Opportunity Information: Apply for PA 20 162
The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T35), Funding Opportunity Number PA 20-162, is a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant program that supports domestic institutions in building or strengthening short-term, high-intensity research training experiences for predoctoral students who are exploring careers in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. In practice, many NIH Institutes and Centers rely on this mechanism specifically to fund structured summer research programs, especially for health professional students such as medical and veterinary students and learners in other health-professional tracks. The core idea is to give trainees a concentrated period of mentored research that is substantial enough to move beyond observation and into meaningful participation, with the goal that participants finish the program with a solid exposure to how biomedical research is conceived, conducted, and interpreted.
A key emphasis of the T35 mechanism is the institutional, programmatic nature of the training. Rather than funding a single student or an individual fellowship, NIH funds an organization to run an organized training program that can repeatedly recruit, select, mentor, and support cohorts of short-term trainees. These programs are expected to provide depth and rigor within a limited timeframe, typically by pairing trainees with experienced research mentors, immersing them in laboratory, clinical, or computational research environments, and offering the kinds of structured educational components that help students understand responsible conduct of research and the principles that underlie modern biomedical investigation. The opportunity also explicitly aims to broaden entry points into health-related research by encouraging graduate students from physical or quantitative sciences to spend a short period engaged in health sciences research, helping to draw talent from disciplines like engineering, mathematics, statistics, physics, or computer science into biomedical problem areas.
The clinical trial policy for this announcement is straightforward: trainees appointed under this FOA are not permitted to lead an independent clinical trial. However, they are allowed to gain research experience in a clinical trial setting as long as the trial is led by an eligible mentor or co-mentor. This is designed to protect the short-term trainee role while still allowing exposure to clinical research infrastructure, trial conduct, data collection, analysis workflows, and ethical/regulatory considerations under appropriate supervision.
Eligibility is centered on domestic (U.S.-based) applicant organizations. A wide range of U.S. entities may apply, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, and multiple levels of government such as state, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments and independent school districts. Tribal participation is also included through federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations. The FOA also highlights inclusion of institutions and organizations that often serve specific communities or regions, such as 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), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions. At the same time, it clearly excludes non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions from applying, and it also bars non-domestic components of U.S. organizations.
From an administrative and cataloging standpoint, the opportunity is a discretionary grant program administered by NIH, categorized under the funding activity areas of environment, food and nutrition, and health, and associated with multiple CFDA numbers including 93.113, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.273, 93.286, 93.351, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, 93.855, 93.866, and 93.867. The record shows a creation date of 2020-04-02 and an original closing date listed as 2023-01-18. The summary information provided does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards, so those details would typically be confirmed by consulting the full FOA text and any NIH Institute or Center-specific guidance tied to the announcement.
Overall, this program is best understood as NIH support for institutions that can offer a well-designed, mentored, short-term research training experience that is immersive enough to genuinely build research readiness and motivate continued research engagement. It is particularly well-suited for summer research programs for health professional students, while also serving as a bridge for quantitatively trained graduate students to enter health-related research through focused, hands-on exposure.Apply for PA 20 162
- 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, 93.213, 93.233, 93.273, 93.286, 93.351, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, 93.855, 93.866, 93.867.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2020-04-02.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-01-18. (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)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T35). It is an NIH grant program that supports institutions in creating or strengthening short-term, high-intensity research training experiences.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PA 20-162.
Who is this program intended to train?
The program supports short-term research training for predoctoral students who are exploring careers in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research.
What kinds of trainees are commonly supported in practice?
Many NIH Institutes and Centers use this mechanism to support structured summer research programs, especially for health professional students such as medical and veterinary students and learners in other health-professional training tracks.
What is the main goal of the training experience?
The goal is to provide a concentrated, mentored research experience that goes beyond observation and into meaningful participation, so trainees gain real exposure to how biomedical research is conceived, conducted, and interpreted.
Is this grant awarded to individual students?
No. The emphasis is on institutional, programmatic training. NIH funds an organization to run an organized training program that can recruit, select, mentor, and support cohorts of short-term trainees.
What does "short-term, high-intensity" training mean in this context?
Within a limited timeframe, trainees are expected to experience depth and rigor by working closely with experienced mentors, being immersed in research environments (lab, clinical, or computational), and participating in structured educational components.
What types of research environments may trainees be placed in?
