Key Dates

February 22, 2024- Notice of Information: Reissuance of the Suite of Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program . See Notice NOT-TR-24-008. 

February 22, 2024 - Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Re-Issue of PAR-21-293 - Clinical and Translational Science Award (UM1 Clinical Trial Optional). See Notice NOT-TR-24-009. 

February 22, 2024 - Notice of Intent to Publish a Limited Competition: Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Postdoctoral Research Training Grant for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program (T32 Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See Notice NOT-TR-24-011. 

February 22, 2024 - Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Re-issue of PAR-21-336 Limited Competition: Mentored Research Career Development Program Award in Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program (K12 Clinical Trial Optional). See Notice NOT-TR-24-012. 

February 22, 2024 - Notice of Intent to Publish a Funding Opportunity Announcement for Re-issue of PAR-21-339 - Limited Competition: NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Program Research Education Grants Programs (R25 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed). See Notice NOT-TR-24-013. 

National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) intends to reissue the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Predoctoral Institutional Research Training Grants for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program (T32) to eligible institutions to enhance predoctoral research training of individuals seeking a PhD or an equivalent research health professional degree and help ensure a heterogenous pool of clinical and translational scientist trainees who are equipped with the knowledge, skills and abilities to advance diagnostics, therapeutics, clinical interventions, and behavioral modifications aimed at improving health.  

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

The NOFO is expected to be published in Summer 2024 with an expected application due date in January 2025. 

This NOFO will utilize the T32 activity code. Details of the planned NOFO are provided below. 

The objective of the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Predoctoral Research Training Grant for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program is to equip trainees with the knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) to advance diagnostics, therapeutics, clinical interventions, and behavioral modifications that improve health. 

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is transforming the translational science process so that new treatments and cures for disease can be delivered to patients faster. NCATS strives to develop innovations to reduce, remove or bypass costly and time-consuming bottlenecks in the translational research pipeline in an effort to speed the delivery of new drugs, diagnostics and medical devices to patients. Translation is the process of turning observations in the laboratory, clinic and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public from diagnostics and therapeutics to medical procedures and behavioral changes. 

Translational science is the field of investigation focused on understanding the scientific and operational principles underlying each step of the translational process. NCATS studies translation on a system-wide level as a scientific and operational problem. The NCATS approach is not to focus on specific diseases, but on what is common among them and the translational science process. NCATS does this by developing new approaches, technologies, resources and models; demonstrating their usefulness; and disseminating the data, analysis and methodologies to the community. 

The NCATS Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program is designed to develop innovative solutions that will improve the efficiency, quality and impact of the process for turning observations in the laboratory, clinic and community into interventions that improve the health of individuals and the public. Sustaining a vibrant clinical and translational research enterprise requires a 21st century workforce that can advance clinical and translational science (CTS) that will, in turn, increase the efficiency and efficacy of translation, with the ultimate goal of getting more treatments to more patients more quickly. 

Clinical and translational scientists will possess both deep scientific domain expertise and systems understanding, and their research is expected to be designed to produce discoveries that are simultaneously important for their discipline(s) and contribute to other disciplines, thus intentionally advancing the translational process as a whole. These characteristics will be required to successfully prepare trainees to transition into the many and varied productive career paths available to clinical and translational scientists within the translational science spectrum. Proposed training programs are expected to help trainees develop the following characteristics independent of their particular area(s) of expertise (Reference: Gilliland CT, et al. The Fundamental Characteristics of a Translational Scientist. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci. 2019;2(3):213-216. doi:10.1021/acsptsci.9b00022): 

• Domain Expert: Possesses deep disciplinary knowledge and expertise within one or more of the domains of the translational science spectrum ranging from basic to clinical to public health research and domains in between. 
• Boundary Crosser: Breaks down disciplinary silos and collaborates with others across research areas and professions to collectively advance the development of a medical intervention. 
• Team Player: Practices a team science approach by leveraging the strengths and expertise and valuing the contributions of all players on the translational science team. 
• Process Innovator: Seeks to better understand the scientific and operational principles underlying the translational process and innovates to overcome bottlenecks and accelerate that process. 
• Skilled Communicator: Communicates clearly with all stakeholders in the translational process across diverse social, cultural, economic, and scientific backgrounds, including patients and community members. 
• Systems Thinker: Evaluates the complex external forces, interactions, and relationships impacting the development of medical interventions, including patient needs and preferences, regulatory requirements, current standards of care, and market and business demands. 
• Rigorous Researcher: Conducts research at the highest levels of rigor and transparency within their field of expertise, possesses strong statistical analysis skills, and designs research projects to maximize reproducibility. 

Funding Information

Applications are not being solicited at this time. 

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Andrew Louden, Ph.D. 
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) 
Telephone: 301-402-1645 
Email: CTSATrainingFOAsQuestions@mail.nih.gov