Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 18 404
The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T35), funding opportunity number PA-18-404, is an NIH discretionary grant program designed to help U.S.-based institutions build, strengthen, or expand short-term research training programs for predoctoral students who are considering careers in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. The core aim is to provide an intensive, structured research experience that is long enough and rigorous enough for trainees to walk away with a solid, practical understanding of how biomedical research is actually conducted, including the underlying principles of study design, responsible research practices, data interpretation, and the day-to-day reality of working in a research environment.
A major use case for the T35 mechanism across many NIH Institutes and Centers is summer research training for health professional students. In practice, this often means supporting focused summer research experiences for medical students, veterinary students, and students in other health-professional degree programs who may not otherwise have a built-in research block in their curriculum. The program is also explicitly intended to broaden the pipeline into health-related research by giving short-term research exposure to graduate students who are training in physical or quantitative disciplines, with the goal of encouraging them to apply those skills in biomedical and health sciences research.
The training program supported by a T35 is institutional, meaning the applicant organization proposes a coherent training plan and environment, typically involving mentored research experiences and complementary educational activities. The expectation is not simply that trainees observe research, but that they participate in a meaningful way so that, by the end of the appointment, they have had a thorough exposure to the fundamentals of biomedical research and the research culture, including mentorship and professional development elements that fit the trainees short-term timeframe.
In terms of clinical trials, the FOA draws a clear boundary: trainees appointed to this T35 program are not permitted to lead an independent clinical trial. However, they are allowed to gain research experience within a clinical trial as long as the trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. This makes the mechanism suitable for programs that want trainees to learn from ongoing clinical research without placing them in a role that would be considered independent trial leadership.
Eligibility is limited to domestic (U.S.) applicant organizations. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. Within the U.S., a wide range of organizations may be eligible depending on NIH and FOA rules, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), and certain tribal entities and organizations. The FOA also highlights inclusion of organizations such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions, reflecting NIH interest in broadening participation and strengthening training capacity across diverse institutional settings.
Administrative details in the source information indicate the sponsoring agency is the National Institutes of Health, the funding instrument is a grant, and the activity category is health-related (with multiple CFDA numbers listed, including 93.113, 93.173, 93.286, 93.351, 93.847, 93.855, 93.866, and 93.867). The opportunity was created on 2017-11-21, and the provided original closing date in the source data is 2020-10-05. The summary data shown does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, which typically means applicants would need to consult NIH Institute/Center participation and the full FOA details to understand budget expectations and likely award volumes for a given cycle.Apply for PA 18 404
- The National Institutes of Health in the environment, food and nutrition, health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T35)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.113, 93.173, 93.286, 93.351, 93.847, 93.855, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2017-11-21.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-10-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), 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, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T35)?
The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T35) is an NIH discretionary grant program that supports U.S.-based institutions in building, strengthening, or expanding short-term research training programs. It is designed for predoctoral students who are considering careers in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.
What is the funding opportunity number for this program?
The funding opportunity number (FOA) listed is PA-18-404.
What is the main purpose of the T35 training mechanism?
The core aim is to provide an intensive, structured research experience that is long enough and rigorous enough for trainees to gain a practical understanding of how biomedical research is conducted. This includes exposure to study design principles, responsible research practices, data interpretation, and the day-to-day realities of working in a research environment.
Who is the training intended for?
The program supports short-term research training for predoctoral students who are exploring careers in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. A major use case described is summer research training for health professional students (for example, medical and veterinary students, as well as students in other health-professional degree programs). The program is also intended to broaden the research pipeline by offering research exposure to graduate students in physical or quantitative disciplines who may apply those skills to biomedical and health sciences research.
Is this an individual fellowship or an institutional training grant?
This is an institutional training grant. The applicant organization proposes a coherent training plan and training environment, typically including mentored research experiences and complementary educational activities.
What kinds of activities are expected in a T35-supported program?
The expectation is that trainees will participate meaningfully in research, not simply observe. Programs typically involve mentored research experiences and educational/professional development elements appropriate to a short-term appointment, with the goal that trainees leave with thorough exposure to fundamentals of biomedical research and research culture.
Does the FOA emphasize any particular training format, like summer programs?
Yes. The information provided notes that a major use case across many NIH Institutes and Centers is summer research training for health professional students, often supporting focused summer research experiences for students who may not have a built-in research block in their curriculum.
Are clinical trials allowed under this T35 training program?
The FOA draws a specific boundary: trainees appointed to the T35 program are not permitted to lead an independent clinical trial. However, trainees may gain research experience within a clinical trial as long as the trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor.
Can trainees be involved in clinical research without being the trial lead?
Yes. Trainees can participate in clinical trial-related research experiences when the clinical trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor, allowing trainees to learn from ongoing clinical research without being in an independent leadership role.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is limited to domestic (U.S.) applicant organizations. The FOA indicates that a wide range of U.S. organizations may be eligible depending on NIH and FOA rules, including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), and certain tribal entities and organizations.
Are foreign institutions eligible to apply?
No. Foreign institutions are not eligible to apply.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible.
What types of institutions does the FOA highlight for inclusion?
The FOA highlights a broad set of institutions and organizations as part of NIH interest in broadening participation and strengthening training capacity across diverse settings. Examples listed include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), faith-based or community-based organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.
Which agency sponsors this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency identified in the information provided is the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category or general area of this program?
The activity category is health-related, and the program supports research training connected to biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research career pathways.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The information provided lists multiple CFDA numbers: 93.113, 93.173, 93.286, 93.351, 93.847, 93.855, 93.866, and 93.867.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2017-11-21.
What is the closing date shown in the provided information?
The source data provided lists an original closing date of 2020-10-05.
Does the provided summary specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards?
No. The summary data shown does not specify an award ceiling or an expected number of awards.
How should applicants interpret the lack of an award ceiling or number of awards in the summary?
Based on the information provided, this typically means applicants would need to consult NIH Institute/Center participation and the full FOA details to understand budget expectations and likely award volumes for a given cycle.
What distinguishes this program from a simple research shadowing experience?
The program is intended to be intensive and structured, with meaningful participation in research. Trainees are expected to gain hands-on exposure to study design, responsible research practices, data interpretation, and the realities of working in a research environment, supported by mentorship and short-term-appropriate professional development.
Does the program have a pipeline-broadening goal beyond traditional biomedical trainees?
Yes. In addition to health professional students, the program is explicitly intended to broaden the pipeline into health-related research by providing short-term exposure to graduate students in physical or quantitative disciplines, encouraging them to apply their skills in biomedical and health sciences research.
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