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

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-20-142 (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
  • Sample 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

1. 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.
2. The Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) should have the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to organize and implement a high quality research program. The 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. 
3. The faculty members are expected to have peer-reviewed independent R01, or R01-like research support. New and Early Stage Investigators with no such funding 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.
4. Budget (Direct cost)
   • 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.
5. PI change request must be submitted electronically through the eRA Commons Prior Approval Module.
6. Mentor addition requires Program Director's review and approval.
7. Short-term training positions are not allowed for NCI T32 training programs.
8. New trainees under NCI T32 grants generally are appointed for full-time 12-month continuous periods.  All new trainee appointments must be for at least 9 months.
9. 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.
10. 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 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 Trainees 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
  Email: lims@mail.nih.gov
• Dr. Mark Damico
  Program Director
  Email: damicomw@mail.nih.gov
• Dr. Michael Schmidt
  Program Director
  Email: mschmidt@mail.nih.gov
• Branch Phone: 240-276-5630

For assistance with xTrain, 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
  Jason Gill
  Email: gilljas@mail.nih.gov

For information regarding review issues, contact:

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