Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32) | PA 25 168

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32)?

The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T32) is an NIH grant program that supports institutions in building, strengthening, or expanding structured research training programs. It is designed for workforce development, helping institutions create strong training environments that prepare predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees for biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research careers.

What is the funding opportunity number for this announcement?

The funding opportunity number (FOA number) is PA-25-168.

What does NIH mean by an "institutional training grant" under T32?

Under the T32 mechanism, NIH is not funding a single, standalone research project. Instead, NIH is funding a coordinated, institutionally organized training program that includes strong mentorship, a structured curriculum, and a research-rich environment intended to develop trainees into independent scientists and research professionals.

Who is the target audience for training supported by this FOA?

This FOA supports structured research training programs for predoctoral and postdoctoral trainees.

What is the main purpose of this T32 opportunity?

The core purpose is workforce development: NIH is investing in institutional training environments that can produce a diverse, highly skilled pipeline of researchers prepared to address the nation’s biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research needs.

What types of training components are expected in a T32 program?

Programs supported under this opportunity are expected to be comprehensive and intentionally designed. NIH describes training programs that combine didactic elements (coursework, seminars, structured instruction), substantive mentored research experiences, and career development components such as grant writing support, responsible conduct of research, networking, professional skills development, and guidance on career paths.

Can a proposed program include short-term research training?

Yes. The announcement notes that short-term research training can be included within a program.

Can an institution apply if it proposes only short-term predoctoral training?

No. Programs that propose only short-term predoctoral training should not apply under this Parent T32 announcement. Those efforts are directed to the NRSA Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant mechanism (T35), which is specifically for predoctoral short-term training programs.

Are trainees allowed to lead an independent clinical trial under this FOA?

No. Under this FOA, appointed trainees are not permitted to lead an independent clinical trial.

Can trainees still get clinical trial experience in a T32-supported program?

Yes. Trainees may gain meaningful clinical trial experience when the clinical trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. The program can provide exposure to clinical research operations, trial design considerations, data management, and analysis within a mentored training experience.

How does the clinical trial policy affect program design?

It shapes how training plans can incorporate clinical trial activities. Programs may include clinical trial exposure and participation, but trainees must remain in appropriate mentored roles and cannot serve as the independent leader of a clinical trial.

Which institutions are eligible to apply?

Eligibility is centered on domestic (U.S.-based) institutions, and the announcement lists a broad range of eligible U.S. organizations. Examples include state, county, and city or township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status) outside of higher education; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other eligible entities.

Are minority-serving institutions and community-based organizations eligible?

Yes. The FOA explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories, including 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), and faith-based or community-based organizations.

Are federal agencies eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA lists eligible federal agencies among additional eligible applicant categories.

Are U.S. territories or possessions eligible to apply?

Yes. The FOA includes U.S. territories or possessions among the additional eligible applicant categories.

Are non-U.S. (non-domestic) entities eligible to apply?

No. The FOA is clear that non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply.

Are non-domestic components of U.S. organizations eligible to apply?

No. The FOA states that non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are not eligible to apply, reinforcing that the supported training infrastructure must be based in the United States.

What agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

What type of funding instrument is used?

The program uses a discretionary grant funding instrument type.

What is the activity focus of this FOA?

The activity is aligned to education and health-related workforce development, centered on structured research training.

Does the Parent T32 apply across different scientific areas?

Yes. The CFDA numbers listed span many NIH institutes and centers, reflecting that the Parent T32 mechanism can be used across a wide range of scientific and health domains depending on institute-specific interests and priorities.

What is the closing date shown for this opportunity?

The opportunity shows an original closing date of 2028-05-04, indicating a multi-year window during which applications may be accepted according to NIH submission cycles and the FOA schedule.

Is there an award ceiling (maximum award amount) listed?

No. Award ceiling information is not specified in the provided data.

How are budgets typically determined for NIH training grants like T32 (based on the provided description)?

The provided description indicates that budgets in NIH training announcements are often determined by allowable NRSA trainee costs, the number of trainee slots requested, and institute-specific funding decisions, rather than a single fixed maximum.

What is NIH expecting institutions to propose in a competitive application?

The FOA is best understood as support for an institutionally organized training track or training center. The institution is expected to propose how it will recruit and support trainees, provide high-quality mentorship, deliver a structured training curriculum, and track outcomes that demonstrate the program is producing capable researchers.

What does the FOA emphasize regarding diversity?

The description highlights an emphasis on producing a diverse, highly skilled pipeline of researchers. It also notes that reviewers and NIH staff will expect thoughtful recruitment and retention strategies as part of a strong training environment.

What kinds of outcomes should a T32 program be prepared to track (based on the description provided)?

Based on the description, programs should be prepared to track outcomes that demonstrate the training program is producing capable researchers prepared for impactful research careers aligned with national health-related research priorities.