Guidance for Supplemental Funding for NIGMS TWD R25 Programs

NIGMS will consider providing supplemental funding in one year increments to a pre-existing (i.e., awarded prior to Fiscal Year 2020) Bridges to the Baccalaureate, Bridges to the Doctorate, RISE, and IMSD R25 program that encounters a gap in funding as a consequence of the restructuring of the NIGMS diversity enhancing programs. Pre-existing diversity enhancing programs will be allowed to reach the end of their grant cycles; however, going forward, each institution will be eligible for one undergraduate program (either a MARC T34 or a U-RISE T34), one Ph.D. level graduate program (either a IMSD​ T32 or a G-RISE​ T32), and master's students will be supported exclusively through the Bridges to the Doctorate program. For cases where parallel programs for undergraduates, master's, and/or Ph.D. level participants or trainees end at the same time, there is no need for supplemental funding. If, however, a gap is experienced because of staggered end dates, there may be a need for supplemental funding to provide support for trainees during this transition period.

To be eligible, the R25 grant must be active at the time of a supplemental funding request submission. If a new diversity enhancing award is issued after Fiscal Year 2020 with a T activity code (T34 for undergraduates and T32 for graduate students) to support the same level of participants in the training pathway, the pre-existing R25 program will not be eligible for supplemental funding, unless otherwise justified. 

All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In making funding recommendations, only the programs that meet the following criteria will be considered:

  • Programs at institutions with a strategic plan for the submissions of NIGMS diversity enhancing programs that have been approved by the relevant NIGMS Program Officers (see contact information below). 
  • Successful program outcomes.

Requests for supplemental funding must be submitted through the FOA PA-18-591. The application should include:

  • The institutional strategic plan for the submissions of NIGMS diversity enhancing programs that have been approved by the relevant NIGMS Program Officers (see contact information below).
  • A rationale for the supplement.
  • An itemized budget and justification for the supplemental funding request. The amounts requested should adhere to the supplemental funding budget guidelines detailed below and all expenditures must be well justified.
  • Estimated unobligated balance remaining as of the end of the final year. If any balance is available, an explanation should be provided of how this balance will be used in conjunction with the supplemental funding to continue program operations.
  • Names of students that will be supported. 

Supplemental Funding Budget Guidelines:

The following budget line items may be requested :

  • Salaries/fringe benefits for each participant who will be supported during the supplemental funding period.
  • Tuition remission provided to students (graduate students only).
  • Up to a total of $2,000/student for student research supplies, travel to scientific meetings, and workshops.
  • Administrative salary support for Principal Investigator and Program Coordinator, if strongly justified. No salary support for faculty or other staff will be provided.
  • F&A costs at 8% of total direct costs excluding tuition remission and consortium costs (Bridges programs)

Supplemental funding is dependent upon the availability of funds.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with the program officer for additional details:

Bridges to Baccalaureate: Mercedes Rubio
Bridges to Doctorate: Patrick H. Brown
G-RISE: Anissa Brown and Luis Cubano
U-RISE: Anissa Brown and Luis Cubano
IMSD: Sailaja Koduri and Veerasamy Ravichandran