Key Dates

Related Announcements

• July 17, 2024 - Bridges to the Doctorate Research Training Program (T32). See PAR-24-232.
• May 31, 2024 - Updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications for Due Dates on or After January 25, 2025.  See NOT-OD-24-129.
• November 14, 2023 - Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) (T32). See PAR-24-031.
• November 14, 2023 - Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE) (T32). See PAR-24-032.

Issued by

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to inform applicants of the NIH-wide changes to Institutional Training Grants and their impact on applications submitted to the NIGMS Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) (T32), Graduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (G-RISE) (T32), and Bridges to the Doctorate Research Training Program (T32) Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) for due dates on and after January 25, 2025.

Background

NIH is updating the SF424 (R&R) application guide and associated application forms for Institutional Training Grant applications for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. The major changes to training grant applications include: 

• The Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity will be its own attachment in the PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan Form.
• Mentor training expectations will be more clearly defined in the parent T32 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
• Institutional Training data tables will be updated to reduce burden and promote consistent information collection across training programs.

NIH is also restructuring the review criteria such that plans for Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research and the Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity will contribute to the overall impact score.

See NOT-OD-24-129 and the Updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications web page for more details.

Implementation in NIGMS NOFOs

NIGMS already incorporates mentor training expectations into training grant applications and includes the Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research and the Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity as Additional Review Criteria that contribute to the overall impact score and so these changes do not impact NIGMS Training Grant applications.

The changes that impact NIGMS T32 applications include:

• The Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity will be a distinct attachment on the PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan Form.
• Updates to the NRSA Data Tables. Applicants will follow the new instructions for all required data tables. Reminder: Table 6A must not be included in NIGMS predoctoral training grant applications.

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

Part 2. Section IV. Application and Submission Information

SF424 (R&R) Other Project Information

Current Language (Note: the “Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity” is currently included in the “Other Attachments” section; as described below, it will be moved to the PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan form)

Other Attachments: Please include a header or footer label on each page of the other attachments with the corresponding material title.

The following two attachments must be included, or the application will not be reviewed:

1. Baseline Data on the Trainee Pool. The application must provide baseline data on the characteristics of the trainee pool. The data must reflect the training grant eligible individuals who further the goals of the proposed research training program. The data serve as a basis for review of planned activities, including recruitment. The number of training grant eligible candidates will be used to determine the appropriate budget and number of funded positions. NIGMS will use the data provided in a manner consistent with applicable law.

• Trainee Characteristics. All applicants must provide the numbers and average for the past five academic years of training grant eligible candidates who applied to, were admitted to, and matriculated into the training program or departments described in the application. NIGMS encourages the use of Suggested Formats A to aid in the structuring of the data. Applicants are encouraged to use categories reflected in the Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity or the NIH Trainee Diversity Report (such as race, ethnicity, gender, disability and disadvantaged background) as these data will be collected as part of annual progress reports for funded programs. Additional trainee candidate pool characteristics that are relevant to the goals of the training program may also be included. Applicants should use appropriate methods for data privacy, confidentiality, and security practices related to student data systems and reporting (for example, cell sizes for sensitive data).

Please name the file Baseline_Data_Trainee_Pool.pdf.

2. Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity (3-page maximum): The applicant must provide a Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity. Baseline data on the trainee pool should inform the recruitment plans. Include outreach strategies and activities designed to recruit potential training program candidates who are from underrepresented groups, for example students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and students from disadvantaged backgrounds (see Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity). Additionally, literature shows that women from these backgrounds face particular challenges at the graduate level and beyond in scientific fields. Applicants are encouraged to consult the NIGMS web page for strategies to enhance diversity in training programs when designing their plans. Describe the specific efforts to be undertaken by the training program and how these might coordinate with trainee recruitment efforts of the organization. Centralized organizational efforts alone will not satisfy the requirement to recruit prospective trainees from diverse groups. Participating faculty are expected to be actively involved in recruitment efforts. Please name the file Recruitment_Plan.pdf.

Revised language (the Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity is removed and changes are noted in bold italics):

Other Attachments: Please include a header or footer label on each page of the other attachments with the corresponding material title.

The following attachment must be included, or the application will not be reviewed:

1. Baseline Data on the Trainee Pool. The application must provide baseline data on the characteristics of the trainee pool. The data must reflect the training grant eligible individuals who further the goals of the proposed research training program. The data serve as a basis for review of planned activities, including recruitment. The number of training grant eligible candidates will be used to determine the appropriate budget and number of funded positions. NIGMS will use the data provided in a manner consistent with applicable law.

• Trainee Characteristics. All applicants must provide the numbers and average for the past five academic years of training grant eligible candidates who applied to, were admitted to, and matriculated into the training program or departments described in the application. NIGMS encourages the use of Suggested Formats A to aid in the structuring of the data. Applicants are encouraged to use categories reflected in the Notice of NIH's Interest in Diversity or the NIH Trainee Diversity Report (such as race, ethnicity, gender, disability and disadvantaged background) as these data will be collected as part of annual progress reports for funded programs. Additional trainee candidate pool characteristics that are relevant to the goals of the training program may also be included. Applicants should use appropriate methods for data privacy, confidentiality, and security practices related to student data systems and reporting (for example, cell sizes for sensitive data).

Please name the file Baseline_Data_Trainee_Pool.pdf.

Part 2. Section IV. Application and Submission Information

PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan

The following language is inserted in the Training Program section of the application. For applications using FORMS-I, this information will be included as part of Attachment 3.

Training Program

Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity

Applicants are required to comply with the instructions for the Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity as provided in the SF424 (R&R) Application Guide, along with the following additional instructions:

Baseline data on the trainee pool should inform the recruitment plans. Applicants are encouraged to consult the NIGMS web page for strategies to enhance diversity in training programs when designing their plans.

All other aspects of the NOFO remain the same.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

IMSD:

Joyce Stamm, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: joyce.stamm@nih.gov

Jeremy McIntyre, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: jeremy.mcintyre@nih.gov

G-RISE and Bridges to the Doctorate:

Sydella Blatch Alexander, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: sydella.blatch@nih.gov

Jeremy McIntyre, Ph.D.
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Email: jeremy.mcintyre@nih.gov