This post is part of a series outlining how NIH application and review changes will impact NIGMS training grants and fellowships.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is making a number of changes to the training application and peer review process for due dates on or after January 25, 2025. For details, visit the Updates to NIH Institutional Training Grant Applications webpage. NIH will release a new parent T32 funding announcement and application instructions this fall for postdoctoral training programs to use.
Impact for NIGMS Postdoctoral Training Grant Applicants
The changes that will impact NIGMS postdoctoral T32 applications include the following:
- The Recruitment Plan to Enhance Diversity will become a distinct attachment on the PHS 398 Research Training Program Plan form (similar to the Training in Responsible Conduct of Research and Methods for Instructions in Enhancing Reproducibility).
- Mentor training and career development expectations will be more clearly defined. We expect additional information in the application that describes mentor training activities for program faculty, as well as how the program will promote trainee career development.
- NIGMS applicants will need to follow new data table instructions (refer to these previews). Notable updates include the following:
- For Tables 1 and 2, applicants will only need to provide information on postdoctoral outcomes and should not include predoctoral outcomes.
- Tables 2 and 4 will allow applicants with partnership programs to clearly show information for partner organizations in the new Part II.
- Table 5 will be reorganized to focus on trainee outcomes (that is, trainees are now in the first column). Programs can also include interim research products to which the trainees have contributed (such as preprints) when there isn’t a final, peer-reviewed publication available.
- Table 6 has been simplified so that most “trainee characteristics,” including number of publications and prior institutions, are no longer required.
- Table 8 no longer contains the section, “Part II. Those Clearly Associated with the Training Grant.” As applicable, applicants are able to describe any additional impact of the training program on individuals who are not appointed to the grant as part of the program plan.
If you have questions about these upcoming changes, please reach out to the relevant NIGMS program contacts.