Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T35)

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) offers the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Short-Term Institutional Research Training Grant (Parent T35). This grant is awarded to domestic institutions that qualify, with the intention of assisting in the development or enhancement of research training opportunities.

The goal of the grant is to attract predoctoral students interested in careers in biomedical, behavioral, or clinical research. Various departments within the NIH use this program to offer intensive, short-term research training experiences to health professional students, including those studying medicine, veterinary medicine, and other health professions, particularly during the summer.

The NRSA program is also aimed at encouraging graduate students from physical or quantitative science disciplines to explore research careers in health-related sciences through short-term exposure and involvement. The provided training should be in-depth and comprehensive, such that the trainees gain a deep understanding of the principles of biomedical research by the end of the program.

The funding announcement for this grant clarifies that appointed trainees are not permitted to lead an independent clinical trial. However, it does allow them to gain research experience in a clinical trial led by a mentor or co-mentor.