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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Bridges to the Doctorate (R25) - PAR 16-109

What is the Bridges to the Doctorate (R25) opportunity?

Bridges to the Doctorate (R25) is an NIH Research Education Program grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number PAR 16-109) that supports structured educational efforts to strengthen research training and preparation for doctoral-level study. It is designed as a workforce development initiative rather than a traditional research project grant.

Which federal agency and NIH institute are associated with this program?

The program is run through HHS/NIH, with a specific focus from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS).

What does "R25" mean in this context?

R25 refers to the NIH Research Education Program mechanism. This mechanism funds organized educational and training activities that support NIH mission areas, emphasizing preparation and training pathways rather than funding a single, standalone scientific research project.

What is the main goal of the Bridges to the Doctorate program?

The central purpose is workforce development with an explicit emphasis on improving diversity in the biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research workforce. The program supports educational pathways intended to help participants progress toward doctoral-level research training.

Why is the program described as a "bridge"?

The "bridges" framing indicates the supported activities are meant to help trainees move from one stage of training to the next, particularly at common transition points where participation or persistence can drop off for individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in research.

What types of activities does the program fund?

The announcement describes support for "creative educational activities" with a primary emphasis on two categories: (1) Courses for Skills Development and (2) Research Experiences.

What are "Courses for Skills Development" under this program?

Skills-development courses are structured instructional activities that build competencies needed for success in research-intensive doctoral programs. Examples listed include quantitative skills, scientific communication, grant and fellowship writing, experimental design, responsible conduct of research, and other professional development areas that shape doctoral readiness.

What are "Research Experiences" under this program?

Research experiences are hands-on, mentored opportunities in which participants engage directly in research environments. These experiences are intended to help participants build technical and analytical skills and gain exposure to expectations and culture typical of doctoral-level biomedical research settings.

Is this opportunity meant to fund a scientific research project?

No. Based on the description provided, this mechanism is meant to strengthen research training and preparation through structured educational activities, rather than fund a single scientific research project in the way many traditional NIH research grants do.

Who is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. The solicitation also includes an additional category of "others" as clarified in the full eligibility language of the announcement.

What kinds of organizations does "others" suggest might be eligible?

Based on the summary provided, "others" indicates NIH may be open to a broader range of academic-led partnerships, often involving institutions capable of building strong training pipelines and providing appropriate mentoring and research infrastructure. The specific definition would be contained in the full eligibility language of the announcement.

What is the funding instrument type?

The opportunity uses the grant funding instrument type.

Is the program discretionary?

Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary.

What activity category does this opportunity fall under?

It is listed under the health activity category.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number provided is 93.859.

What is the maximum award amount for this opportunity?

The listed award ceiling is $300,000, which indicates the maximum amount expected per award under the terms of the announcement.

Does the summary specify how many awards will be made?

No. The summary text does not specify the number of awards expected.

When was this opportunity posted and created?

The posting and creation dates are both listed as February 22, 2016.

What is the closing date (application due date) shown for this opportunity?

The closing date shown is September 25, 2018. The original and current closing dates match, indicating that date reflects the application due date for that cycle of the opportunity.

What outcomes are funded programs expected to emphasize?

Based on the summary, funded programs are expected to be organized, deliberate, and outcomes-oriented, with activities centered on skill-building coursework and substantive research experiences that help participants become competitive for and successful in doctoral pathways.

How should this program be understood overall?

Bridges to the Doctorate (R25) is an NIH-funded education and training initiative that supports institutional programs designed to broaden participation and strengthen preparation for doctoral study in biomedical-related research fields, primarily through targeted skills training and mentored research experiences.