The program description references laboratory, clinical, and computational research environments as settings where trainees may be immersed.
Are programs expected to include formal instruction beyond the research project itself?
Yes. The description notes structured educational components that help students understand responsible conduct of research and principles underlying modern biomedical investigation.
Does the program encourage participation from students outside traditional biomedical fields?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly aims to broaden entry points into health-related research by encouraging graduate students from physical or quantitative sciences to spend a short period engaged in health sciences research.
Which quantitative or physical science backgrounds are specifically mentioned?
Examples listed include engineering, mathematics, statistics, physics, and computer science.
Can trainees appointed to this program lead a clinical trial?
No. Trainees appointed under this FOA are not permitted to lead an independent clinical trial.
Can trainees still gain experience in a clinical trial setting?
Yes. Trainees may gain research experience in a clinical trial setting as long as the clinical trial is led by an eligible mentor or co-mentor.
Why does the FOA restrict trainees from leading independent clinical trials?
Based on the description provided, the restriction is meant to protect the short-term trainee role while still allowing exposure to clinical research operations and oversight under appropriate supervision.
Who can apply for this grant?
Eligibility is centered on domestic (U.S.-based) applicant organizations. NIH funds an organization to run the training program, rather than an individual trainee applying directly.
Are universities and colleges eligible to apply?
Yes. Public and private institutions of higher education in the U.S. are listed as eligible applicant organizations.
Are nonprofit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations are listed as eligible, with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are for-profit organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations (other than small businesses) are included, and small businesses are also listed as eligible.
Are government entities eligible to apply?
Yes. Eligibility includes multiple levels of government, such as state, county, and city or township governments, as well as special district governments and independent school districts.
Are Tribal governments or Tribal organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other Native American tribal organizations are included.
Are certain types of community-serving institutions specifically highlighted as eligible?
Yes. The FOA highlights eligibility of organizations such as 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. Faith-based or community-based organizations are listed as eligible applicant organizations.
Are U.S. territories or possessions included in eligible applicants?
Yes. U.S. territories or possessions are included among eligible applicants.
Can foreign institutions or non-U.S. organizations apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities and foreign institutions are excluded from applying.
Can a U.S. organization apply if the work will be done through a non-domestic component?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are barred based on the eligibility description provided.
What federal agency administers this program?
This is a discretionary grant program administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
How is the program categorized by funding activity area?
The funding activity areas listed are environment, food and nutrition, and health.
Which CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The associated CFDA numbers listed are 93.113, 93.173, 93.213, 93.233, 93.273, 93.286, 93.351, 93.837, 93.838, 93.839, 93.840, 93.847, 93.855, 93.866, and 93.867.
When was this opportunity record created?
The record shows a creation date of 2020-04-02.
What closing date is shown in the summary information?
The summary lists an original closing date of 2023-01-18.
Does the summary specify an award ceiling?
No. The summary information provided does not specify an award ceiling.
Does the summary specify the expected number of awards?
No. The summary information provided does not state the expected number of awards.
What should an applicant do to confirm award amounts or number of awards?
Based on the description, those details would typically be confirmed by consulting the full FOA text and any NIH Institute or Center-specific guidance tied to the announcement.
What is the core value proposition of a T35 program for an institution?
It supports an institution in running an organized short-term research training program that can repeatedly recruit and support cohorts, pairing trainees with mentors and providing a structured experience intended to build research readiness and motivate continued engagement in research.
What kinds of program outcomes does the description suggest NIH is aiming for?
The description emphasizes meaningful mentored participation, substantial exposure to research design and interpretation, and a training structure that helps participants finish with a solid understanding of how biomedical research works in practice.
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| Chronic Kidney Diseases of UnceRtain Etiology (CKDu) in Agricultural Communities (CURE) Research Consortium - Scientific Data Coordinating Center (SDCC) (U24 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DK 20 019 Funding Number: RFA DK 20 019 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Chronic Kidney Diseases of UnceRtain Etiology (CKDu) in Agricultural Communities (CURE) Research Consortium - Field Epidemiology Sites (U01 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) Apply for RFA DK 20 017 Funding Number: RFA DK 20 017 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T35) Apply for PA 23 080 Funding Number: PA 23 080 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T35) Apply for PA 25 280 Funding Number: PA 25 280 Agency: National Institutes of Health Category: Environment, Food and Nutrition, Health Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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