National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Bridges to the Doctorate (T32) | PAR 21 198

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 21 198

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Bridges to the Doctorate (T32) grant (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-21-198) is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) discretionary training grant designed to strengthen the pipeline of scientists earning Ph.D. degrees and entering the biomedical research workforce. Its core purpose is to help build a more diverse and well-prepared group of doctoral-level researchers by funding structured research training programs that support trainees as they move toward and through the Ph.D. pathway. The emphasis is not only on increasing participation in doctoral training, but also on making sure trainees develop the skills, professional readiness, and mentoring support needed to transition successfully into biomedical research careers that can meet national health-related research needs.

This opportunity supports domestic institutions in creating and running training programs that use evidence-based approaches to training and mentorship. NIGMS is looking for programs that keep pace with how quickly the research world is changing, meaning applicants are expected to be thoughtful about modern scientific practices, team science, responsible and rigorous research methods, and career preparation that reflects current workforce realities. Programs are expected to blend multiple elements into a cohesive training experience, typically including didactic components (coursework, workshops, or structured learning), substantial research experiences, intentional mentoring and advising structures, and career development activities that help trainees explore and prepare for biomedical research careers.

A key compliance point in the announcement is the clinical trial restriction: trainees appointed to this T32 program may not lead an independent clinical trial. However, they are allowed to gain clinical trial research experience when the clinical trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor, which means the program can still provide exposure to clinical research settings and methodologies as long as trainees are not serving as the responsible independent trial leaders.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and government entities, reflecting the program goal of building institutional partnerships and training capacity. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, as well as a wide range of governmental and nonprofit entities such as state, county, and local governments; independent school districts; special district governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)). Some for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other eligible entities may also apply, consistent with the listing in the opportunity. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types that often play important roles in broadening participation in biomedical research training, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), as well as faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and certain tribal governments that are not federally recognized.

At the same time, there are clear limits on foreign involvement: non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations or foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. In other words, the applicant and the supported program components must be U.S.-based.

From an administrative standpoint, this is a grant under the NIH umbrella in the Health funding activity category, associated with CFDA number 93.859. The opportunity record shows a creation date of April 8, 2021, and an original closing date listed as September 27, 2023. The award ceiling and expected award counts are not specified in the provided source data, so prospective applicants typically need to consult the full FOA and NIH/NIGMS guidance for budget structure, allowable costs, trainee support levels, and the number of anticipated awards in a given cycle.

Overall, the Bridges to the Doctorate (T32) program is best understood as institutional support for a structured, mentored, research-intensive training pathway aimed at helping trainees from diverse backgrounds successfully enter and complete Ph.D. training and move into the biomedical research workforce, with strong expectations around evidence-based training design, mentorship quality, and career development preparation.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Bridges to the Doctorate (T32)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-04-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-27. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 21 198

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