NIH announced in its October 26, 2009, Guide notice that training grants will go electronic on January 25, 2010. That means NIAID applicants will submit electronically starting with the September 25, 2010, submission date.

If you're wondering why that is, remember that September 25 is our only annual submission date.

Do I need pre-approval to submit my application if I'm requesting $500,000 or more in direct costs?

Yes. For more information, see the Research Training Grants SOP.

For T32 applications, does NIAID still use its own tables?

No. We use the tables in the PHS 398 for competing applications and the PHS 2590 for noncompeting grants. These are similar to our old ones and are standard for all ICs.

To learn more, go to PHS 398 Sample Data Tables, PHS 398 Introduction to Data Tables, and PHS 2590 Sample Data Tables. Remember, check your funding opportunity announcement for instructions on completing your data tables and which tables to include.

If my original T32 application used the old tables, may I still use them for my resubmission?

No. We use the tables in the PHS 398 for competing applications and the PHS 2590 for noncompeting grants. These are similar to our old ones and are standard for all ICs.

What if I don't have pre-enrollment data on people with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, as required in Tables 7a and 7b?

Don't worry about it. See our Research Training Grants SOP for details.

Does NIH require completion rates and time to degree for graduate students supported by NIH training awards?

Yes. You must provide details in T32 renewal applications and progress reports. See our Research Training Grants SOP to learn where this information should go.

What is allowable under the Training Related Expenses category on a T32?

We touch on training-related expenses in our tutorial (under "What Do Training Funds Pay For?"), and the T32 program announcement has more details -- see its Section II/2.A. Allowable Costs.

To check whether we will allow a particular expense, contact Shellie Wilburn in our Grants Management Program.

How are T32 applications evaluated?

See Writing a Training Grant Application in our Advice on Research Training and Career Awards.

Can I automatically carry over funds?

It depends when NIAID funded your T32 or T35. Read the Research Training Grants SOP for more details.

How many trainee positions can I request?

Request the number of trainees that you can justify and the faculty can train. You must have adequate faculty and resources to provide an outstanding research and academic environment. It is better to apply with a carefully selected number of trainees. We discourage new applications with a large number of trainees.

Can T32 funds be used on postdoctoral trainee tuition for degree programs?

No. NIAID's policy disallows using T32 funds on postdoctoral tuition for degree programs since it is not the intended purpose of these grants. Institutions are responsible for providing the necessary resources for developing their postdocs in degree programs, and they should seek other funding sources for additional specialized training that may be required.

NIAID is aware that many of our training programs receive in-kind tuition support from their institutions, a practice we encourage.

Are trainee qualifications important?

Yes. You will need outstanding candidates to be your trainees.

Is there a limit on the amount I can budget for trainee travel?

We don't set a maximum amount, though the norm is $1,000 for each trainee. If you request more than this, the review committee may reduce it. You aren't required to spend the exact amount awarded; it may be more or less depending on travel needs.

Does NIAID have instructions for renewals of training grants?

Use the Fillable Institutional Research Training Grant Application Forms and Data Tables section of the PHS 398 application. Get additional information from NIAID's Office of Special Populations and Research Training by calling 301-496-8697.

Does my renewal application need to be as detailed as my original application?

Yes. A renewal application should be as detailed as the initial one. Be sure to describe trainee track records: highlight trainees who have been promoted to good positions, have been honored, or have obtained independent funding and include minority recruitment.

Address any changes in faculty, staff, or funding in your application. Use the Fillable Institutional Research Training Grant Application Forms and Data Tables section of the PHS 398 application.

Can I ask for more trainee slots in my renewal application?

Yes. You may request more slots, but justify them well.

In my renewal, should I list all trainees in the program or only those supported by the T32?

List all trainees in the program.

Should I include a list of publications for trainees in my renewal application?

Yes.

Where does the grantee send NRSA forms?

Go to the Research Training Grants SOP for where you should send NRSA forms for appointment, payback, and termination. If a trainee has a payback obligation, he or she will be contacted by the NIH Payback Service Center.

When are training grant forms and reports due?

Our Research Training Grants SOP gives you due dates for progress reports, financial status reports, payback agreements, and trainee appointments and terminations.

Is there a way to submit NRSA forms online?

Yes. With xTrain, you can create and submit appointments, re-appointments, amendments, and terminations. Read more at Submitting Your Training Grant Forms, Contacting NIAID.

Must trainees receive support at NRSA levels?

Stipends must be paid at the appropriate NRSA level, and all funds must come from the training grant. For stipend levels, see NRSA Stipend Levels. Check with the PI of the grant regarding items such as health insurance, scientific travel, and research supplies.

What is the maximum number of years for which trainees can receive NRSA support?

NIH policy on combined NRSA support limits is the same for trainees and fellows. See What is the maximum number of years for which fellows can receive NRSA support? in our Fellowships questions and answers.

To pay compensation for a trainee on a T32 grant, who verifies that a trainee's employment will not detract from or prolong the NRSA training?

The PI does this.

For more information about paying compensation to an NRSA trainee or fellow, see What's the difference between a supplement and compensation? in our Supplements to Grants -- Administrative, Revision, and Research questions and answers.

What are the guidelines for a trainee or postdoctoral fellow on a T32 training grant to take parental leave?

Trainees may receive stipends for up to 60 calendar days of parental leave a year for the adoption or birth of a child as long as the use of parental leave is approved by the training grant PI, and those in comparable training positions at the grantee institution have access to the same benefit.

NIH does not permit terminal leave or payment from training funds for leave not taken. See the section on Leave Policies in the T32 program announcement Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Institutional Research Training Grants (T32) or the Revised NIH Parental Leave Policy for the Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Awards.

Do I need to submit a final progress report if I am applying for a renewal?

No. You do not need to submit a final progress report since you 1) must document progress in your renewal application, and 2) are planning to continue your program and thus not closing out your grant.

If you were closing out your grant, you would need to submit a final progress report as well as a final financial status report. That holds true also if your renewal application does not get funded.

Should I include a budget in the noncompeting grant progress report?

Yes. Training grants are required to submit a detailed budget.

Do I need to submit an Inclusion Enrollment Form in my progress report?

You must provide the Inclusion Enrollment form only if you participated in research involving human subjects not reported in the progress report of another PHS-supported project.

If you are conducting clinical research, you must report the annual cumulative enrollment of subjects and their distribution by sex/gender and ethnicity/race using the Inclusion Enrollment Report. The Inclusion Enrollment Report is not included in the two-page summary limit.

For more information, see our Noncompeting Progress Reports and Program Officer Approval SOP.

Where do I send my annual noncompeting grant progress report?

Send your PHS 2590 progress report to:

Division of Extramural Activities Support, OER
National Institutes of Health
6705 Rockledge Drive, Room 2207, MSC 7987
Bethesda, MD 20892-7987 (Use this ZIP code for the U.S. Postal Service, including express mail.)
Bethesda, MD 20817 (Use this ZIP code for commercial carriers such as FedEx and UPS.

What if my question wasn't answered here, or I'd like to suggest a question?

Try our central page for Training Grants (T), Advice on Research Training and Career Awards tutorial, Quick Facts on Research Training and Career Development Awards tool, and the main Training and Career Awards and Fellowships questions and answers page. See Institutional Research Training Grants.

If you still need help, email deaweb@niaid.nih.gov with the title of this page or its URL and your question or comment. We answer questions by email and post them here. Thanks for helping us clarify and expand our knowledge base.

Look It Up

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