The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (T35) supports research training opportunities for predoctoral students pursuing careers in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. This funding opportunity, administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), provides short-term, intensive research training experiences, primarily targeting health professional students and graduate students in physical or quantitative sciences. The program aims to expose trainees to principles of biomedical research under the guidance of experienced mentors, fostering interest and preparation for future careers in scientific research.

The program provides financial support for stipends, tuition and fees, training-related expenses, and health insurance. Funding levels follow established NRSA guidelines, and the proposed budgets must align with the specific needs of the training program. The training period must be between eight and twelve weeks per year and should involve full-time participation. Institutional applications may include partnerships or consortium arrangements with other academic or research institutions to enhance the training experience. The grant supports the development of comprehensive training plans, including didactic instruction in the responsible conduct of research and exposure to state-of-the-art methodologies.

Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, Native American tribal organizations, and other eligible entities. Foreign institutions and non-domestic components of U.S. institutions are not eligible to apply. Program Directors or Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs) must be experienced researchers with a demonstrated commitment to mentoring and administrative leadership. Institutions must also ensure appropriate facilities, resources, and institutional support for the proposed training program.

Applications must include a detailed program plan outlining the training objectives, mentor qualifications, trainee recruitment strategies, evaluation plans, and institutional commitment. Required documents include the SF-424 forms, biosketches for faculty, training tables, institutional support letters, and descriptions of program evaluation and trainee retention strategies. Plans for instruction in the responsible conduct of research and methods for enhancing research reproducibility are also required. Institutions must demonstrate a commitment to providing an inclusive and supportive research training environment.

The review process will evaluate applications based on the quality and rigor of the proposed training plan, qualifications and commitment of program leadership, adequacy of participating faculty, trainee recruitment and selection plans, and the effectiveness of program evaluation strategies. Renewal applications must provide evidence of past program success, including trainee outcomes and program improvements based on evaluation feedback.

Applications will be accepted on standard NIH due dates, starting January 25, 2025, with subsequent cycles through May 8, 2028. Successful applicants will be awarded up to five years of support. Final funding decisions will consider scientific merit, programmatic priorities, and the availability of funds. For technical assistance and additional information, applicants are encouraged to consult the NIH IC-specific contacts provided in the funding announcement