National Institute of
General Medical Sciences

The Leading Equity and Advancing Diversity in the Medical Scientist Training Program (LEAD MSTP; PAR-23-030)​ is part of NIH’s efforts to broaden participation of institution types with NIH funded dual-degree training programs (i.e., a Ph.D. combined with a clinical degree, such as M.D., D.O., D.V.M., D.D.S., Pharm.D., etc.) and have historically not been well represented among NIGMS-funded MSTPs.

This program is limited to dual-degree training programs at (1) Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), (2) Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and (3) institutions within Institutional Development Award (IDeA)-eligible states. When appropriate, NIGMS encourages applications using a partnership model to further and advance the goals of the program.

LEAD MSTP programs must be in a single institution or at institutions that are part of a partnership.

For single-institution programs, the applicant institution must be a higher education institution located in the United States and/or its territories with the following characteristics:

• Is an institution in at least one of the following categories:
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), (i.e., institutions described in section 4(b) of Executive Order 14041 (incorporating by reference the institutions listed in 34 C.F.R. 608.2)),
• Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), (i.e., institutions described in section 5(e) of Executive Order 14049)
• Institutions in an IDeA state or territory - Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico
• Has an accredited clinical degree granting program (e.g., M.D., D.O., D.V.M., D.D.S., Pharm.D., etc.)
• Awards Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences
• Does not currently have an NIGMS-funded Medical Scientist Training Program

NIGMS encourages applications describing partnerships when this may further advance the goals of the program. Partnerships must have the following:

• The applicant institution must be an HBCU, TCU or institution in an IDeA state or territory (defined above).
• Each partner must be a higher education institution located in the United States and/or its territories
• The applicant institution must have an accredited clinical degree granting program (e.g., M.D., D.O., D.V.M., D.D.S., Pharm.D., etc.)
• One of the institutional partners must award Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences
• The applicant institution may not have an NIGMS-funded Medical Scientist Training Program

The total project period may not exceed 5 years and projects are renewable.
The FOA’s first receipt date is February 10, 2023.
Earliest start date: December 2023
For more information about the LEAD-MSTP, please read the FOA (PAR-23-030)​ and contact Dr. Mercedes Rubio.

Funding Announcement: ​PAR-23-030LEAD MSTP FAQs

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