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Dr. Alison Gammie, TWD Director
TWD programs foster the training and development of a strong and diverse biomedical research workforce. The division funds research training, career development, and diversity-building activities through a variety of programs at the undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, faculty and institutional levels.
PREDOCTORAL TRAINING BRANCH
Shiva P. Singh, Ph.D., Branch Chief
This branch seeks to foster high-quality undergraduate and predoctoral research training through support of Institutional Predoctoral Training Grants (T32) in 11 Ph.D. training areas, the Medical Scientist (M.D.-Ph.D.) Training Program, individual predoctoral F30 (M.D.-Ph.D.) and F31 (Ph.D.) fellowships, as well as a broad array of undergraduate and graduate student development programs including Bridges to the Baccalaureate, Bridges to the Doctorate, Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement, Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity, Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program and Initiative for Maximizing Student Development.
Bridges to the Baccalaureate (R25) | PAR-16-110; Mercedes Rubio
The goal of this program is to promote the successful completion of baccalaureate degrees by students from groups that are underrepresented in the biomedical 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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 44 institutions with 496 slots
Bridges to the Doctorate (R25) | PAR-16-109; Patrick Brown
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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 18 institutions with 79 slots
Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) (U54) | RFA-RM-13-016; Pamela Thornton
BUILD is a set of experimental training awards designed to implement and study innovative and effective approaches to engaging and retaining students from diverse backgrounds in biomedical research and preparing students to become future contributors to the NIH-funded research enterprise. BUILD is a part of the NIH Common Fund consortium Enhancing the Diversity of the NIH-Funded Workforce. Consortium contact: Alison Gammie.
FY2015: BUILD supported 10 primary institutions, along with their funded (41) and unfunded (42) research
and pipeline partner institutions
Individual Predoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) (F30/F31) Fellowships | PA-16-309; Oleg Barski; R. Ravichandran; Ward Smith; Darren Sledjeski | PA-16-308; Patrick Brown | PA-16-306; Régine Douthard
NIGMS predoctoral fellowships promote fundamental, interdisciplinary and innovative research training and career development leading to independent scientists who are well prepared to address the nation's biomedical research needs. Fellowships are available for Ph.D. and M.D.-Ph.D. or other dual-degree students, as well as to promote diversity in health-related research. The strategy is to provide support to outstanding predoctoral students to obtain individualized, mentored training leading to the Ph.D. and M.D.-Ph.D. or other dual-degree.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 93 F31s (68 diversity; 25 parent) and 4 F30s
Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) (R25) | PAR-14-121; Veerasamy Ravichandran
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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 49 institutions (523 undergraduates and 368 doctoral scholars)
Institutional Predoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) (T32) | PA-16-152; 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 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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 3025 trainees in 274 programs at 98 institutions
MARC Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) (T34) | PAR-16-113; Dr. Sailaja Koduri
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 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 at a research-intensive institution.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 53 institutions and 553 trainees
Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) (R25) | PAR-14-076; 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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 27 institutions with 196 scholars
Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) (R25) | PAR-16-361; Alexandra Ainsztein
The goal of RISE is to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups who complete 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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 49 institutions with 1,083 scholars (755 undergraduates, 79 M.S., 249 Ph.D.)
POSTDOCTORAL TRAINING BRANCH
Michael Sesma, Ph.D., Branch Chief
This branch supports research training, fellowships and career development programs at the postdoctoral and early stage clinical investigator levels. It also supports studies on interventions that promote student interest in research careers, and it provides supplements to research grants that promote scientific workforce diversity by offering research experiences for students at all levels.
Career Development Awards (K08) | PA-16-191; K23; PA-16-198; PA-11-009; K25; PA-16-194; Michael 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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 22 K08 awards in 19 institutions, 23 K23 awards in 17 institutions, and 4 K25
awards in 4 institutions.
Coordination and Evaluation Center (CEC) (U54) | RFA-RM-13-015; Michael Sesma
The CEC coordinates activities and will evaluate the efficacy of the training and mentoring approaches developed by BUILD and NRMN awardees. These findings will have implications for recruiting, training and mentoring of diverse groups nationwide, and the CEC will disseminate effective approaches to the broader research and mentoring communities. CEC is a part of the NIH Common Fund consortium Enhancing the Diversity of the NIH-Funded Workforce. Consortium contact: Alison Gammie.
FY2015: One CEC award to coordinate and evaluate across the consortium.
Individual Postdoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) (F32) | PA-16-307; Michael Sesma
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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 267 F32 awards in 77 institutions.
Institutional Postdoctoral National Research Service Award (NRSA) (T32) | PA-16-152; Alison Cole; Richard 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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 48 Training grants in 40 institutions: 7 medical genetics, 10 clinical pharmacology,
15 anesthesiology,and 16 trauma and burn programs; with 174 trainees.
Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA) (K12) | PAR-16-103; Jessica Faupel-Badger
The goals of IRACDA are to develop a diverse group of highly trained biomedical 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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 17 programs and 209 scholars.
Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT) (R25) | PAR-14-170; Michael Sesma
The goal of this program is to support educational activities that complement and/or enhance the training of a workforce to meet the nation's biomedical research needs. The strategy is to fund activities with a primary focus on courses for skills development, structured mentoring activities and outreach programs.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 9 grants in 9 institutions.
National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) (U54) | RFA-RM-13-017; Mercedes Rubio
NRMN is developing a national network of motivated and skilled mentors from various disciplines linked to mentees across the country–both from BUILD institutions and elsewhere–for individuals at the undergraduate to early career faculty levels and spanning biomedical disciplines relevant to the NIH mission. It is also developing best practices and training opportunities for mentors, as well as networking and professional development opportunities for mentees. NRMN is a part of the NIH Common Fund consortium Enhancing the Diversity of the NIH-Funded Workforce. Consortium contact: Alison Gammie.
FY2015: One NRMN award, which includes 4 core partner institutions and over 100 partner institutions
and organizations.
National Research Service Awards (NRSA) for Individual Senior Fellows (F33) | PA-16-310; Michael 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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 1 individual.
Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) | PA-16-193; Michael 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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 28 K99 awards in 18 institutions; and 38 R00 awards in 30 institutions.
Research on Interventions (R01) | RFA-GM-14-013; Michael 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 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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 15 awards in 13 institutions.
Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp) | PA-16-288; Mercedes Rubio
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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 150 awards; 74 new, 76 continuing.
Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry into Biomedical and Behavioral Research Careers (Admin Supp) | PA-16-289; Mercedes Rubio
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.
FY2015: NIGMS supported 3 awards.
For more information about TWD programs, see http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training or contact Dr. Alison E. Gammie, director, TWD Division.