Training Modules for Enhancing Biomedical Research Workforce Training (R25)

This program is intended to enable and encourage the scientific community to create and disseminate training modules that will effectively contribute to the advancement of the biomedical research workforce. NIGMS intends to fund training modules in distinct subject areas that are currently relevant to biomedical scientists. The subject topics are described through “Notices of Special Interest” found in the “Related Notices” section in the funding announcement PAR-20-296.

The notice NOT-GM-23-031​​ describes the current topic areas. Applicants must focus on one of the topics below and may only address one topic per application.

  1. Enhancing Wellness and Resiliency: Navigating the biomedical research training pathway can be overwhelming and lead to stress, anxiety, and self-doubt. Applications are encouraged for the development and implementation of training modules that effectively provide individuals with the knowledge and skills to enhance their wellness and resiliency and ultimate success within the biomedical research training environment.
  2. Addressing Structural Racism and Discrimination: There is increasing appreciation in the scientific community about the need to address the impacts of structural racism and discrimination on trainee career development (see NOT-GM-21-033). Applications are encouraged for the development and implementation of training modules focused on addressing structural racism and discrimination to reduce dispartities in recruitment, retention, and success and to promote access, inclusion, equity, and accessibility in the research training environment. Modules should focus on how to create research training environments optimized for productive learning and research - free from harassment, intimidation, and discrimination - where all participants feel safe and are treated in a respectful and supportive manner. Applications must specify the skills and knowledge that will be gained by the participants and how the module will help the participants address the structures and ways of thinking that are barriers to success.
  3. Creating Safe Research Environments: NIGMS will support the development of training modules that will help catalyze a strong culture of responsibility and obligation to maintain high standards for physical, chemical, and biological safety in research training environments. Specifically, environments in which physical, chemical, and biological safety is prioritized, and the core values and behaviors of leadership and the research and training communities emphasize safety over competing goals. Applications must specify the skills and knowledge that will be gained by the participants and how the module will help the participants address the structures and ways of thinking that are barriers to success. 
  4. Enhancing Program Evaluation Capacity: NIGMS encourages applications focused on the development of evaluation capacity at institutions with biomedical research training programs. The proposed modules should inform program directors and administrators about effective and practical approaches to evaluate biomedical research training programs. The modules are expected to be developed with input from a range of experts (e.g., social scientists, statisticians, education professionals, etc.).  

The proposed modules should impact individuals from a broad range of scientific disciplines and career stages, result in meaningful, sustained change in training programs, and cover material not typically taught as part of the current institutional coursework. However, it is expected that the developed modules could be utilized as learning material in future courses to enhance training environments. The training modules can take many different formats and approaches but should be timely, informative, engaging, easily accessible, and free to the research training community. Because of the complex nature of these topics, expert(s) in the subject areas are encouraged to be included on the investigator team.

Previously funded initiatives included training modules to enhance data rigor and reproducibility. ​For the benefit of the scientific community, the training module and products are posted on the NIGMS website as they become available.

For more information about this program, read the Answers to Frequently Asked Questions, or contact Kalynda Gonzales Stokes​.

Information Icon.Funded Modules for Enhancing Biomedical Research Workforce Training Grants