PAR-25-195
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)
Summary
Briefing: PAR-25-195 NRSA Postdoctoral Training Grant (CTSA Program)
Research Focus & Contribution
This funding opportunity supports institutional postdoctoral research training programs in clinical and translational science. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) seeks to develop a workforce of clinical and translational scientists equipped to advance diagnostics, therapeutics, clinical interventions, and behavioral modifications that improve health. Trainees with doctoral degrees (Ph.D., M.D., D.M.D., D.O., DVM, PharmD, DrPH, and related doctorates) will develop deep disciplinary expertise while learning to cross boundaries between basic science, clinical research, and public health domains. The program emphasizes team science approaches and systems-level understanding of the translational research pipeline—the process of moving observations from laboratory, clinic, and community settings into interventions that reach patients. Training programs must be distinct from existing federally supported programs at the applicant institution and may not appoint trainees to lead independent clinical trials, though trainees may participate in clinical trial research under mentor supervision.
At-a-Glance
- Who can apply: Institutions with an active CTSA Program UM1 award (limited competition; one application per eligible institution).
- Funding & project length: Not stated in excerpt; see full NOFO for budget details. Standard T32 support covers trainee stipends, tuition, fees, health insurance, and training-related expenses.
- Award/mechanism: Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Institutional Postdoctoral Research Training Grant (T32); activity code T32.
- Key dates: Open January 13, 2025; multiple submission deadlines through September 2027 (earliest start December 2025; see table for full cycle schedule).
- Best fit for: Institutions training postdoctoral fellows in translational science, clinical research, health services research, or related biomedical/behavioral disciplines who will develop cross-disciplinary collaboration skills and systems-level understanding of the translational pipeline.
Key Facts
Deadline
Tue, September 28, 2027
Posted
Thu, December 19, 2024
Keywords
Research Areas
Gotchas (5)
Only one T32 postdoctoral application per UM1 applicant institution is allowed; institutions with multiple eligible departments/centers must coordinate to submit a single application
95%
Source Text
“Number of Applications: Only one application per UM1 applicant institution is allowed, as defined in Section III. 3. Additional Information on Eligibility.”
This T32 is exclusively for postdoctoral training and explicitly prohibits combined predoctoral/postdoctoral programs; predoctoral training must use a separate mechanism (PAR-25-194)
98%
Source Text
“NCATS will not accept applications proposing combined predoctoral and postdoctoral training under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Applications proposing predoctoral research training should apply to the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Predoctoral Institutional Research Training Grant for the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program (PAR-25-194).”
Trainees cannot lead an independent clinical trial under this award; they may only participate in clinical trials where the PI is a mentor or co-mentor
98%
Source Text
“This NOFO does not allow appointed Trainees to lead an independent clinical trial but does allow them to obtain research experience in a clinical trial on which the principal investigator is a mentor or co-mentor.”
T32 awards under this NOFO are contingent on the institution having an active UM1 CTSA award; companion applications cannot be awarded until the UM1 is funded
98%
Source Text
“This NOFO is part of a required set of companion applications: the Clinical and Translational Science Award (UM1) and companion Institutional Career Development Award (K12)... These optional NOFOs are only available to CTSA Program UM1 applicants and award recipients. Applications to the companion NOFOs cannot be awarded until an award has been issued for the UM1”
The proposed T32 program must be clearly distinct from other ongoing research training and career development programs at the applicant institution that currently receive Federal support.
90%
Source Text
“The proposed institutional research training program may complement other ongoing research training and career development programs at the applicant institution, but must be clearly distinct from related programs currently receiving Federal support.”