UPDATE: The webinar slides [PDF] and video are now available.

We’re pleased to announce a technical assistance webinar for people interested in applying for training grants in the predoctoral basic biomedical sciences (PAR-20-213) and our Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) (PAR-21-189). The next application due date for both programs is January 25, 2023.

During the webinar, we’ll provide an overview of both programs and answer any questions you may have. You can send questions before the webinar or post them in the chat box during the event:

As you may be aware, NIH will implement a new policy to promote the sharing of scientific data. This policy, which will require NIH grantees to submit a data management and sharing (DMS) plan as part of a grant application, goes into effect January 25. NIGMS believes that, in general, most of our grantees already meet the new NIH policy requirements, which we explain more fully in a list of FAQs.

Sharing scientific data accelerates biomedical research discovery, in part, by enabling validation of research results, providing accessibility to high-value datasets, and promoting data reuse for future research studies. Submitting a DMS plan as part of a grant application will formalize what NIGMS principal investigators already do and make explicit their plans for sharing data with the larger scientific community. Most DMS plans are expected to be concise (no more than two pages), and a sample plan is available, with a final fillable version available soon.

NIH has developed a website with details about the policy, guidance, and implementation. If you have questions about this new requirement after reviewing our FAQs, please contact NIH DMS policy staff or your NIGMS program officer.

This past February, we shared our plans to develop a program to broaden the types of institutions participating in NIH-funded dual-degree training programs. We’re pleased to announce that the Leading Equity and Advancing Diversity in the Medical Scientist Training Program (LEAD MSTP) funding opportunity announcement has been published (PAR-23-030). The LEAD MSTP aims to develop a diverse pool of highly trained clinician-scientists who meet the nation’s biomedical research needs. The program supports dual-degree training programs at institutions that haven’t historically been well represented among NIGMS-funded MSTPs. It’s limited to dual-degree training programs at 1.) historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and 2.) Tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), and 3.) institutions in Institutional Development Award (IDeA)-eligible states. NIGMS encourages applications proposing partnerships between the applying HBCUs, TCUs, or IDeA-state institutions to further advance the goals of the program.

We’re pleased to announce a virtual “office hour” for people interested in applying for our Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) and Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE) programs. The next application due date for both programs is January 30, 2023.

These research training programs share the goal of developing a diverse pool of scientists earning a biomedical Ph.D., but have different institutional eligibility based on NIH research project grant (RPG) support. IMSD eligibility is limited to research-intensive institutions (i.e., those with an average of funding greater than or equal to $7.5 million total costs over the last 3 fiscal years) while G-RISE eligibility is limited to research-active institutions (i.e., those with an average of NIH RPG funding less than $7.5 million total costs over the last 3 fiscal years). 

We’re pleased to announce that the Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) has been reissued (PAR-22-220). PREP’s goal is to develop a diverse pool of well-trained postbaccalaureates who transition into and complete rigorous biomedical, research-focused doctoral degree programs (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.) in biomedical fields relevant to the NIGMS mission. 

We’re hosting a webinar to discuss the key features of this FOA and to answer your questions:

Friday, December 9, 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET
Zoom Meeting link
Meeting ID: 161 199 4922
Passcode: 153463
Join by phone: 669-254-5252 (San Jose) or 646-828-7666 (New York)

We’re pleased to announce that we’ve published two notices of special interest (NOSIs) requesting applications to PAR-22-250, Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase 1 (P20 Clinical Trial Optional), to build research capacity in data sciences (NOT-GM-23-011) and women’s health (NOT-GM-23-012) in IDeA states.

These NOSIs highlight the Office of Data Science Strategy’s interest in supporting meritorious applications on data science relevant to biomedical research, and the Office of Research on Women’s Health’s interest in supporting a meritorious application on women’s health.

I’m pleased to announce that the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for the Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) for early stage investigators (ESIs) will be reissued in the spring of 2023. MIRA provides support for a research program in an ESI’s laboratory that falls within the NIGMS mission. For details, see NOT-GM-23-017. 

The reissued FOA will essentially be the same as the previous one, with a couple of minor changes:

Since the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) began in 1975, it has supported more than 14,000 clinician-scientist trainees. The program provides predoctoral training grants (T32) to institutions to develop and implement effective, evidence-informed training for students pursuing both a clinical and a research doctorate degree (i.e., M.D.-Ph.D.).

I’m pleased to announce that the Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for established and new investigators (PAR-22-180) has been reissued. MIRA provides support for the program of research in an investigator’s laboratory that falls within the NIGMS mission. The next application due date is January 17, 2023.

We’re hosting a webinar to discuss the key features of this FOA and to answer your questions:

Friday, October 21, 12:30-2:00 p.m. ET
Zoom meeting link
Meeting ID: 160 903 8368
Passcode: NIGMS

I'm pleased to announce that the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase 1 funding opportunity announcement (FOA) (PAR-22-250) has been reissued. The COBRE program supports the establishment and development of innovative biomedical and behavioral research centers at Institutional Development Award (IDeA)-eligible institutions. The goal of this FOA is to establish a center of excellence that helps develop a critical mass of investigators and improve infrastructure in an area of biomedical research.

Application receipt date: January 30, 2023
Earliest start date: December 2023