This past February, we shared our plans to develop a program to broaden the types of institutions participating in NIH-funded dual-degree training programs. We’re pleased to announce that the Leading Equity and Advancing Diversity in the Medical Scientist Training Program (LEAD MSTP) funding opportunity announcement has been published (PAR-23-030). The LEAD MSTP aims to develop a diverse pool of highly trained clinician-scientists who meet the nation’s biomedical research needs. The program supports dual-degree training programs at institutions that haven’t historically been well represented among NIGMS-funded MSTPs. It’s limited to dual-degree training programs at 1.) historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and 2.) Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), and 3.) institutions in Institutional Development Award (IDeA)-eligible states. NIGMS encourages applications proposing partnerships between the applying HBCUs, TCUs, or IDeA-state institutions to further advance the goals of the program.

We’re pleased to announce a virtual “office hour” for people interested in applying for our Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) and Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE) programs. The next application due date for both programs is January 30, 2023.

These research training programs share the goal of developing a diverse pool of scientists earning a biomedical Ph.D., but have different institutional eligibility based on NIH research project grant (RPG) support. IMSD eligibility is limited to research-intensive institutions (i.e., those with an average of funding greater than or equal to $7.5 million total costs over the last 3 fiscal years) while G-RISE eligibility is limited to research-active institutions (i.e., those with an average of NIH RPG funding less than $7.5 million total costs over the last 3 fiscal years). 

We’re pleased to announce that the Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) has been reissued (PAR-22-220). PREP’s goal is to develop a diverse pool of well-trained postbaccalaureates who transition into and complete rigorous biomedical, research-focused doctoral degree programs (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.) in biomedical fields relevant to the NIGMS mission. 

We’re hosting a webinar to discuss the key features of this FOA and to answer your questions:

Friday, December 9, 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Zoom Meeting link
Meeting ID: 161 199 4922
Passcode: 153463
Join by phone: 669-254-5252 (San Jose) or 646-828-7666 (New York)

Since the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) began in 1975, it has supported more than 14,000 clinician-scientist trainees. The program provides predoctoral training grants (T32) to institutions to develop and implement effective, evidence-informed training for students pursuing both a clinical and a research doctorate degree (i.e., M.D.-Ph.D.).

Are you preparing a grant application for the NIH Maximizing Opportunities for Scientific and Academic Independent Careers (MOSAIC) K99/R00 or UE5 programs? If so, please join our webinar to learn about the programs and application components and to ask questions:

Wednesday, September 14, 1:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Zoom Meeting link
Meeting ID: 160 690 9580
Passcode: 228794

Are you preparing a grant application for the Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards (IRACDA) program? If so, please join our webinar to learn about the program, changes to the funding announcement, and application components. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions:

Wednesday, August 17, 2:30-4:00 p.m. ET
Zoom Meeting link
Meeting ID: 160 376 1132
Passcode: 700665

Join us for a three-part webinar series designed for faculty and sponsored programs/research development personnel at institutions building research and research training capacity. During the webinars, we’ll share our suggestions for navigating the process of seeking NIH funding. You’ll also learn considerations for determining research idea and grant writing readiness, selecting opportunities to apply for, and effectively writing your grant application and seeking appropriate feedback. 

Are you preparing a grant application for the Bridges to the Baccalaureate (B2B) or the Bridges to the Doctorate (B2D) institutional training program? If so, please join our webinar to learn about the programs and application components. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions:

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. 

We’re pleased to announce the first in a webinar series for the broader community on issues in biomedical research training, workforce development, and diversity. Its combination of lectures, panel discussions, and workshop activities will focus on a variety of important topics for the training community, such as program evaluation, mentoring, promotion of safe and inclusive environments, and curricular development. Our hope is that these webinars will enhance program directors’ and administrators’ ongoing management of training, career, or workforce development programs.