The Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Institutional Research Training Grant (T32)
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The Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) (T32) supports grants to institutions to develop or enhance research training opportunities for pre and postdoctoral fellows to be trained in cancer research.
Note: The details on this page are for informational purposes only. Please read and follow all requirements and instructions in the notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) and the Table of IC-Specific Information linked therein before applying for an award. Application review information is described in the funding opportunity. If you have any questions before submitting your application, please contact the relevant NCI program staff listed at the end of this page.
For more complete information, reference the Program Announcement PA-23-048 (T32 Institutional Research Training Grant) and/or contact the program director.
Applicant Eligibility
PD/PI Criteria
Citizenship |
At the time of the award, PD/PI must be:
|
---|---|
Foreign Nationals with Student Visas | Not eligible for this award |
Degree/Academic Appointment | Established Investigators (Associate and Full Professors) |
Commitment | Salary support not allowed; 5-10% commitment recommended |
Duration of Award | Up to 5 years of support with the opportunity for renewal |
Program Criteria
Program PD/PI | The contact PD/PI must have independent cancer-focused R01, or R01-like, peer-reviewed research funding at the time of application and award. |
---|---|
Program Faculty |
NCI expects faculty members to have peer-reviewed independent R01, or R01-like research support. New and Early Stage Investigators without this funding can serve as co-mentors. |
Program |
The training program must be cancer-focused, and distinct from other existing programs at the institution. 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. |
Budget (Direct Costs) |
New T32 Training Programs:
Competing renewal T32 Training Programs:
|
Trainee Criteria
Citizenship |
At the time of the award, the trainee must be:
|
---|---|
Foreign Nationals with Student Visas | Not eligible for this award |
Degree/Academic Appointment | Pre and postdoctoral fellows, clinical fellows |
Commitment | Trainee must dedicate at least 40 hours per week (full-time effort) to the training program |
Duration of Award |
|
Budget
Stipend Support
|
Number of Years' Experience | Stipend for FY 2023 |
---|---|---|
Predoctoral | All |
$27,144 |
Postdoctoral |
0 |
$56,484 |
1 |
$56,880 |
|
2 |
$57,300 |
|
3 |
$59,592 |
|
4 |
$61,572 |
|
5 |
$63,852 |
|
6 |
$66,228
|
|
7 or more |
$68,604 |
Tuition & Fees
For each... | NCI will pay... |
---|---|
Predoctoral Trainee Supported | 60% of the combined amount requested for tuition and fees up to $16,000 per year |
Combined Dual-Degree Trainee (e.g., M.D.-Ph.D.) Supported | 60% of the combined amount requested for tuition and fees up to $21,000 per year |
Postdoctoral Trainee Supported | 60% of the combined amount requested for tuition and fees up to $4,500 per year |
Postdoctoral Trainee in a Formal Degree-Granting Program | 60% of the combined amount requested for tuition and fees up to $16,000 per year |
Travel to Scientific Meetings
Allowance |
$800 per Predoc $1,000 per Postdoc |
---|
Childcare costs
- $2500 per each full-time predoctoral or postdoctoral NRSA trainee allowance begins in 2022. NOT-OD-21-177
Training-Related Expenses
|
|
Predoctoral Trainee Support | $4,550 annually |
---|---|
Postdoctoral Trainee Support | $12,200 annually |
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
Receipt Cycle | Application Receipt Date: New, Renewal, and Resubmission | Initial Review Date | Council Review Date | Earliest Possible Start Date* |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | January 25 | June/July | September/October | December |
2 | May 25 | October/November | January/ February | April |
3 | September 25 | February/March | May/June | July |
*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
- Notices
NCI-Specific Requirements
- NCI T32 training program must be cancer-focused, and innovative. 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.
- The 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.
- The 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.
- 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.
- Budget (Direct cost)
- The new program may request up to 6 trainee slots.
- May request changes in types of trainee slots, i.e., may convert postdoctoral slots to predoctoral slots and vice versa at the time of competitive renewal.
- May not request more than 8 trainee slots in any budget year at the time of competitive renewal; a program with more than 11 current trainee slots may request a stepwise reduction.
- Applicants requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs for any year do not need to contact staff to submit the application.
- The PI change requests must be submitted electronically through the eRA Commons Prior Approval Module.
- Mentor addition requires Program Director's review and approval.
- Short-term training positions are not allowed for NCI T32 training programs.
- New trainees under NCI T32 grants generally are 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. Trainees are expected to commit to their research program for at least 2 years.
- 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.
- Only the reappointment of current trainees is allowed under a no-cost extension.
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. Susan Lim
Program Director (States: M-S)
Email: lims@mail.nih.gov - Dr. Mark Damico
Program Director (States: A-L)
Email: damicomw@mail.nih.gov - Dr. Corinne Boulanger-Espeut
Program Director (States: T-W)
Email: boulangc@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