National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program (T34)

The Bridges to the Baccalaureate Research Training Program, run by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), is designed to prepare a diverse mix of research-focused students for transfer from associate degree programs to baccalaureate degree programs in biomedical research fields. It provides support to eligible domestic institutions to create and carry out innovative approaches to biomedical training and mentoring that can keep up with the fast-changing nature of the research field.

The NIGMS expects that the research training programs will include a mix of teaching, research, mentoring, and career development elements. To qualify for the program, there must be strong partnerships between at least two post-secondary educational institutions offering science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) degrees. One partner must be an institution where the highest STEM degree on offer is an associate degree, and the other partner or partners should offer baccalaureate degrees in biomedical STEM fields.

On completion of this program, students should be fully prepared to either go onto further research-focused biomedical degree programs or start a career in the biomedical research workforce. Although trainees cannot lead an independent clinical trial under this grant, they can gain research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor.