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TWD programs foster the training and development of a strong and diverse biomedical and behavioral research workforce. The division funds research training, career development, diversity and capacity-building activities through a variety of programs at the undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, faculty and institutional levels.
PREDOCTORAL TRAINING BRANCH
Bridges to the Baccalaureate (R25) | PAR-13-333; Michelle Hamlet
The goal of this program is to promote the successful completion of baccalaureate degrees by students from groups that are under-represented in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. The strategy is to support comprehensive science education and research-readiness student development programs that help diverse students at community colleges transition to baccalaureate degree programs at research-intensive partner institutions.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 41 institutions with 725 slots
Bridges to the Doctorate (R25) | PAR-12-276; Michelle Hamlet
This program’s goal is to promote the successful completion of doctoral degrees by students from underrepresented groups. The strategy is to support comprehensive science education and research-readiness student development programs that help diverse students in M.S. degree programs transition to Ph.D. degree programs at research-intensive partner institutions.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 14 institutions with 95 slots
Individual Predoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) (F31) | PA-11-112; Shawn Gaillard | PA-11-129; Dick Okita
The goal of the F31 program is to enhance mentored doctoral training for individuals from various backgrounds or in specific training areas. The F31 to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research is designed to increase the number of scientists from under-represented groups; the F31 Pharm.D./Ph.D. is intended to increase the number of jointly trained students. The strategy is to provide support leading to the Ph.D. or equivalent biomedical or behavioral research degree.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 75 predoctoral trainees
Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) (R25) | PAR-13-082; Dan Janes
The goals of IMSD are to increase the number of undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented groups who complete Ph.D. degrees and enter the research workforce, and also to enhance the diversity of students in awardee institutions’ Ph.D. programs. The strategy is to provide institutional grants for research training and developmental activities at research-intensive institutions.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 45 institutions (more than 520 undergraduate and 320 doctoral scholars)
Institutional Predoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) (T32) | PA-11-184; 12 Program Officers
The goal of the T32 program is to enhance the quality of comprehensive research education and career development activities that prepare graduate students for the biomedical and behavioral research workforce. The strategy is to enhance institutional curricular programs and research training in 11 scientific areas plus integrated medical scientist (M.D.-Ph.D.) training.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported more than 3,000 trainees in 278 programs at 101 institutions
MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) (T34) | PAR-13-205; Shawn Gaillard
The goal of this program is to increase the nation’s pool of students from underrepresented groups who have the research experience and science preparation to matriculate and succeed in biomedical and behavioral Ph.D. programs. The strategy is to support institutional programs of academic and research education, including 2 years of support of honors juniors and seniors and at least one summer research experience must be at a research-intensive institution.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 55 institutions and more than 650 trainees
Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) (R25) | PAR-13-085; Michael Bender
The goals of PREP are to increase the number of baccalaureates from underrepresented groups who go on to Ph.D. or M.D.- Ph.D. degree programs, and also to enhance the diversity of students in awardee institutions’ Ph.D. and/or M.D.-Ph.D. programs. The strategy is to support institutional programs that provide extensive research training and academic preparation at research-intensive institutions through 1- to 2-year research apprenticeships.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 25 institutions with more than 185 scholars
Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) (R25) | PAR-13-196; Robin Broughton
The goal of RISE is to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups who enter Ph.D. training. The strategy is to support research education programs at institutions with substantial enrollments of students from underrepresented groups. RISE programs may be designed to support undergraduate-, M.S.- or Ph.D.-level trainees.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 48 institutions with more than 1,080 scholars (more than 780 undergraduates,
65 M.S., 240 Ph.D.)
POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING BRANCH
Career Development Awards (K08) | PA-11-193; K23; PA-11-194; PA-11-009; K25; PA-11-196; Mike Sesma
This program’s goal is to enhance training for individuals with clinical doctoral degrees through mentored research career development experience in anesthesiology, clinical pharmacology, trauma and burn injury or wound healing. The strategy is to support mentored research and career development awards including the K08 Mentored Clinical Scientist, the K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research, the K23 Translational Scholar Career Award in Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine, and the K25 Mentored Quantitative Research Development Award.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 24 K08 awards at 16 institutions, 15 K23 awards at 9 institutions,and 9 K25
awards at 9 institutions
Individual Postdoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) (F32) | PA-11-113; Mike Sesma; Scott Somers
The goal of these fellowships is to support applicants to become productive, independent investigators through focused awards designed to enhance advanced and specialized training in basic and/or clinical research. The strategy employs an intensive, mentored research project experience that encourages the development of independence, innovation and creativity in a highly productive research setting.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 339 F32 awards
Institutional Postdoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) (T32) | PA-11-184; Alison Cole; Dick Okita; Susan Haynes; Scott Somers
The goal of this program is to enhance the quality of institutional training programs for scientists in four clinically relevant research areas within the mission of NIGMS: anesthesiology; clinical pharmacology; medical genetics; and trauma, burn and peri-operative injury. The strategy is to support at least 2 years of research training in basic, clinical and/or translational science areas and promote research career development.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 9 medical genetics, 10 clinical pharmacology, 12 anesthesiology and 19 trauma
