The goal of the Bridges to the Doctorate Research
Training Program is to promote broad participation in the biomedical research
workforce by strengthening research training environments and expanding the
pool of well-trained master’s students who transition to and complete
biomedical Ph.Ds.

Specifically, this funding announcement provides support
to eligible, domestic organizations to develop and implement effective,
evidence-informed approaches to biomedical graduate training and mentoring to
support the development of a biomedical research workforce that will benefit
from the full range of perspectives, experiences and backgrounds needed to
advance discovery. NIGMS expects organizations to engage in outreach and
recruitment activities to encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to
participate in the program. The proposed research training programs will
incorporate didactic, research, and career development elements to prepare
trainees for careers that will have a significant impact on the health-related
research needs of the nation.

This program requires strong partnerships between at
least two postsecondary educational organizations: one that supports training
at the master’s degree level (Master’s-Training Organization), and a separate
organization that supports biomedical Ph.D. training (Ph.D.-Training
Organization). Eligible organizations for these partnerships include:

• Master’s Training Organization:
• 
  
  An organization where the highest biomedically-related
  research degree offered is a master’s degree, OR
• 
  
  An organization that is a Historically Black Colleges and
  University (HBCU) or a Tribally Controlled Colleges and University (TCCU),
  including those that offer biomedical Ph.Ds.
• 
  
  Ph.D.-Training Organization: An organization that grants
  its own biomedical Ph.Ds.

Award Budget: Application budgets are not limited but
must reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

Project Period: Up to 5 years.