The purpose of the Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) program is to fund federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes, Tribal Colleges or Universities, Tribal health programs, or Tribal organizations (collectively termed, eligible Tribal Entities) to develop a pool of scientists to conduct research on AI/AN health and health disparities. The overall goal is to support the development of individuals who have the technical, operational, and professional skills required to conduct AI/AN health research in a culturally appropriate, ethically responsible and rigorous manner, to complete their degrees in a biomedical field, and to transition into careers in the biomedical research workforce.
NIGMS will provide support for a phased award to Tribal Entities to develop (UE5) and implement effective training and mentoring activities for research-oriented individuals earning a baccalaureate degree (T34) or doctoral degree (T32) in biomedical research fields at a variety of institutions across the United States and territories. The phased award is intended to develop capacity at eligible Tribal Entities and provide funds for institutional NRSA training programs. The funding in the second phase of the TURTLE award will provide trainee stipends to defray living expenses, tuition remission, travel, as well as training-related expenses to support the program.
Funds will be awarded for up to seven years to support the two phases:
Tribal Entities administering the TURTLE programs will be responsible for identifying and appointing trainees. Recruitment of potential trainees from a broad range of educational organizations across the United States and territories is encouraged and supported trainees do not all need to be at the same institution.
Tribal Entities are not required to confer educational degrees but are expected to administer the trainee financial support, and provide oversight and additional research training activities, for example, mentoring and skills development for students earning doctoral degrees. Trainees are expected to be supported by the grant for 1-4 years of their undergraduate or doctoral training to receive the full benefits of the training program.
When nearing the end of the T34 or T32 phase of the award, NIGMS intends to provide the opportunity to Tribal Entities to apply to a renewable TURTLE institutional training program to sustain the training of future scientists interested in AI/AN health research.
Tribal Entities can apply to either or both of the following notices of funding opportunity:
American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations have long experienced health disparities when compared with other Americans. Multiple factors have contributed to these health disparities, including limited access to health care, the distrust of health-related research due to trauma inflicted on the AI/AN communities by past unethical and inappropriate research practices, and limited opportunities for AI/AN Tribes to lead health research.
The Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) program was launched in 2000 to help reduce the distrust of health research by the AI/AN communities, to promote AI/AN health research prioritized and led by eligible AI/AN Tribal Entities, and ultimately to improve AI/AN health. To enhance the program’s efficacy in meeting its goals, NIGMS completed a comprehensive NARCH program evaluation culminating in a formal Tribal Consultation. With consideration to the evaluation recommendations and the Tribal Consultation, the Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) program was developed to address AI/AN health equity, in part, by contributing to the development of a workforce of individuals who will lead and conduct research focused on AI/AN health.
The applicant organization must meet one of the following criteria:
An application may include foreign components only if one or more AI/AN Tribes with ancestral catchment areas crossing the U. S. border will participate in the proposed program. The sponsoring institution must assure support for the proposed program. Appropriate institutional commitment to the program includes the provision of adequate staff, facilities, and educational resources that can contribute to the planned program.
The applicant organization will select the trainees to be supported by the research training program. It is the responsibility of the organization to establish the qualifications, consistent with applicable law, of the trainees before they are supported by the program.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the notices of funding opportunities (including Related Notices in the Overview Section) and consult NIGMS staff to discuss eligibility and application requirements prior to submission. NIGMS does not require applications requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year to contact staff to obtain agreement that the IC will accept the application.
NIGMS also strongly recommends applicants read the Scored Review Criteria listed in the TURTLE funding opportunities (Undergraduate PAR-24-236, and Graduate PAR-24-235) to understand the criteria that reviewers will consider in determining the scientific merit of each application. The scores for each application will be focused on the following categories:
Potential applicants for TURTLE should contact Dr. Kalynda Gonzales Stokes.
Tribal Undergraduate to Graduate Research Training and Leadership Experiences (TURTLE) Program (UE5/T34) is part of the NIGMS undergraduate program umbrella cited in 42 CFR 66.102.
