Research Training Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) Program

Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE) (T32) - PAR-19-102

Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) (T34) - PAR-19-218

Research Training Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) (R25) - PAR-16-361

Research Training Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) falls under the National Institute of General Medical Sciences Minority Access to Research Careers program.

RISE are training programs that seek to diversify the pool of students who complete at Ph.D. degree in biomedical research fields. By providing support to eligible, domestic institutions to develop and implement effective, evidence-based approaches to student training and mentoring, NIGMS expects that the proposed research training programs will incorporate didactic, research, mentoring, and career development elements to prepare trainees for the completion of research-focused Ph.D. programs in biomedical fields. Only research-active institutions i.e., those with an average of RPG funding less than $7.5 million total costs per year over the past 3 fiscal years (RPG data are available through NIH RePORTER). For guidance on determining program eligibility, see here [PDF, 312KB]. The total requested project period for these awards may not exceed 5 years. Under the existing Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs), no awards are renewable. While there are no budgetary caps for this award, all requested costs must be reasonable, well-documented, and fully justified and commensurate with the scope of the proposed program.

Based on stakeholders' feedback through meetings and Requests for Information, the RISE program has been reorganized to enhance diversity in the biomedical research workforce. As of May 2019, the RISE program initiative has transitioned from the Research Education (R25) activity code to Training (T34 and T32) activity codes to accurately reflect the purpose and goal of the programs. Additionally, the former RISE Program has been broken into the following three programs:

  • For undergraduates, the Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement, or U-RISE (T34) (PAR-19-218), supports the training of research-oriented undergraduates earning a baccalaureate at research-active institutions, who are planning to earn a research-focused higher degree (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.). Up to 3 years of funding per trainee is allowable.
  • For masters' level trainees, NIGMS will continue to provide support for the training of master's degree students through its redesigned Bridges to the Doctorate Student Training Program (T32). Supported master's trainees must be enrolled in institutions that do not offer Ph.D. degrees (typically research-active). See Bridges to the Doctorate Program webpage for more details.
  • For doctoral trainees, the Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement, or G-RISE (T32) (PAR-19-102), supports graduate trainees earning a Ph.D. at research-active institutions. Up to 3 years of funding per trainee is allowable.

For institutions with currently funded RISE (R25) programs:

The policies and guidance in the FOA (under which the existing programs were funded) will apply until the end of the current funding cycle for these programs.

To prevent the duplication of diversity enhancing NIGMS programs, each institution will be eligible for one diversity enhancing undergraduate program (either MARC or U-RISE) regardless of the activity code (R25 or T34) and one diversity enhancing graduate program (either IMSD or G-RISE) regardless of the activity code (R25 or T32). Institutions with MARC, U-RISE, IMSD, or G-RISE are eligible to participate in the Bridges to the Baccalaureate and/or Bridges to the Doctorate programs.

Applicants are encouraged to consult NIGMS staff to discuss eligibility prior to submission. For RISE grants, potential applicants should contact Dr. Luis Cubano or Dr. Anissa J. Brown.

Additional Information on the Reorganization of IMSD, RISE, and MARC U-STAR Programs:

  • Request for Information (RFI): NIGMS Programs to Enhance Diversity in the Biomedical Research Workforce (NOT-GM-15-108)
  • Request for Information (RFI): Organization and Administration of NIGMS Undergraduate and Pre-Doctoral Diversity Programs (NOT-GM-17-017)
  • Feedback Loop post: Early Notice: Concept Clearance for the Reorganization of Undergraduate and Graduate Programs to Enhance Diversity in the Biomedical Research Workforce (May 30, 2018)
  • Presentation at the May 2018 NIGMS Advisory Council (about 20 minutes long, starting at 1:43:26 minutes)
  • Presentation [PDF, 2.39MB] at the 2018 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students
Applicants should also note that NIGMS does not require applications requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year to contact staff to obtain agreement that the IC will accept the application.