programs with 182 trainees
Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) (K12) | PAR-13-290; Shiva Singh
The goals of IRACDA are to develop a diverse group of highly trained biomedical and behavioral scientists who pursue independent research and teaching careers in academia and to strengthen and modernize science educational offerings at partner institutions with significant enrollments of students from underrepresented groups. The strategy is to promote effective partnerships between research-intensive institutions and regional institutions with significant underrepresented student populations by supporting a 3-year mentored research, teaching and career development program for postdoctoral scientists.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 19 programs and more than 195 scholars
MARC Ancillary Training Activities (T36) | PAR-11-243; Mike Sesma
The goal of this program is to facilitate the research training and career development of individuals from underrepresented groups. The strategy is to support research conferences, workshops, short courses, symposia or other ancillary research training designed to increase the number and research competitiveness of individuals from underrepresented groups and expose them to career development opportunities.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 14 awards
National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Senior Fellows (F33) | PA-11-114; Mike Sesma
These fellowships are designed to support experienced investigators seeking opportunities to undertake short periods of mentored research training that will allow them to redirect, revitalize or restart a research program upon returning to their home institutions.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 3 individuals
Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) | PA-11-197; Mike Sesma
The goal of this program is to shorten and facilitate the transition from a postdoctoral researcher to an independent investigator capable of leading a research team. The strategy is to support highly promising postdoctoral researchers in mentored research positions followed by 2 years of independent research support.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 11 K99 awards at 10 institutions and 30 R00 awards at 25 institutions
Research on Interventions (R01) | RFA-GM-14-013; Mike Sesma
The goal of this program is to understand the social and behavioral factors that increase the interest, motivation and preparedness of students from underrepresented groups for biomedical and behavioral research careers. The strategy is to support research that tests assumptions about these factors and that can inform and guide new, evidence-based interventions for research training.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 22 awards
Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp) | PA-12-100; Marion Zatz
The goal of this program is to increase the nation’s pool of students from underrepresented groups who matriculate and complete the Ph.D. The strategy is to employ the research project grant as the platform for intensive mentored research experiences within the scope of the grant during the continuum from high school to the postdoctoral level.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 93 new awards and 72 continuing awards all levels
Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers (Admin Supp) | PA-12-150; Marion Zatz
The goal of this program is to increase the diversity of the research workforce and support individuals at the postdoctoral or early faculty level who have high potential to re-enter an active research career after taking time off to care for children or parents or to attend to other family responsibilities. The strategy employs the research project grant as the platform for intensive, mentored research experiences that facilitate re-entry and the establishment of a full-time, independent research career.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 1 postdoctoral- and 1 investigator-level supplement
CAPACITY BUILDING BRANCH
Strategies for capacity building include programs to broaden the geographic distribution of NIH funding and to develop faculty research capabilities. The Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Program increases the competitiveness of investigators by supporting faculty development and research infrastructure enhancement at institutions in IDeA states, defined as those with the lowest NIH research funding (23 states and Puerto Rico).
IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) (P20) | PAR-12-205; Fred Taylor
INBRE’s goal is to enhance, extend and strengthen the research capabilities of biomedical and behavioral research faculty in IDeA states. The strategy is to build statewide, multidisciplinary research networks that expand the research opportunities and increase the number of competitive investigators in those states. INBRE supports institutional research and infrastructure development; research by faculty, postdoctoral scientists and students at participating institutions; and outreach to build science and technology knowledge in the states’ workforces.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 24 awards
IDeA Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) (P30) | PAR-11-286; PAR-13-243; Yanping Liu | PAR-13-238; PAR-11-229; Yanping Liu; Rafael Gorospé
COBRE’s goal is to strengthen institutional biomedical research capabilities in IDeA states. The strategy is to support three phases of infrastructure and faculty development through thematic, multidisciplinary centers, each led by an NIH-funded investigator with expertise central to the theme of the grant. A COBRE includes a principal investigator with peer-reviewed funding and leadership experience, 3-5 individual research projects led by a junior investigator, and clear mentorship plans leading to successful competition for other research support. A distinct kind of COBRE develops the infrastructure and capacity to conduct clinical and translational research.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 87 awards
Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) (S06) | PAR-13-239; Sheila Caldwell
NARCH supports partnerships between American Indian/Alaska Native (IA/AN) tribes or tribally based organizations and institutions that conduct intensive, academic-level biomedical, behavioral and health services research. NARCH provides opportunities for conducting research, research training and faculty development to meet the needs of AI/AN communities.
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 35 projects and cores
Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) (SC1, SC2, SC3) | PAR-13-069-071; Hinda Zlotnik
The goal of this program is to increase the research capability of faculty at institutions with substantial enrollments of students from underrepresented groups to prepare the faculty to obtain non-SCORE research support. The strategy is to support faculty research development at three formative career stages: Research Advancement Award, SC1 (74 awards in FY 2012); Pilot Project, SC2 (47 awards in FY 2012); and Research Continuance Award, SC3 (101 awards in FY 2012).
FY 2012: NIGMS supported 230 SCORE awards at 53 institutions
For more information about TWD programs, see http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training or contact Alison K. Hall, Ph.D., deputy director, TWD Division