There are NIH programs that help to prepare the skilled, creative, and diverse biomedical research workforce of tomorrow. This page contains information on how to find funding opportunities, an overview on the grants process, and interactive guides on research career pathways.
NIH Funding
Using the search function and resources located on the Division of Biomedical Research Workforce (DBRW) website, you will be able to navigate the search kiosks to find research training opportunities and awards based on career path, program type, and by NIH Institute and Center.
One way to identify the types of grants for which you are eligible to apply is by choosing your career path. NIH has programs to support stages from undergraduate to established investigator.
You can also search for opportunities based on each type of program. These include individual programs you apply for directly and institutional programs that your institution may participate in to support groups of students with research and career development opportunities.
NIH understands that a diverse, inclusive workforce is critical to achieving the goals of turning discovery into health. NIH is deeply committed to advancing diversity and inclusion and provides various opportunities tailored to underrepresented groups. Learn more here.
Interactive guides created by the Division of Biomedical Research Workforce (DBRW) describe NIH programs and provide links to support training and career development of biomedical scientists:
Funding opportunities are located throughout the DBRW website. The ones below represent just a snapshot of opportunities that are specific to the promotion, advancement, and retention of women in biomedical research careers. You are encouraged to contact your Institute or Center (IC) to find information on current opportunities.
NIH provides programs to investigators at various stages and backgrounds to assist in the support of a research project, as well as mentoring and training aimed at advancing the diversity and preparedness of the biomedical research workforce. NIH supplements are awarded to existing grants and serve different purposes.
Some examples of NIH’s supplement programs available for individuals are:
- Research Supplements to Promote Re-Entry, Re-integration into, and Re-training in Health-Related Research Careers (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (NOT-OD-23-170)
- Primary Caregiver Technical Assistance Supplements (PCTAS) (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Optional)
- Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research (Admin Supp - Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-23-189)
- Administrative Supplements to Promote Diversity in Research and Development Small Businesses-SBIR/STTR (Admin Supp Clinical Trial Not Allowed) (PA-21-345)
- Notice of Special Interest: Administrative Supplements to Promote Research Continuity and Retention of NIH Mentored Career Development (K) Award Recipients and Scholars (NOT-OD-23-031)
- Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Administrative Supplement for Continuity of Biomedical and Behavioral Research Among First-Time Recipients of NIH Research Project Grant Awards (NOT-OD-23-032)
Individual programs also provide independent research support during the transition from one career stage to another in order to help awardees launch independent research careers.
- BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Individual Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99/K00)
More established investigators looking to develop programs that pay it forward and provide training and career opportunities, NIH has myriad Research Education Program (R25) grants—which support research education activities that complement or enhance the training of early-stage investigators—such as:
- Summer Research Education Experience Program (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NIH Blueprint Program for Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (BP-ENDURE) (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Providing Research Education Experiences to Enhance Diversity in the Next Generation of Substance Abuse and Addiction Scientists (R25 - Clinical Trials Not Allowed)
- Short-Term Research Education Program to Increase Diversity in Health-Related Research (R25 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
There are also funding opportunities that are designed to protect and retain women in biomedical careers.
Lastly, NIH provides other institutional opportunities to connect well-established investigators with earlier-stage investigators with shared research interests for additional mentoring, training, and career development opportunities.
Grants Process Overview & How to Apply
Navigating the complex world of grants at NIH can be a daunting endeavor, but NIH has developed a Central Resource for Grants and Funding Information website, where you can find an overview of the grants process, information on navigating funding opportunity announcements (FOAs), and application instructions.
Program officials at NIH are also available to help with your application. A program official should be your first point of contact for advice on the types of grants you may be eligible for and whether the Institute or Center (IC) you are applying to is funding the type of research you are proposing. For more information on the NIH ICs, go to https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih. NIH also recommends you take advantage of the NIH Research Portfolio Online Reporting Tools (RePORT) to find the types of grants NIH currently funds in specific science/diseases areas or to conduct a more targeted search for a program official using the Matchmaker tool.
Other Research Funding Portals
There are other ways to find funding, and this page lists a few examples and search engines to aid in your search. Please note: Information presented from external organizations and scientific societies is not endorsed by—and does not necessarily represent the views of—NIH.
- External fellowship programs:
- Doris Duke Fellowships for the Promotion of Child Well-Being: The fellowships are designed to identify and develop leaders who conduct practice- and policy-relevant research that enhances child development and improves the Nation’s ability to prevent all forms of child maltreatment.
- Graduate Women in Science (GWIS) National Fellowship Program: The GWIS National Fellowship Program helps increase knowledge in the natural sciences and encourages academic and professional careers in the sciences by women.
- Hanna H. Gray Fellows Program: The goal of this program, from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), is to recruit and retain individuals from gender, racial, ethnic, and other groups underrepresented in the life sciences, including those individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Through their successful careers, HHMI Hanna Gray Fellows will become leaders in academic research and inspire future generations of scientists from America’s diverse talent pool.
- L’Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellowship: This program awards five women postdoctoral scientists annually with grants of $60,000 each for their contributions in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields and commitment to serving as role models for younger generations.
- Online search engines to help find funding: