Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 300
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Bridges to the Doctorate (T32) opportunity (FOA number PAR-19-300) is a discretionary NIH training grant designed to strengthen the pipeline into biomedical Ph.D. programs and, ultimately, the biomedical research workforce. The central aim is to develop a more diverse pool of scientists who earn doctoral degrees and are well prepared to transition into research careers that matter to the nation’s health-related research needs. Rather than funding a single research project, this program supports institutions in building a structured training environment where participants receive coordinated preparation across coursework, lab research, mentoring, and career development.
This FOA specifically supports eligible domestic institutions in developing and implementing training and mentoring approaches that are evidence-based and responsive to how quickly the research enterprise is changing. In practice, that means programs are expected to be intentional and organized: trainees should get strong scientific training, meaningful research experiences, consistent mentorship, and career guidance that helps them move successfully from earlier stages of training into a Ph.D. pathway and onward into the biomedical research workforce. NIGMS signals that strong proposals will blend multiple components (didactic learning, hands-on research, mentoring plans, and career development activities) into one coherent training plan rather than treating these pieces as separate or informal add-ons.
A key compliance point is the clinical trial restriction. Appointed trainees under this FOA are not permitted to lead an independent clinical trial. However, they are allowed to gain clinical trial research experience when the trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. In other words, the program can expose trainees to clinical research and clinical trial environments as part of their training, but the trainees cannot be the primary leaders responsible for running an independent trial.
Eligibility focuses on U.S.-based institutions. Applicants may include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and other eligible domestic organizations as defined in the FOA. The announcement also highlights categories of institutions commonly associated with broadening participation and serving underrepresented communities, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). At the same time, non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible, reinforcing that the supported training infrastructure must be based in the United States.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is listed under CFDA number 93.859, with the activity category of Health and the funding instrument type of Grant. The agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically NIGMS. The record indicates an original closing date of 2021-04-09 and a creation date of 2019-06-19. Details such as the award ceiling and expected number of awards are not provided in the source data excerpt and would need to be confirmed in the full FOA text.
Overall, this Bridges to the Doctorate T32 program is about building institutional training programs that systematically prepare trainees for success in Ph.D. study and biomedical research careers. Competitive applications are likely those that show a clear training structure, strong and well-supervised research experiences, thoughtful mentoring and career development, and a credible plan for helping trainees persist and transition into doctoral programs, all while following NIH rules around clinical trial leadership and domestic eligibility.Apply for PAR 19 300
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Bridges to the Doctorate (T32)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-06-19.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-04-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIGMS Bridges to the Doctorate (T32) (PAR-19-300)
What is the NIGMS Bridges to the Doctorate (T32) opportunity?
NIGMS Bridges to the Doctorate (T32) (FOA PAR-19-300) is an NIH discretionary institutional training grant that supports institutions in building structured training programs designed to strengthen the pipeline into biomedical Ph.D. programs and, ultimately, the biomedical research workforce.
What is the main goal of this program?
The central aim is to develop a more diverse pool of scientists who earn doctoral degrees and are well prepared to transition into research careers that align with the nation’s health-related research needs.
Does this grant fund a single research project?
No. This is a training grant, not a single-project research award. It supports institutions in creating and running a coordinated training environment that includes scientific preparation, research experiences, mentoring, and career development.
What types of activities are expected to be part of the training program?
The program is expected to integrate multiple components into a coherent training plan. Based on the opportunity description, these components include didactic learning (coursework), hands-on research experiences in labs, organized mentoring, and career development activities that help participants progress into Ph.D. pathways and the biomedical research workforce.
How does NIGMS describe a strong or competitive proposal?
Strong proposals are described as intentional and organized, with coordinated preparation across coursework, lab research, mentoring, and career development. NIGMS signals that these elements should be blended into one structured program rather than treated as separate or informal add-ons.
What does "evidence-based" training and mentoring mean in this context?
The FOA emphasizes that training and mentoring approaches should be evidence-based and responsive to changes in the research enterprise. In practical terms (as described in the provided summary), programs should be deliberately designed and grounded in approaches shown to be effective for trainee development and progression.
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
Eligible applicants are domestic (U.S.-based) institutions and other eligible domestic organizations as defined in the FOA. The categories listed in the provided information include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, among other eligible domestic entities.
Are non-U.S. (non-domestic) organizations allowed to apply?
No. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply.
Are non-domestic components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible, meaning the supported training infrastructure must be based in the United States.
Are minority-serving institutions specifically mentioned?
Yes. The opportunity highlights institution categories commonly associated with broadening participation and serving underrepresented communities, including Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, AANAPISIs, Hispanic-serving Institutions, HBCUs, and TCCUs.
What is the role of mentoring in this program?
Mentoring is described as a core part of the structured environment. Trainees are expected to receive consistent mentorship, and mentoring plans should be integrated with research experiences and career guidance to support successful transitions into Ph.D. programs and beyond.
What is the clinical trial restriction for trainees appointed under this FOA?
Appointed trainees are not permitted to lead an independent clinical trial under this FOA.
Can trainees still gain clinical trial experience?
Yes. Trainees may gain clinical trial research experience as part of their training when the clinical trial is led by a mentor or co-mentor. The key distinction is that the trainee cannot be the primary leader responsible for conducting an independent trial.
Which NIH institute and agency are associated with this grant?
The agency is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the specific institute named is the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).
What is the funding instrument type and activity category?
The funding instrument type is a Grant, and the activity category is Health.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 93.859.
What is the FOA number for this Bridges to the Doctorate T32 opportunity?
The FOA number provided is PAR-19-300.
What dates are provided for this opportunity?
The record indicates a creation date of 2019-06-19 and an original closing date of 2021-04-09.
Are the award ceiling and expected number of awards provided?
No. The source data excerpt does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards. Those details would need to be confirmed in the full FOA text.
What is the overall focus of the Bridges to the Doctorate T32 program?
The focus is on building institutional training programs that systematically prepare trainees for success in Ph.D. study and biomedical research careers, with strong training structure, well-supervised research experiences, thoughtful mentoring and career development, and compliance with NIH rules such as the clinical trial leadership restriction and domestic eligibility requirements.
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