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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)

National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

The NINDS, with NIDCR and NIDA, intends to publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to solicit applications for implementation of a postbaccalaureate program to develop a diverse pool of well-trained postbaccalaureates who will transition into and complete rigorous biomedical, research-focused doctoral degree programs (e.g., Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D.) in neuroscience research. This will be a limited competition FOA that will use the R25 mechanism; the postbaccalaureate program, called Doctoral Readiness (DR) program, must be associated with an institutional training program supported by an active T32 from NINDS, NIDCR, or NIDA and the PD/PI, or at least one PD/PI if multi-PD/PI leadership is planned, must be a PD/PI of the active T32 institutional training grant.

These DR Programs are intended to support only individuals from institutions that do not offer undergraduates access to substantive research opportunities. Funded programs are expected to provide participants with a strong research experience, together with neuroscience education and activities that will build a strong cohort of neuroscience research-oriented individuals. Funding will be provided for 4 years, with the intention of supporting 12 individuals for two years each over the 4-year period.

This Notice is being provided to allow potential applicants sufficient time to develop meaningful collaborations and responsive projects.

The FOA is expected to be published in Fall 2021 with an expected application due date around Spring 2022.

This FOA will utilize the R25 activity code. Details of the planned FOA are provided below.

This Notice encourages investigators who are PD/PIs of NINDS, NIDCR, or NIDA T32s, with expertise and insights appropriate for overseeing an institutional research education experience for a diverse cadre of postbaccalaureates, to begin to consider applying for this new FOA.

Programs supported by this FOA will be expected to provide a robust research experience in an environment where researchers from all backgrounds are included, fully integrated into and supported equally by the community , with access to appropriate scientific education, that will provide participants with the credentials to gain entrance into a strong graduate program in neuroscience. It is expected that, for the duration of their experience, participants will be integrated into a laboratory setting that has a history of successful training of graduate students and have the opportunity to make a significant intellectual and experimental contribution to an on-going research project and to co-author publications resulting from that research project. It is also expected that participants will engage in departmental research-relatedand educational activities and receive thoughtful mentorship in both science and in the skills and knowledge needed to successfully navigate the application process for neuroscience graduate programs. The DR programs must include a formalized, detailed education on subjects such as the differences among institutions and graduate program approaches, creating strong graduate school education applications and choosing graduate programs, mentors and research projects.