biomedical disciplines at participating organizations.

We’re hosting a virtual “office hour” on January 8 for potential applicants to our Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP).

PREP’s goal is to develop a well-trained pool of postbaccalaureates who will transition into and complete rigorous biomedical, research-focused doctoral degree programs (such as Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.) in biomedical fields relevant to the NIGMS mission.

During the meeting, we’ll provide a brief overview of the PREP funding opportunity and answer your programmatic, budget, and scientific review questions. Those interested in joining the office hour are strongly encouraged to review the 2022 PREP prospective applicant webinar, companion slide deck [PDF], and NOT-GM-24-010 for recent budget guidance.

We’re hosting an informational webinar for potential applicants to the Advancing Research Careers (ARC) program. ARC is part of the National Institutes of Health’s efforts to promote broad participation within the biomedical research workforce. It has two components: an individual predoctoral-to-postdoctoral career transition award (F99/K00; PAR-25-084) and an institutional research education cooperative agreement (UE5; PAR-23-221).

Webinar Information:

Tuesday, January 7, 3:00-4:30 p.m. ET
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 160 701 7235
Passcode: NIGMS

We’re hosting a virtual question-and-answer “office hour” on Monday, January 13, 2025, for our basic biomedical and medical scientist T32 programs:

• NIGMS Predoctoral Basic Biomedical Sciences Research Training Program (PAR-23-228). Next application due date: January 25, 2025.
• Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) (PAR-24-128). Next application due date: January 25, 2025.
• Leading Equity and Diversity in the Medical Scientist Training Program (LEAD MSTP) (PAR-23-030). Next application due date: January 27, 2025.

We’re hosting a virtual question-and-answer “office hour” on Monday, December 16, for the Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE; PAR-24-032) and Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD; PAR-24-031) T32 training programs.

The goals of these programs are to strengthen research training environments and promote broader participation of scientists earning Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical research workforce.

Next application due date: January 29, 2025

UPDATE: The video from this webinar is now available.

We’ve released a new notice of special interest (NOSI) NOT-GM-24-039: Topics for Training Modules for Enhancing Biomedical Research Workforce Training (R25). The NOSI, associated with the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) PAR-24-040, requests applications to develop biomedical research training modules on one of the following topics:

• Improving mentorship experiences
• Improving trainee and employee mental health and well-being
• Addressing equity in the biomedical research enterprise
• Promoting laboratory safety in research environments 
• Strengthening rigor, reproducibility, and transparency of biomedical research techniques  
• Enhancing program evaluation capacity

Notice of Virtual Question & Answer Office Hours for BRE-SPAD Program Applicants (NOT-GM-25-014)

UPDATE: The first application due date for the BRE-SPAD program has changed to February 19, 2025. For more information, see NOT-GM-25-010.

The notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) for our Biomedical Research Environment & Sponsored Programs Administration Development (BRE-SPAD) program is now available (PAR-24-268). The program aims to promote broad participation in biomedical research by supporting resource-limited institutions to conduct research, enhance their research environments, and increase sponsored programs’ administration capacity.

Applications should propose activities in at least two of the following areas:

• Developing sponsored programs’ administration 
• Cultivating growth in the research environment 
• Administering pilot research projects 

We’ve published a notice (NOT-GM-24-056) to inform the community about areas of special interest for our Institute-specific predoctoral basic biomedical training grant program (PAR-23-228). NIGMS encourages more applications with a focus on these priority areas, which are:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is making a number of changes to the fellowship application and peer review process for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. For details, visit the Revisions to the NIH Fellowship Application and Review Process webpage. New funding announcements and application instructions will be released in the coming months.

Saad Bhamla, Ph.D. Credit: Rob Felt, Georgia Tech.

What does a children’s toy have to do with malaria diagnostics? How about a barbecue lighter and a nucleic acid vaccine? Find out from Saad Bhamla during our 2024 Judith H. Greenberg Early Career Investigator Lecture. The lecture, “Fast and Frugal: Cells That Move Without ATP and Life-Saving Tools That Cost Pennies,” will take place on October 7 at 1:00 p.m. ET.