The Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Institutional Research Training Grant (T32)

Applicant Eligibility

PD/PI Criteria

Program Criteria

Trainee Criteria

Budget

Stipend Support

Tuition & Fees

Travel to Scientific Meetings

Childcare costs

• $2500 per each full-time predoctoral or postdoctoral NRSA trainee allowance begins in 2022. NOT-OD-21-177

Training-Related Expenses

How to Apply

• Applications must be submitted electronically.
• Applicants must follow the instructions in the SF 424 (R&R) Application Guide.
• When the program-specific instructions deviate from those in the Application Guide, follow the funding opportunity announcement.
• Applications that do not comply with these instructions may be delayed or not accepted for review.

For assistance with application submission, please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions and/or contact eRA Commons Help Desk/Grant.gov contact center.

Application Receipt Dates & Review Schedule

*Start dates are determined by the availability of NCI funds and may not occur until well after the earliest possible start date.

Applications are due by 5 pm local time.

When a standard submission date falls on a weekend or Federal holiday, the application deadline is automatically extended to the next business day.

Review and Selection Process

The Center for Scientific Review (CSR) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) review applications for completeness and for conformance to all eligibility requirements and special provisions and requirements. Incomplete applications will be returned to the applicant without further consideration.

Subcommittee F, convened by the Division of Extramural Activities of the NCI, evaluates applications according to the review criteria listed in the Program Announcement. Before an award is made, the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) conducts a second level of review and ensures that an application meets the broad program needs and priorities of the NCI and the National Cancer Program.

Resources

• Program Announcement PA-23-048 (T32 Institutional Research Training Grant)
• Current List of T32 Awards
• Link to Main Peer Review Group NCI - F
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Training Funding Opportunities to Promote Diversity
• Overview of the grant process
• NCI Resources for Researchers
• NIH Grants Policy Statement (GPS)- see section 11.3
• Application Data Tables
  • Fillable Tables
  • FAQ
• Notices
  • Required Use of xTrain for the Electronic Submission of Appointment Forms and/or Termination Notices
  • Updated Appendix Policy
  • Competing Renewal Application and requirements for Interim-RPPR

NCI-Specific Requirements

For Applicants

1. NCI T32 training programs must be cancer-focused and innovative. T32s may support predoctoral only, postdoctoral only, or combined predoctoral and postdoctoral training. For new programs, NCI will give funding priority to programs that do not overlap substantially with existing programs at the applicant institution.
2. The T32 contact Training Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) should have the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to organize and implement a high-quality research training program. The contact PD/PI must hold a peer-reviewed independent cancer-focused R01, or R01-like, research funding at the time the T32 application is submitted and awarded.
   
   For the NCI T32, R01-like research funding includes peer-reviewed research grants from other federal sources and private foundations. The award duration must be for at least 3 years with a minimum of $150,000 direct costs per year. Grants under a no-cost extension do not qualify.
3. The T32 faculty/mentors/preceptors are expected to have peer-reviewed independent R01 or R01-like research support. New and Early Stage Investigators with no such funding or training track record may serve as co-mentors.
4. Budget
   • A new T32 program may request up to 6 trainee slots.
   • A competitive renewal T32 applicant may request up to 8 trainee slots in any budget year.
   • At the time of competitive renewal, T32 applicants may request changes in types of trainee slots (i.e., convert postdoctoral slots to predoctoral slots and vice versa). 
   • T32 applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year are not required to contact NCI staff for permission to submit the application.

For Grantees

1. Requests to change the T32 PD/PI must be submitted electronically through the eRA Commons Prior Approval Module.
2. Addition of T32 mentors must meet the requirement of having peer-reviewed independent R01 or R01-like research support (refer to A.3). These changes must be reported in the annual progress report.
3. Short-term training positions are not allowed for NCI T32 training programs.
4. New trainees under NCI T32 grants are generally appointed for full-time 12-month continuous periods per budget year. A new trainee appointment with a minimum of 9 months per budget year may be considered with justification and NCI Program Director prior approval. The Postdoctoral trainees are expected to commit to their research program for at least 2 years to meet payback obligation.
5. The total number of awarded trainee months for each budget period may not be exceeded, nor may the numbers of predoctoral and/or postdoctoral trainee appointments at any time exceed the numbers specified in the Notice of Award.
6. Trainee slots are decided based on peer-review outcomes. The redistribution of trainee slots may be considered once during the current project period by the NCI program director. The formal signed request with justification must be submitted by the AOR to the assigned NCI Program Director and Grants Management Specialist.
7. Tuition and fees are allowable trainee costs only if such charges are applied consistently to all individuals in a similar training status at the organization, without regard to their source of support. Courses must be accredited at the Institution.
   • Tuition at the postdoctoral level is limited to that required for specific courses in support of the approved training program and requires NCI prior approval. See NIH Grant Policy Statement 11.2.8.3.
   • NCI allows rebudgeting of Tuition and Fees only up to the NRSA standard allowance per trainee.
8. If Postdoctoral tuition and fees are requested, Postdoctoral trainee progress reports must include information about the courses taken.
9. Carryover of unobligated balances requires NCI staff review and prior approval.
10. Only the reappointment of current trainees is allowed during a no-cost extension (if stipend months are available).

Trainee Forms

• The Statement of Appointment Form (PHS2271) must be submitted for each trainee, each year prior to or at the time of appointment. A Payback Agreement (PHS6031, revised 9/93) must be submitted for all postdoctoral trainees beginning their initial Kirschstein-NRSA appointment. No stipend or other allowances may be paid until the submission of the proper forms. Failure to submit these forms within 90 days of the start date for the appointment may result in an expenditure disallowance or a delay in continued funding. Completed trainee forms must be submitted electronically via xTrain.
• Termination Notice must be submitted immediately through xTrain upon completion of the Trainee's appointment.

NCI Staff Contacts

For information regarding policies and/or guidance in preparing an application for the T32 Award, contact:

Dr. Mark Damico
Program Director (States: A-C)
Email: damicomw@mail.nih.gov

Dr. Corinne Boulanger-Espeut
Program Director (States: NY-W)
Email: boulangc@mail.nih.gov

Dr. Susan Lim 
Program Director (States: D-NJ)
Email: lims@mail.nih.gov

For assistance with xTrain forms, contact:

• Karen Tolson
  Program Specialist
  Email: tolsonk@mail.nih.gov
  Phone: 240-276-5645

For technical issues with xTrain, contact the eRA Service Desk

For more information regarding fiscal and/or budget issues, contact:

• Grants Administration Branch
  Amy Bartosch
  Email: Amy.Bartosch@nih.gov

For information regarding review issues, contact:

• Referral Officer
  Division of Extramural Activities
  Phone: 240-276-6390
  Fax: 240-276-7682