Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 19 299
The National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Bridges to the Baccalaureate (T34) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR-19-299) is a discretionary NIH training grant designed to help community college students successfully transfer into a four-year institution and complete a bachelors degree in biomedical research fields. The core aim is to build a structured, supportive pathway that reduces common barriers during the transfer transition and increases the number of students who persist to graduation in disciplines that feed the biomedical research workforce. In practice, the program is meant to move beyond ad hoc advising or isolated internships by putting in place an organized set of training experiences that intentionally prepare students for the academic expectations, research culture, and career options associated with biomedical science.
A central feature of this program is the required partnership model. Applicants must propose a collaboration between a two-year, associate degree-granting institution (such as a community college) and a four-year college or university that awards the baccalaureate degree. The grant supports the design and implementation of evidence-based training and mentoring approaches that reflect the realities of a rapidly changing research enterprise, meaning programs should be contemporary in how they teach research skills, responsible conduct, data handling, communication, and career readiness. NIGMS anticipates that competitive programs will integrate multiple components rather than relying on a single activity. These components typically include didactic elements (coursework or structured instruction that strengthens foundational knowledge and study skills), hands-on research experiences (exposure to real research settings and methods), robust mentoring (consistent guidance from faculty and near-peer mentors), and career development (exploration of biomedical careers, transfer preparation, and professional skill-building).
The opportunity is categorized under the NIH health funding activity area (CFDA 93.859) and uses the grant funding instrument type. It is open to eligible domestic institutions of higher education, including public or state-controlled and private institutions, with explicit inclusion of several institution types that often serve populations historically underrepresented in biomedical research. These include Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), Hispanic-serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs). At the same time, the eligibility rules are clear that non-U.S. (foreign) institutions cannot apply, and non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
From a research compliance standpoint, the FOA draws a boundary around clinical trials involvement for trainees. Appointed trainees are not permitted to lead an independent clinical trial, which aligns with the training-focused nature of the mechanism and the experience level of the participants. However, trainees may gain research experience within a clinical trial that is led by a mentor or co-mentor, allowing exposure to clinical research environments and methods under appropriate supervision while maintaining the intent of the program as a mentored training pipeline rather than an independent investigator award.
Administrative details in the source information note that the opportunity was created on 2019-06-17 and lists an original closing date of 2021-09-27. The source excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards, so those specifics would normally be confirmed by reviewing the full FOA text and any associated NIH budget guidance. Overall, this program is best understood as an institutional training partnership grant focused on strengthening transfer success, research preparation, mentoring quality, and degree completion for community college students headed toward biomedical research bachelors programs, with training activities intentionally designed to be structured, scalable, and grounded in approaches that have demonstrated effectiveness.Apply for PAR 19 299
- The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) Bridges to the Baccalaureate (T34)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.859.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2019-06-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-09-27. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NIGMS Bridges to the Baccalaureate (T34) - PAR-19-299
What is the NIGMS Bridges to the Baccalaureate (T34) program?
NIGMS Bridges to the Baccalaureate (T34) is an NIH training grant program designed to help community college students successfully transfer to a four-year institution and complete a bachelor's degree in biomedical research fields. The program emphasizes a structured, supportive pathway that reduces common barriers during the transfer transition and increases persistence to graduation in disciplines that feed the biomedical research workforce.
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The core aim is to build an organized set of training experiences that prepares community college students for the academic expectations, research culture, and career options in biomedical science, with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of students who transfer successfully and complete a biomedical research-related bachelor's degree.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FOA) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is PAR-19-299.
Which NIH institute sponsors this opportunity?
This opportunity is sponsored by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).
What type of grant mechanism is used?
This is an NIH training grant that uses the grant funding instrument type and is described as a discretionary NIH training grant.
Who is the program intended to support?
The program is intended to support community college students (from two-year, associate degree-granting institutions) as they transfer into a four-year institution and work toward completing a bachelor's degree in biomedical research fields.
What kinds of barriers is the program trying to reduce?
The program is designed to reduce common barriers during the transfer transition by establishing a structured, supportive pathway rather than relying on ad hoc advising or isolated experiences.
Does the program require a partnership between institutions?
Yes. A central feature is the required partnership model. Applicants must propose a collaboration between a two-year, associate degree-granting institution (such as a community college) and a four-year college or university that awards the baccalaureate degree.
What kinds of activities or program components are expected in a competitive application?
NIGMS anticipates competitive programs will integrate multiple components rather than relying on a single activity. Typical components include:
- Didactic elements (coursework or structured instruction to strengthen foundational knowledge and study skills)
- Hands-on research experiences (exposure to real research settings and methods)
- Robust mentoring (consistent guidance from faculty and near-peer mentors)
- Career development (exploration of biomedical careers, transfer preparation, and professional skill-building)
Is the program limited to internships or advising?
No. The program is intended to move beyond isolated internships or ad hoc advising by creating an organized set of training experiences that intentionally prepare students for biomedical science degree completion and career pathways.
What does the FOA mean by evidence-based training and mentoring approaches?
Based on the provided information, the grant supports the design and implementation of training and mentoring approaches that have demonstrated effectiveness and that reflect the realities of a rapidly changing research enterprise, including contemporary approaches to research skills, responsible conduct, data handling, communication, and career readiness.
What topic area or funding activity area does this fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under the NIH health funding activity area and is associated with CFDA 93.859.
Which institutions are eligible to apply?
It is open to eligible domestic institutions of higher education, including public or state-controlled and private institutions. The opportunity explicitly includes several types of institutions that often serve populations historically underrepresented in biomedical research.
Which institution types are explicitly included in the eligibility description?
The eligibility description explicitly includes:
- Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
- Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
- Hispanic-serving Institutions
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
- Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs)
Can non-U.S. (foreign) institutions apply?
No. The eligibility rules state that non-U.S. (foreign) institutions cannot apply.
Are non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations eligible?
No. Non-U.S. components of U.S. organizations are not eligible.
Are trainees allowed to lead independent clinical trials under this program?
No. Appointed trainees are not permitted to lead an independent clinical trial under this training mechanism.
Can trainees participate in clinical trial research in any way?
Yes. Trainees may gain research experience within a clinical trial that is led by a mentor or co-mentor, which allows supervised exposure to clinical research environments and methods while maintaining the program's training-focused intent.
When was this opportunity created?
The administrative details indicate it was created on 2019-06-17.
What is the original closing date listed in the provided information?
The source information lists an original closing date of 2021-09-27.
Does the provided information specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards?
No. The source excerpt does not specify an award ceiling or the expected number of awards.
What is the overall focus of the Bridges to the Baccalaureate (T34) program?
Overall, it is an institutional training partnership grant focused on strengthening transfer success, research preparation, mentoring quality, and bachelor's degree completion for community college students headed toward biomedical research bachelor's programs, using structured, scalable training activities grounded in approaches that have demonstrated effectiveness.
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