Research Training in Aging for Medical Students (T35) | RFA AG 25 009

Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA AG 25 009

The Research Training in Aging for Medical Students (T35) opportunity (RFA-AG-25-009) is an NIH institutional training grant designed to give medical students short-term, hands-on exposure to aging-related research early in their education. The main purpose is to build practical research skills and technical expertise that can shape career choices toward long-term involvement in research focused on aging and age-related health issues. While the program is centered on medical students, it also makes room for other health professional doctoral students when formal research training is minimal or missing from their degree program, so long as the training is clearly short-term and structured as a research experience.

A key feature of this NOFO is its approach to clinical trials training. Trainees supported by the award are not permitted to lead an independent clinical trial, which aligns with the program's intent as an early-stage, mentored research training mechanism rather than an independent research award. At the same time, trainees are allowed to gain experience working on clinical trials when those trials are led by an established mentor or co-mentor. In practical terms, this means the training environment can include clinical trial exposure and skill-building (such as study operations, recruitment, ethics, data handling, and interpretation) as long as responsibility and leadership remain with the supervising investigator.

Eligibility is broad across U.S.-based organizations and reflects NIH's typical institutional grant landscape. Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal entities), independent school districts, special district governments, public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not higher education institutions, since those have their own category), and for-profit organizations (including small businesses). The NOFO also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant types such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), along with faith-based or community-based organizations, eligible federal agencies, regional organizations, and U.S. territories or possessions.

Foreign participation is restricted in a straightforward way. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities are not eligible to apply, and non-domestic components of U.S. organizations are also not eligible. The funding opportunity is therefore intended to support training programs that are fully based within eligible U.S. organizational structures.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as a discretionary grant in the health funding area under CFDA 93.866, with NIH as the sponsoring agency. The posting indicates an original application closing date of June 14, 2024, and a creation date of February 28, 2024. Overall, this program is best understood as a mechanism for institutions to build or strengthen a structured, mentored short-term aging research training pathway that gives early learners real research immersion, supports workforce development in aging science, and provides clinically relevant research exposure without placing independent trial leadership responsibilities on trainees.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research Training in Aging for Medical Students (T35)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for RFA AG 25 009

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