NIGMS supports a small number of postdoctoral research training grants in more clinically related areas and emphasizes the selection of M.D. degree holders as trainees for these programs. These postdoctoral trainees should receive at least 2 years of rigorous research training in basic science and clinical departments. The training of Ph.D. postdoctoral scientists should focus on advanced and specialized areas of research and offer appropriate opportunities to study problems of clinical relevance.
Programs should offer a range of research training opportunities as outlined in the program descriptions below. Institutional postdoctoral training grants are limited to the support areas listed and are usually awarded for 5 years. No single postdoctoral trainee may receive more than 3 years of NRSA support, unless a waiver is obtained.
Training Grant Program Areas and Contacts
Instructions for Preparing an NIGMS Postdoctoral Training Grant Application
Anesthesiology: Dr. Alison Cole -- 301-594-3827
Programs should provide multidisciplinary research training to help develop individuals with the skills and expertise to explore problems relevant to anesthesiology, including the fundamental mechanisms of anesthetic action. The goal is to provide rigorous postdoctoral research training with an emphasis on hypothesis-driven laboratory or clinical research. Trainees, most of whom would hold the M.D. degree, will be expected to spend at least 2 years in the training program and should have the opportunity to acquire fundamental knowledge and research techniques in such disciplines as biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, molecular biology, neurobiology, pharmacology, or physiology. For trainees with the Ph.D. degree, the research and training should be specifically designed to promote a research career addressing problems in anesthesiology.
Clinical Pharmacology: Dr. Richard Okita -- 301-594-3827
Individuals in these programs should receive experience in the methodology and conduct of basic and clinical research to qualify them to investigate the effects and mechanisms of drug actions in humans. Trainees, most of whom would have the M.D. or Pharm.D. degree, will be expected to spend at least 2 years in the training program and should have the opportunity to acquire fundamental scientific knowledge and research techniques in such areas as basic pharmacology, biochemistry, physiology, molecular medicine and gene therapy, biostatistics, and other biomedical subdisciplines. For trainees with an M.D. or Pharm.D. degree or other professional degree, this experience should emphasize rigorous research training and complement their clinical backgrounds. For trainees with a Ph.D. degree, the research and training should be specifically designed to promote a career in clinical pharmacology research.
Medical Genetics: Dr. Susan Haynes -- 301-594-0943
Programs should provide advanced and specialized research training in the principles of genetics, with the goal of understanding human genetic disorders. Trainees, who would normally hold the M.D. degree, should be drawn from diverse backgrounds and should be offered opportunities for conducting research with faculty who represent a variety of approaches to genetics, ranging from molecular genetics to human population genetics. Programs should provide rigorous training in basic or applied research, with an emphasis on human or medical genetic problems. For holders of the M.D. or other professional degree, the program should provide training and research opportunities in areas of basic genetics that will build on, and complement, the trainee's clinical background. For holders of the Ph.D. degree, the research and training should be specifically designed to foster a career in human and medical genetics.
Trauma, Burn, and Peri-operative Injury: Dr. Scott Somers -- 301-594-3827
Programs should provide multidisciplinary research training for postdoctoral scientists who seek to improve the understanding of the body's systemic responses to major injury and to foster the more rapid application of this knowledge to the treatment of trauma and burn injury victims. The supervisory staff should include trauma surgeons and/or burn specialists, as well as basic scientists. Trainees, most of whom would hold the M.D. degree, will be expected to spend at least 2 years in the training program and to apply such basic disciplines as biochemistry, physiology, immunology, microbiology, cell biology, molecular biology, biomedical engineering, or behavioral sciences to the study of trauma.
Instructions for Preparing a Postdoctoral Training Grant Application
Applicants should follow the instructions described in both the PHS 398 grant application for Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA), as well as instructions in the NIH Institutional Research Training Grant program announcement (PA-08-226). All NIH training grant applicants are expected to present detailed descriptions of:
- the organization of the training program
- the criteria for trainee recruitment and selection
- mechanisms to be used in evaluating the quality and success of the training effort.
- the size and quality of the applicant pool
- the qualifications of the proposed faculty participants (including their experience as trainers and their current research programs and support)
- how the program plans to provide instruction in the responsible conduct of scientific research
- the program’s plans/efforts to recruit and retain a diverse trainee population, including individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups; individuals with disabilities; and financially disadvantaged backgrounds (see information on Recruitment and Retention Plan to Enhance Diversity)
Previous versions of the PHS 398 have required the submission of tabular data in support of training grant applications, but not provided specific format templates or example data. Several of the Institutes of the NIH have offered recommended table formats and made them available on their Web sites, but there has been variability in the formats. The new version (11/07) of the PHS 398 includes a set of table formats that all ICs have agreed to use as the standard format set. The tables and their instructions have been designed to capture the same information that has been required in previous versions of the PHS 398 and to implement changes in NIH-wide institutional training grant policies and program announcements that have been issued since the last revision. This has resulted in some regrouping of data elements and reordering of data tables. It has also involved the addition of data fields to capture Diversity Recruitment information and to place that data in comparison with data on the overall trainee pool and trainee environment.
The required data tables are designed to be used in conjunction with specific instructions that are included in the FOA and PHS 398. Detailed instructions, sample tables, and blank, fillable tables are provided. If you have any questions regarding the organization of your application, please contact the NIGMS Office of Scientific Review (301-594-2881) and an appropriate staff member will be happy to assist you.
All applications for NIGMS-funded postdoctoral training grants must:
- describe the mission and objectives of the program supported by the training grant
- describe the program activities and any innovative features that are provided for trainees
NIGMS training grant awards do not provide support for mixed predoctoral and postdoctoral research training; an application must request support for either predoctoral or postdoctoral research training.
In general, only one award in each of the training grant program areas will be made to an institution.
Institutional training grants may be made for project periods of up to 5 years and may be renewable.
