Funder: National Institutes of Health
Due Dates: April 8, 2025 (New/Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | May 7, 2025 (AIDS) | August 8, 2025 (New/Renewal/Resubmission/Revision) | September 7, 2025 (AIDS)
Funding Amounts: Stipend commensurate with base salary (up to NIH limit), plus institutional allowance for research expenses; support typically for up to 2 years.
Summary: Supports experienced, independent scientists seeking to redirect or broaden their research careers through mentored training in NIH-relevant fields, excluding leading independent clinical trials.
Key Information: Applicants must not propose to lead an independent clinical trial; prior consultation with NIH IC staff is strongly encouraged.
Description
This fellowship provides support for established, independent scientists (typically associate or full professors with at least seven years of research experience beyond the doctorate) who wish to make major changes in the direction of their research careers or broaden their scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities. The program is designed to facilitate career transitions or retraining, often through sabbatical experiences, in research areas relevant to the missions of participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
Applicants may not propose to lead an independent clinical trial, a clinical trial feasibility study, or an ancillary clinical trial, but may gain research experience in a clinical trial led by a sponsor or co-sponsor.
Due Dates
- April 8, 2025: New, Renewal, Resubmission, Revision applications
- May 7, 2025: AIDS-related New, Renewal, Resubmission, Revision applications
- August 8, 2025: New, Renewal, Resubmission, Revision applications
- September 7, 2025: AIDS-related New, Renewal, Resubmission, Revision applications
All applications are due by 5:00 PM local time of the applicant organization. Standard NIH due dates apply for subsequent cycles.
Funding Amount
- Stipend: Commensurate with the applicant’s base salary at their home institution, up to the current NIH NRSA stipend limit for senior fellows.
- Institutional Allowance: Provided to help defray costs such as health insurance, research supplies, equipment, books, and travel.
- Duration: Support is typically for up to 2 years; aggregate NRSA support limits apply (see NIH policy).
- No cost sharing or matching required.
- No indirect costs (F&A) provided; administrative costs are covered by the institutional allowance.
For current stipend levels and institutional allowance rates, see the NIH NRSA policy notices.
Eligibility
- Individuals: Must have a doctoral degree, at least 7 years of relevant research or professional experience beyond the doctorate, and an established independent research career.
- Citizenship: By the time of award, must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or permanent resident.
- Institutions:
- U.S. and non-U.S. (foreign) institutions are eligible.
- Sponsoring institution must provide a suitable research environment and resources.
- Applicants must identify a qualified sponsor (or sponsor team) with a strong record of mentorship and research support.
- Not intended for postdoctoral-level investigators.
- Multiple PDs/PIs are not allowed.
Application Process
- Consultation: Strongly encouraged to consult the Table of IC-Specific Information, Requirements, and Staff Contacts to ensure alignment with participating NIH Institutes and Centers.
- Prepare Application: Follow the NIH Fellowship (F) Application Guide and all program-specific instructions in the NOFO.
- Submission: Applications must be submitted electronically via NIH ASSIST, an institutional system-to-system solution, or Grants.gov Workspace.
- Reference Letters: Required and must be submitted directly through eRA Commons.
- Registrations: Applicant organizations must have active registrations in SAM, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons; PD/PI must have an eRA Commons account and ORCID iD.
- Review: Applications are peer reviewed for scientific and technical merit, with emphasis on the candidate’s potential, training plan, sponsor(s), and institutional environment.
Additional Information
- Clinical Trials: Applicants may not propose to lead an independent clinical trial but may gain experience in a trial led by a sponsor/co-sponsor.
- Foreign Training: Permitted with strong justification for why the foreign site offers unique advantages.
- Renewals: Generally not renewable; rare exceptions require NIH staff consultation.
- Responsible Conduct of Research: All applications must include a plan for instruction in responsible conduct of research.
- Reporting: Annual progress reports (RPPR) required for multi-year awards.
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Contact Information