Key Dates

Related Announcements

• April 05, 2022 - National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program (T34). See PAR-22-125.

Issued by

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to update the budget information in PAR-22-125 “National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program (T34).” Specifically, these changes:

• Increase the amount of funds provided for the summer research experience to $4,000 per Bridges trainee.
• Increase the maximum training related expenses (TRE) limit to $12,500/trainee/year.
• Increase the maximum cap for the TRE portion of the proposed budget to $200,000/year.
• Clarify that the award does not set firm cost limits for allowable TRE-associated expenses (for example, salary support or evaluation costs).

The following is detailed information about the modifications to the NOFO.

Part 2. Section II. Award Information

Other Award Budget Information

Trainee Travel

Current language:

Trainees are required to spend at least one summer in a research training experience at a baccalaureate degree-granting institution that is a partner in the awarded program. Funds for the summer research experience will be provided as follows: $3,000 per Bridges trainee, to be used in accordance with the institutional policies as a per diem for a period of up to ten weeks.

Revised to read (changes shown in bold italics):

Trainees are required to spend at least one summer in a research training experience at a baccalaureate degree-granting institution that is a partner in the awarded program. Funds for the summer research experience will be provided as follows: $4,000 per Bridges trainee, to be used in accordance with the institutional policies as a per diem for a period of up to ten weeks.

Training Related Expenses

Current language:

NIGMS will provide funds to help defray other research training expenses, such as health insurance, staff salaries, consultant costs, equipment, research supplies, and faculty/staff travel directly related to the research training program.

Training related expenses are limited to a maximum of $10,000/trainee/year. The maximum cap for the TRE portion of the proposed budget is $100,000/year.

Allowable costs include those associated with the following:

• Skills development training activities (e.g., focusing on quantitative and computational, problem-solving, critical thinking, scientific writing, effective communication, and project management);
• Seminar speakers, who will serve as role models to the trainees
• Training or mentoring interventions designed to increase persistence in research (e.g., those designed to increase science identity, self-efficacy and a sense of belonging in the scientific community);
• Salary support for the PD(s)/PI(s). Typically, salary support does not exceed 1.8 person months (i.e., 15% effort on a 12-month basis) in total for all PD(s)/PI(s) depending on the size and scope of the program;
• Salary support for administrative personnel. Typically, the total combined salary support for the program administrator/program coordinator and/or program assistant/clerical support does not exceed 3.0 person months (i.e., 25% effort on a 12-month basis) depending on the size and scope of the program;
• Limited program evaluation costs (typically, up to $3,000 for the 5-year training grant period) and other program-related expenses may be included within the budget for training-related expenses.

Other program-related expenses may be included within the budget for training-related expenses. These expenses must be justified as specifically required by the proposed program and must not duplicate items generally available at the applicant institutions.

Revised to read (changes shown in bold italics):

NIGMS will provide funds to help defray other research training expenses, such as health insurance, staff salaries, consultant costs, equipment, research supplies, and faculty/staff travel directly related to the research training program.

Training related expenses (TRE) are limited to a maximum of $12,500/trainee/year. The maximum cap for the TRE portion of the proposed budget is $200,000/year.

NIGMS expects organizations to prioritize the provision of trainee benefits, such as health insurance, using TRE funds. Remaining funds may be used for allowable costs associated with:

• Salary support for the PD/PI or a combination of multiple PD(s)/PI(s)/co-Investigators.
• Salary support for administrative personnel.
• Skills development training activities (for example, focusing on quantitative and computational, problem-solving, critical thinking, scientific writing, effective communication, and project management skills).
• Seminar speakers, who will serve as role models to the trainees.
• Training or mentoring interventions designed to increase persistence in research (for example, those designed to increase science identity, self-efficacy and a sense of belonging in the scientific community).
• Program evaluation costs.
• Other program-related expenses related to the research training 

TRE expenses must be justified as specifically required by the proposed program and must not duplicate items generally available at the applicant organization.

All other aspects of this NOFO remain the same.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Justin Rosenzweig
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Email: justin.rosenzweig@nih.gov