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.Apply for PAR 21 198
- 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIGMS Bridges to the Doctorate (T32) - PAR-21-198
What is the NIGMS Bridges to the Doctorate (T32) grant?
The Bridges to the Doctorate (T32) is a National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) training grant under the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It is a discretionary institutional training award designed to strengthen the pipeline of scientists who earn Ph.D. degrees and enter the biomedical research workforce.
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The main purpose is to support structured research training programs that help trainees move toward and through the Ph.D. pathway while building a more diverse and well-prepared community of doctoral-level biomedical researchers. The emphasis includes both increasing participation in doctoral training and improving readiness for successful transitions into biomedical research careers aligned with national health-related research needs.
What Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) identifies this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-21-198.
What type of grant mechanism is this?
This opportunity is a T32 institutional training grant, meaning it supports an institution in creating and running a structured training program rather than directly funding an individual trainee as the primary applicant.
Who is the intended beneficiary of the program: institutions or individuals?
The program is designed as institutional support for a training pathway. The applicant is an eligible organization that proposes and administers the training program, and trainees benefit through the structured training environment the institution provides.
What kinds of training activities are expected in a Bridges to the Doctorate program?
Programs are expected to blend multiple elements into a cohesive training experience. Typical components include didactic activities (such as coursework, workshops, or other structured learning), substantial research experiences, intentional mentoring and advising structures, and career development activities to help trainees explore and prepare for biomedical research careers.
What does NIGMS mean by “evidence-based approaches” to training and mentorship?
Based on the opportunity description, NIGMS is looking for training programs that are intentionally designed and grounded in approaches shown to be effective. The program is expected to use thoughtful, structured methods for training and mentoring rather than informal or ad hoc arrangements.
How does this program address changes in the research landscape?
NIGMS expects applicants to design programs that keep pace with how quickly the research world is changing. The opportunity highlights modern scientific practices, team science, responsible and rigorous research methods, and career preparation that reflects current workforce realities.
Is career development part of the required program design?
Yes. The opportunity specifically emphasizes career development activities that help trainees explore and prepare for biomedical research careers, along with professional readiness and mentoring support to help trainees transition successfully into the biomedical research workforce.
Can trainees on this T32 lead a clinical trial?
No. A key compliance restriction is that trainees appointed to this T32 program may not lead an independent clinical trial.
Can trainees still get clinical trial experience under this program?
Yes. Trainees may gain clinical trial research experience as long as the clinical trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. The program can provide exposure to clinical research settings and methodologies, but trainees cannot serve as the responsible independent trial leaders.
Which organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and government entities. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education and 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)). The opportunity also indicates that some for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and other eligible entities may apply, consistent with the listing in the opportunity.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically included as eligible applicants?
Yes. 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).
Are faith-based or community-based organizations eligible?
Yes. The opportunity description explicitly mentions faith-based or community-based organizations among the additional eligible applicant types.
Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?
Yes. The eligibility description includes U.S. territories or possessions.
Are tribal governments that are not federally recognized eligible?
Yes. The opportunity description includes certain tribal governments that are not federally recognized among additional eligible applicant types.
Are foreign institutions or non-U.S. organizations eligible to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities (foreign organizations or foreign institutions) are not eligible to apply.
Can a U.S. organization include a non-domestic component in the proposed program?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. The applicant and the supported program components must be U.S.-based.
What is the funding activity category?
The opportunity is under the NIH umbrella in the Health funding activity category.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA number listed is 93.859.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record shows a creation date of April 8, 2021.
What is the original closing date listed for this opportunity?
The original closing date listed in the provided information is September 27, 2023.
Is the award ceiling provided in the opportunity summary?
No. The award ceiling is not specified in the provided source data.
Is the expected number of awards provided in the opportunity summary?
No. The expected award counts are not specified in the provided source data.
Where should applicants look for details like budget structure, allowable costs, and trainee support levels?
Because items like budget structure, allowable costs, trainee support levels, and the number of anticipated awards are not included in the provided summary, prospective applicants typically need to consult the full FOA and NIH/NIGMS guidance for the complete administrative and budget details.
In plain terms, what does “Bridges to the Doctorate” support?
It supports an institutional, structured, mentored, research-intensive training pathway aimed at helping trainees from diverse backgrounds successfully enter and complete Ph.D. training and then move into the biomedical research workforce, with strong expectations for evidence-based training design, mentorship quality, and career development preparation.
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